Passport centres aren't evenly spread, and knowing the overall picture helps before you even open the booking portal.
Here's how many centres NIS runs, where they sit, and why the same portal covers all of them.
How many centres NIS runs
NIS operates 51 passport centres, covering every state and the FCT. That's a wide footprint compared with some other agencies' single, centralised office.
This count is a snapshot at a point in time, since NIS occasionally opens or reorganises centres. The broad picture of national coverage has held steady even so, which is the part worth remembering more than the exact number.
Coverage in Lagos and the FCT
Lagos and the FCT both have more than one centre. Lagos's centres sit in different parts of the city, including Alausa, Alimosho, Festac, Ikorodu and Ikoyi, so your nearest one may not be the one you'd first assume.
The FCT similarly has more than one option, including Gwagwalada, Maitama and NIS Headquarters. That spread matters if your closest centre shows a distant date, since checking a second one nearby is often worth it.
The centres outside Nigeria
The same availability system also lists centres abroad, at Nigerian missions rather than separate NIS buildings. It has included London, several centres in the United States, and one in Canada, on top of the domestic list.
If you're abroad, this is the same system as applying from abroad more generally, just filtered to your country instead of a Nigerian state. Fewer centres abroad usually means fewer available dates too, so book earlier where you can.
Why dates vary so much between centres
Every centre keeps its own calendar, so one may show a date next week while a nearby one shows a much longer wait. That's a function of local demand, not a sign that any centre processes applications faster than another.
Earliest dates shift daily, so a date you saw yesterday may already be gone today. Don't plan travel around a specific date until you've actually booked it.
How to check and book one
Check current availability at appointments.immigration.gov.ng/availability, after you've completed your application and payment. Our booking guide covers the booking step itself in detail.
Compare your nearest centre against one or two alternatives before settling on a date, since the difference in wait can be significant.
Common mistakes
- Assuming your state has only one centre without checking the full list.
- Planning travel around a date that hasn't actually been booked yet.
- Not comparing a nearby alternative when your closest centre is fully booked.
A vetted partner firm can help manage the application side of your passport application, though choosing and booking a centre is a step you'll do yourself on the portal.