AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Adults who already hold a Nigerian passport can renew by post through the High Commission's contactless route; it is not available for under-18s or first-time applicants. After applying and paying the NIS fee online, post the forms, receipt, old passport, a £20 postal order (name and phone number on the back) and a prepaid Royal Mail C4 Special Delivery return envelope to Nigeria High Commission, 9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BX.
If your Nigerian passport is close to expiry and you already have one, you may not need an appointment at all. The High Commission in London runs a contactless route, where you capture your own biometrics through the NIS process and post your documents. It saves a day off work, but it has firm limits on who can use it and exact rules on what goes in the envelope.
Who qualifies
The High Commission's e-passport requirements page (checked October 2026) says: "The contactless application process is not available for applicant under the age of 18 or for first-time application." Those applicants must use the appointment system. Reading that with the High Commission's immigration page, which lists "Contactless (self-biometric) application" alongside re-issue, the route is for:
- Adults aged 18 or over
- Who already hold a Nigerian passport (it is a renewal or re-issue, not a first issue)
- Whose details are not changing in a way that needs documents checked in person. The page does not list name changes under the contactless route; if your name or data is changing, ask the High Commission before posting.
Children and first-time applicants should look at the appointment route or the intervention sessions instead; see booking a Nigerian passport appointment in the UK.
The NIS side, in brief
You apply on the NIS international portal, choose the contactless option and pay the booklet fee online. NIS's Service Level Agreement 2026 lists $150 for a 32-page and $230 for a 64-page passport abroad. The NIS steps for capturing your photo and fingerprints yourself are explained in our Nigeria library guide contactless passport renewal abroad; this article covers the UK postal part.
What to post, and where
The High Commission lists these items for a contactless application:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Completed forms and payment receipt | Printed from the NIS portal |
| Old passport | Your current or expired booklet, if applicable |
| £20 postal order | Payable to Nigeria High Commission, London; write your name and phone number on the back |
| Return envelope | Royal Mail C4 Special Delivery, self-addressed and prepaid |
Post the package to: Nigeria High Commission, 9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BX.
The High Commission also requires a copy of your NIN slip for re-issues and says the NIN must match your passport details in the correct order. Including it costs nothing and avoids a query.
Step by step
- Check your NIN record matches your passport name order and date of birth.
- Complete the NIS contactless application and pay the dollar fee online.
- Print the form and receipt.
- Buy a £20 postal order at the Post Office, payable to Nigeria High Commission, London. Write your name and phone number on the back.
- Buy a Royal Mail C4 Special Delivery envelope and address it to yourself. Our guide to the prepaid return envelope explains why the type matters.
- Put the form, receipt, old passport, NIN copy, postal order and return envelope in one outer envelope. Since your old passport is inside, a tracked service for the outgoing post is sensible.
- Keep photocopies of everything and both tracking numbers.
How long it takes
The NIS Service Level Agreement 2026 gives 21 days as the target turnaround for contactless applications. The High Commission's page does not publish its own processing time, and postage in both directions is extra. If you need to travel before the new passport is likely to arrive, do not post your only passport: an Emergency Travel Certificate (one-way to Nigeria, £120 by postal order, valid for travel within 30 days of issue) is a fallback, covered in the ETC guide.
Common reasons a postal application stalls
- Paying the £20 by cheque or cash; the High Commission's consular page says these are not accepted
- A return envelope that is not Special Delivery
- No name and phone number on the back of the postal order
- An applicant under 18 or a first-time applicant using the postal route
- NIN details that do not match the passport
Where Pryme fits
When the new passport arrives, update the ID on your bank accounts and on your UKVI account if you hold a UK eVisa. A Pryme account can be updated in the app, and the NIS dollar fee can be paid from USD you already hold.
Questions people ask
Can I renew my Nigerian passport by post in the UK?
Yes, if you are 18 or over and already have a Nigerian passport. The High Commission says the contactless postal route is not available for under-18s or first-time applicants.
Where do I post my Nigerian passport renewal in London?
To Nigeria High Commission, 9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BX, with the forms, receipt, old passport, £20 postal order and a prepaid C4 Special Delivery return envelope.
How long does a contactless Nigerian passport renewal take?
The NIS Service Level Agreement 2026 sets 21 days as its target for contactless applications. The High Commission publishes no UK timeline, and postage adds time.
What do I write on the postal order?
Make it payable to Nigeria High Commission, London, and write your name and phone number on the back, as the High Commission instructs.
Sources
- Nigeria High Commission London: Requirements for e-passport · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria High Commission London: Immigration · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria High Commission London: Consular services · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria Immigration Service: Service Level Agreement 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.