Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom has announced that Nigerians who paid a £70 administrative fee during the ongoing special passport intervention exercise will receive a £50 refund, leaving the approved administrative charge at £20.
The refund follows controversy over the additional payment imposed on some applicants during the passport intervention exercise, which began in the United Kingdom in September 2026.
According to a report published on September 12, the High Commission’s refund notice stated that applicants who had already paid the £70 administrative fee would have £50 returned to them, with £20 retained as the standard administrative charge.
The development comes as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) continues a special passport intervention exercise in the UK, where demand has been high among Nigerians seeking new passports, renewals and resolution of pending applications.
High Commission clarifies approved administrative fee
The Nigeria High Commission has separately issued a public notice addressing information circulating about the administrative fees for the intervention exercise.
In the notice dated September 11, 2026, the mission said claims that a £70 administrative fee had received presidential approval were incorrect.
The High Commission said the approved standard administrative charge remained £20 and advised members of the public to disregard information about charges that was not communicated through its authorised channels.
The Commission’s consular information also states that the administrative charge for consular services is £20. Its passport requirements specifically identify a £20 administrative fee payable to the Nigeria High Commission in London.
The clarification is significant because applicants had encountered conflicting information about the additional administrative payment during the intervention exercise.
NIS says no additional charge is required
The Nigeria Immigration Service has also stressed that applicants participating in the special intervention exercise are not required to make additional payments beyond the applicable passport fees.
In a statement issued on September 11, NIS spokesperson Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Akinsola Akinlabi said passport applications and payments for the exercise remain fully automated and strictly cashless.
The Service said the applicable passport fees are $162 for a five-year passport booklet and $242 for a 10-year passport booklet.
It also stated that no additional charges are required to participate in the intervention exercise.
This clarification provides an important distinction between the statutory passport fees, the High Commission’s standard £20 administrative charge and any additional payment that applicants may have been asked to make.
1,477 Nigerians processed in four days
The refund announcement comes as the passport intervention programme records significant demand.
According to the NIS, 1,477 Nigerians were successfully processed and enrolled within the first four days of the exercise.
The Service said more than half of those enrolled had already had their passports produced and dispatched to their respective addresses.
The figures indicate the scale of demand for passport services among Nigerians living in the UK and help explain the decision to extend the intervention exercise.
The intervention was launched to assist Nigerians with passport applications, renewals and pending cases, while providing access to biometric enrolment and related passport services.
Passport intervention extended to October 3
The NIS has extended the intervention exercise in London and Manchester from its original September 19 end date to October 3, 2026.
The extension was approved under the directive of Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo following the high turnout and demand for the service.
The NIS said the additional period would provide greater capacity and allow more eligible applicants to access the intervention exercise.
The High Commission’s current information also lists intervention locations in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Aberdeen, with the London and Manchester exercise extended into October.
What applicants need to know
Applicants participating in the intervention exercise are expected to follow the official appointment process and provide the required documentation.
The NIS said applicants should have a completed passport application form and payment receipt, appointment slip, current passport where applicable, and a self-addressed return envelope.
The High Commission also lists the old passport booklet as mandatory for applicants seeking reissue, renewal or change of data.
The mission’s current guidance also states that applicants attending the special intervention exercise should bring a £20 postal order payable to the Nigeria High Commission or make payment through its approved electronic payment process. For lost, misplaced or damaged passports, the published requirement lists a £150 charge.
Applicants should therefore rely on the latest information published through the official channels of the Nigeria High Commission and the Nigeria Immigration Service before making payments or attending an appointment.
Why the refund matters
The £50 refund is important because it addresses a direct financial concern for Nigerians who paid the higher £70 administrative amount.
For applicants who paid £70, the refund effectively brings the administrative payment down to the £20 charge identified by the High Commission as the standard amount.
The decision also comes amid broader concerns over transparency and consistency in the administration of passport services abroad.
The NIS has repeatedly emphasised that the passport application and payment process is automated and cashless, while the High Commission has warned Nigerians against relying on unauthorised information.
For Nigerians in the UK, the key issue is now ensuring that payments are made through the recognised channels and that applicants have the correct documentation before attending their scheduled appointments.
What happens next
The passport intervention exercise will continue in London and Manchester until October 3, 2026, giving additional applicants an opportunity to secure appointments and complete their enrolment.
The NIS said further information on participating locations, extended dates and appointment procedures would be communicated through the official channels of the Service and the Nigeria High Commission in the UK.
Applicants who paid the £70 administrative fee should also follow the High Commission’s official instructions concerning the £50 refund rather than relying on information circulated through unofficial platforms.
The latest clarification means the central position communicated by the Nigerian authorities is that the standard High Commission administrative charge is £20, while the NIS has stated that there is no additional charge for participating in the intervention exercise.
For Nigerians seeking passport services, checking the official High Commission and NIS channels before making payments remains the safest way to avoid confusion over fees and procedures.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Nigeria High Commission, London — official public notice and passport intervention information.
- Nigeria Immigration Service — statement on the UK passport intervention exercise and extension.
- Channels Television — report on the extension and 1,477 applicants processed.
- Punch — report on the NIS extension and applicable passport fees.
- The Times Nigeria — report on the £50 refund for applicants who paid £70.
