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The short answer
A name error that comes from a parent is corrected through a NIS correction of data application, made from the UK at the High Commission in London. NIS asks for an application letter, a newspaper publication, a court affidavit, a state of origin certificate and the current data page, plus a non-refundable charge; for a child you also need parental consent and the parents' passports.
Sometimes the problem on a child's Nigerian passport is not the child's own spelling but a parent's: a father's surname given to the child in the wrong form, a mother's name entered incorrectly in the application, or the child's record built from a parent's document that was itself wrong. Before paying for anything, it helps to know exactly which record carries the mistake, because the fix depends on it.
Find the source of the error
A child's passport record is assembled from several documents. Lay them side by side: the child's passport, the child's NIN slip, the child's UK birth certificate and each parent's passport. Then work out which of these situations you are in.
| What you find | What it means |
|---|---|
| The parent's passport is right, but the child's record is wrong | A correction of data on the child's passport is needed. |
| The child's NIN carries the wrong name | The NIN must be corrected first, or the new booklet will repeat it. |
| The parent's own passport or NIN is wrong | Fix the parent's record before the child's, since the child's application relies on it. |
| The UK birth certificate is wrong | That is a UK record. Ask the register office where the birth was registered whether and how it can be corrected before you use it again. |
The High Commission says the NIN details must match the passport, so a wrong NIN carries straight into the new booklet. If the child's NIN is the problem, our guide to fixing NIN and passport mismatches before renewal covers that step, and the Nigeria library explains how NIN corrections work.
What NIS asks for
The NIS passports page treats a correction of errors and a name change as related applications. For a correction, you apply online, pay a non-refundable administrative charge and upload:
- an application letter stating the reason for the change
- a newspaper publication
- a court affidavit
- a certificate of state of origin
- the data page of the current passport
For a name change that replaces, adds, deletes or rearranges names, NIS lists the same uploads and says the payment and appointment slips are then submitted in person. NIS also says Nigerians in the diaspora submit correction, change of data and name change applications at the nearest Nigerian mission, so from Britain this runs through the High Commission. Check the amount of the correction charge on the portal when you apply; the passports page does not state it.
Extra points for a child
- NIS asks for a letter of consent from either parent for a minor, and the photo endorsed by the consenting parent or parents.
- The High Commission asks for both parents' passport data pages, at least one Nigerian, and parental consent or court proof of sole custody.
- If the affidavit is sworn by the parent whose name is wrong, make sure the parent's own documents already show the right name.
What the High Commission in London handles
The High Commission's e-passport page does not set out a separate procedure for correcting data. What it does say applies to the reissue that follows a correction:
- the old passport booklet is mandatory for reissues, renewals and data changes
- a NIN copy matching the passport details
- a £20 postal order payable to the Nigeria High Commission, London, or the e-payment route
- a prepaid Royal Mail C4 special delivery envelope and your appointment printout
The same page says name changes are accepted only through marriage or divorce, and that a deed poll is not acceptable. That rule is about a person changing their name, not about correcting a clerical error, but it means a UK deed poll will not help here. See what to use when a deed poll is refused. Under-18s cannot use the contactless postal route, so the child attends in person.
Sworn documents and newspaper notices from the UK
The NIS list names a court affidavit and a newspaper publication without saying whether a UK-sworn affidavit or a UK newspaper will do. Before you pay a solicitor or a newspaper, email the High Commission and ask what form it accepts for your case. Our guide to affidavits made in the UK for use in Nigeria sets out the options.
Steps in order
- Compare every document and write down each difference, letter by letter.
- Correct the earliest wrong record first: the parent's documents, then the child's NIN.
- Prepare the application letter, affidavit, newspaper notice and state of origin certificate.
- Apply on the NIS international portal, choose London, pay the passport fee and the correction charge shown, and book an appointment.
- Attend with the child, the old booklet, both parents' data pages, consent, NIN copy, £20 fee and C4 envelope.
- When the corrected passport arrives, check it before the envelope goes in a drawer.
Where Pryme fits
Name mismatches also cause trouble with money, for example when a transfer to a child's account in Nigeria is held because names differ. Use names exactly as they appear on corrected documents when you set up recipients in Send. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's activities are carried out through regulated partners.
Questions people ask
Can the Nigeria High Commission in London correct my child's passport?
Yes, applications are submitted there. NIS says diaspora correction and name change applications go to the nearest Nigerian mission, and the High Commission requires the old booklet for any data change.
What documents do I need to correct a name on a Nigerian passport?
NIS lists an application letter, a newspaper publication, a court affidavit, a state of origin certificate and the passport data page, with a non-refundable charge.
Can I use a deed poll to fix my child's Nigerian passport?
No. The High Commission says deed poll is not acceptable and accepts name changes only by marriage or divorce.
Should I correct the NIN or the passport first?
Correct the NIN first if it carries the error, because the passport is checked against it.
Sources
- Nigeria Immigration Service: Passports · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria High Commission London: Requirements for e-passport (notices Sep-Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.