Passport: UK Mission Clarifies £70 Fee, Refunds £50

The Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom has clarified that the £70 administrative fee charged to some applicants during the ongoing special passport intervention exercise was not approved by the Federal Government.

The mission said the approved standard administrative charge remains £20, and applicants who paid £70 will receive a £50 refund, leaving them with the approved £20 charge.

The clarification followed concerns and complaints from Nigerians in the UK over the additional charge during the special passport intervention exercise being conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service.

The High Commission also rejected claims that the £70 charge had received presidential approval, describing such assertions as incorrect.

It advised members of the Nigerian community to rely only on information communicated through the mission’s authorised channels and to disregard publications or claims that do not represent its official position.

The controversy emerged after the Federal Government had earlier clarified that the special intervention exercise did not introduce additional charges beyond the approved passport fees and applicable bank charges.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had said applicants were required to pay the official passport fees of $150 for five-year passports and $230 for 10-year passports, excluding bank charges.

The High Commission’s intervention exercise is being held in several UK cities, including Manchester, London, Cardiff and Aberdeen, to provide passport services to Nigerians living in the country.

According to the mission, applicants are required to provide their application forms, payment receipts, appointment slips and old passport booklets where applicable. The exercise also requires applicants to provide a prepaid Royal Mail special-delivery envelope for the return of processed passports.

The London exercise, which was initially scheduled to end earlier, has been extended to October 3, 2026, following high demand, while the Manchester exercise is scheduled to run through September 21.

The refund arrangement is expected to resolve the immediate dispute over the administrative charge and ensure that affected applicants are not left paying more than the approved amount.

The High Commission urged Nigerians participating in the intervention exercise to follow official instructions and obtain information directly through its authorised communication channels.