How to change the date of birth on your Nigerian passport

To avoid problems with immigration authorities, all your passport details must be correct.

This includes your name, date of birth, and other personal information.

If the date of birth “on your passport is wrong”, you need to fix it as soon as possible.

Using a passport with an incorrect date of birth can lead to delays when you’re travelling or when you apply for visas.

It’s especially risky (and a red flag) if you use a passport with an incorrect date of birth to apply for a visa to countries like the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and the rest.

If the date of birth on your Nigerian passport is incorrect, change it before travelling with the passport.

Can I change my date of birth on my Nigerian passport?

You can change your date of birth on your Nigerian passport, however, your change request will only be granted for legitimate reasons like an error during the initial application.

If you intentionally gave the wrong date of birth during your passport application, your request for a change will be rejected.

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How to do a change of date of birth on a Nigerian passport

To change the date of birth on your Nigerian passport:

• Visit the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) website: https://passport.immigration.gov.ng/
• Select the “Apply for Correction of Data” option. This will take you to the login page.
• Log in using your National Identification Number (NIN) and the current date of birth on your passport.
• If you already have an account, simply enter your details to access the application dashboard.
• If you don’t have an account, create one, then log in to proceed with your application.
• In your dashboard, select Data Correction and choose the option for correcting your date of birth.
• Choose your preferred passport processing centre and the size of the passport booklet.
• Update your personal information, including your email address and contact details.
• Upload your documents – to support the new date of birth
  • • A written application letter addressed to the Comptroller General of Immigration.
    • A copy of your new birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission (NPC) or a similar valid authority, confirming your correct date of birth..
    • A copy of your previous Nigerian passport.
    • Proof of residence.
    • Newspaper publication for the correction of data.
    • A court order for date of birth change.
    • Upload other documents like school records, voter’s cards, or any official records showing your correct date of birth.
• Go over all your details and ensure they’re correct. If everything is correct, then submit.
• After submitting your request, pay the necessary fees.
• Next, you go for verification.
• Upon completing the verification process, your request for a change of date of birth will be processed.

Your change of date of birth request can take 4 to 8 weeks to complete – therefore, give it time.

Read also: How do I contact the Canadian Embassy in Nigeria?

Below is a tweet from the NIS, stating that the change of date of birth process takes time and applicants should be patient with the system.

From admin

Cost of change of date of birth on Nigerian passport

To change your date of birth, you’ll pay an administrative fee, a passport re-issuance charge (if you are getting a new passport), a biometric capture charge (if you’re re-doing your biometrics), a court affidavit fee, a newspaper publication fee, and an activation fee when your new passport with the “new” date of birth is issued.

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Generally, you’ll pay:

1. Administrative Fee by NIS
   According to the officials, the administrative cost for biodata change on your passport, including the date of birth, is between ₦25,000 to ₦50,000.
2. Passport re-issuance fee
   If the change requires a new passport to be issued, you’ll pay for the re-issuance. Costs depend on the passport type:
   • • 32-page passport (5 years): Around ₦35,000
     • 64-page passport (5 years): Around ₦70,000
     • 64-page passport (10 years): Around ₦100,000
3. Court affidavit fees
   The cost of getting an affidavit depends on your location, keep between ₦1,000 to ₦5,000 for it.
4. National Population Commission (NPC) fees
   If you need to update or reissue your birth certificate, NPC charges will charge between ₦3,000 and ₦10,000 depending on the state.
5. Service charges at passport offices
   If you use third-party services or want to expedite your application, expect to pay between ₦5,000 to ₦20,000 extra.

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Facts about changing your date of birth on a Nigerian passport

• It requires a correction process
  You can’t just edit your date of birth on your passport; you need to apply for a formal correction through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
• Application is online
  The process starts online on the NIS portal, which makes it easy for anyone to access it from anywhere.
• NIN is mandatory
  You need your National Identification Number (NIN) to access your account.
• Proof of the correct date is required
  You must submit official documents like your birth certificate to confirm your correct date of birth.
• Old passport details must be submitted
  You’ll submit details from your current passport.
• You need to submit supporting documents
  Documents like a court affidavit, newspaper publication, and school certificates are required to support your request.
• You need to write an application letter
  You’ll submit a formal letter addressed to the Comptroller General of Immigration.
• A court order is needed
  If your correction involves other changes (like names), a court order will be required.
• Payment is involved
  You have to pay for the correction and a new passport (if you’re getting a new one).
• Processing centres are nationwide
  You can select a passport processing centre close to you when applying.
• Embassies handle overseas applications
  If you’re outside Nigeria, you can apply through a Nigerian embassy or consulate.
• No immediate changes
  Your corrected passport isn’t issued instantly; processing can take several weeks.

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Upon completing the change, the new date of birth will appear in the NIS database.