Nigerian Embassy in Qatar Cuts Passport Processing Time to About Two Weeks

The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has announced a significant reduction in the processing time for passport renewals and new applications, with applicants from a recent intervention exercise receiving their documents in about two weeks after biometric capture. The development followed a 10-day passport intervention exercise held in Doha from August 11 to 21, 2026. According to the embassy, 751 Nigerian nationals were attended to during the exercise, comprising 441 applications for five-year passports and 310 for 10-year passports. Distribution of the completed passports began on September 18. Nigeria's Ambassador to Qatar, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, described the turnaround as an important milestone in improving consular services for Nigerians living in the Gulf country. He said passports were being completed and returned within approximately two weeks of biometric capture, stressing the importance of valid travel documents for international travel, employment and residency requirements. The Nigeria Immigration Service has separately confirmed that passport intervention exercises have been conducted in the United States, Canada and Qatar, with another exercise ongoing in the United Kingdom. It said 8,552 applicants had been enrolled across the exercises, including 751 in Qatar. The NIS also says Nigerians living abroad can submit passport applications through the nearest Nigerian embassy, high commission or consulate. The faster processing in Qatar is expected to reduce waiting times for Nigerians whose passports are needed for travel, employment, residency and other official purposes. Source: SaharaReporters, cross-checked with the Nigeria Immigration Service, The Peninsula and Punch.