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Nigerian Embassy In Qatar Cuts Passport Processing Time To Two Weeks
By Iyojo Ameh
The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has significantly reduced the turnaround time for passport renewals and new applications, with newly produced travel documents now being returned to applicants in about two weeks.
The improvement followed a 10 day passport intervention exercise held in Doha from August 11 to 21, 2026, during which the mission processed applications from 751 Nigerian nationals.
Of the applications handled, 441 were for five year passports, while 310 applicants sought 10 year passports.
Distribution of the completed passports commenced on September 18, less than one month after the biometric capture exercise ended, enabling applicants to receive their documents considerably earlier than is often the case with diplomatic processing.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the development as a significant milestone in the mission’s efforts to improve consular services.
Yakubu said the ability to complete and return passports within about two weeks of biometric capture demonstrated the embassy’s commitment to responsive service delivery and addressing the needs of Nigerians living in Qatar.
He noted that valid passports remain essential for Nigerians abroad, particularly for international travel, employment and maintaining lawful residency status.
The initiative comes amid growing demand for consular services from Nigeria’s expanding expatriate community in Qatar, with the embassy seeking to improve efficiency and reduce delays in accessing essential travel documents.