Nigerian Embassy in Qatar Reduces Passport Processing Time to Two Weeks

The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has reduced the processing time for passport renewals and new applications to approximately two weeks following a 10-day passport intervention exercise in Doha.

The exercise, which was conducted from August 11 to 21, 2026, enabled the embassy to process passport applications for 751 Nigerian nationals, according to a statement issued by the mission on Monday.

The applications included 441 requests for five-year passports and 310 applications for 10-year passports.

The embassy said distribution of the completed passports began on September 18, less than a month after applicants completed biometric registration.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the development as a significant milestone in the mission’s efforts to improve consular services.

He said completing and returning passports within about two weeks of biometric capture demonstrated the embassy’s commitment to improving service delivery and addressing the needs of Nigerians living in Qatar.

Yakubu also noted that valid passports are essential for Nigerians abroad, particularly for international travel, employment and maintaining valid residency status.

The embassy said the accelerated processing initiative was introduced in response to increasing demand for consular services from Nigeria’s growing expatriate community in Qatar.

It added that the intervention was designed to handle passport applications within a dedicated period, while the subsequent distribution of completed documents has helped reduce the waiting time for applicants.

The mission said the initiative is expected to ease the challenges faced by Nigerians in Qatar who need to renew or obtain passports for travel, employment or residency purposes.

The embassy’s latest effort highlights the role of Nigerian diplomatic missions in providing essential consular services to citizens living abroad, with passport issuance and renewal remaining among the most important services provided.

For applicants who participated in the Doha intervention exercise, the distribution of completed passports began on September 18, marking the final stage of the process following biometric registration.

The embassy said it would continue to focus on improving the delivery of consular services to Nigerians residing in Qatar.