Hi all, first time poster, so be gentle.

How does a Dual Nationality Nigeria/UK passport work? Is the passport itself exactly like a Normal Nigerian pasport and does it reflect where one was born in the UK.

Can I get a Dual Nationality Nigeria/UK passport from Nigeria (Abuja)? Or do people just get a Nigerian passport that does not reflect that they were born outside Nigeria?
If I have a normal Nigerian passport to travel to Nigeria and tried to come back with a UK passport, will I not get hassle at the airport for not having a VISA.

I am just about to go to Nigeria with a UK passport and Visa. It has cost about £120 all in using the postal service (thank god I dont have to travel to London). I could have used applied for a Dual Nationality Nigeria/UK passport but its too much hassle and I dont know any Nierian passport holder guarantor (they also have to sign affidavit).

I have not go my visa yet (some problems) and really dont like dealing with Nigeria High Commission in the UK - rude, insulting and unhelpful people.

An individual who claims dual nationality will normally hold two separate passports, one for each country. From your post above I get the impression that you think there is one passport that states your dual status; not so.

If you born outside Nigeria and can prove you were then the Place of Birth (POB) on the Nigerian passport should state so. My Sister was born in London and had a Nigerian passport which stated her POB as 'London'. My Dad also had a British passport and his POB was stated the town in Nigeria where he was born.

Another note: I don't have a Nigerian passport but I have heard that if you leave the country with your Nigerian passport ought to have the 'right of abode' for the UK stamped on it if you have any plans of coming back. I don't know if it is true but it is worth checking out.

You are alllowed to hold the 2 passports!!


When u are leaving UK, you use the Nigerian P, on your way back you use the British one!!

It is cheaper to have a Nigerian P, rather than paying for Visas all the time.

Thanks for reply. The issue is the place of birth - I was born in the UK and that is on my British passport.

If I go for a dual nationality passport in the UK then it will state that I was born in the UK. However, if I decide to get a Nigerian passport when I travel to Nigeria, I wonder whether I will need to put place of birth as UK. I fear it might complicate things and make getting the passport less straightforward.

It is not an issue of cost but time and the requirements in terms of guarantor that has to be a Nigerian passport holder and the person also has to sign an affidavit and declare wealth status etc. Dealing with the Nigeria High Commission in London is a pain!

aysometin:

You are alllowed to hold the 2 passports!!

My British P states my POB as Ibadan and I have a Nigerian Passport as well!!

When u are leaving UK, you use the Nigerian P, on your way back you use the British one!!

It is cheaper to have a Nigerian P, rather than paying for Visas all the time.

you are right. it is always better to keep your naija passport.

chris_j:

Thanks for reply. The issue is the place of birth - I was born in the UK and that is on my British passport.

If I go for a dual nationality passport in the UK then it will state that I was born in the UK. However, if I decide to get a Nigerian passport when I travel to Nigeria, I wonder whether I will need to put place of birth as UK. I fear it might complicate things and make getting the passport less straightforward.

It is not an issue of cost but time and the requirements in terms of guarantor that has to be a Nigerian passport holder and the person also has to sign an affidavit and declare wealth status etc. Dealing with the Nigeria High Commission in London is a pain!

they are serious pain. many good for nothing people in that place. i have to take visa there for some people so i know the wahala they create.

My brother get a visa to vist  Nigeria.  When you get to Nigeria, do your Nigerian passport!! It would cost you not more than 20k at worst with no stories.( My freind here did that in December)

You are a Nigerian by descent!!

It is not a big issue abeg!!

chris_j:

Thanks for reply. The issue is the place of birth - I was born in the UK and that is on my British passport.

If I go for a dual nationality passport in the UK then it will state that I was born in the UK. However, if I decide to get a Nigerian passport when I travel to Nigeria, I wonder whether I will need to put place of birth as UK. I fear it might complicate things and make getting the passport less straightforward.

It is not an issue of cost but time and the requirements in terms of guarantor that has to be a Nigerian passport holder and the person also has to sign an affidavit and declare wealth status etc. Dealing with the Nigeria High Commission in London is a pain!

Poster

There is no such thing as a 'dual nationality passport'. A person who claims dual status holds two passports and not a joint one.   
Also, your POB is a fact and doesn't change for different passports so even if you were born on MARS, official documents will always state that you were born on MARS.
If you do decide to get a Nigerian passport then don't create issues for yourself by stating that you were born in a place different to where you were actually born or different to what it says on your British passport. That would be an immediate red flag to the authorities. Imagine going through Heathrown or MM with a British Passport stating that you were born in the UK and a Nigerian one stating that you were born in Lagos? How would that work?

Some great comments and advice. I was born in the Uk but grew up in Nigeria - even did NYSC b4 travelling abroad.

I will try and see whether I can get a Nigerian passport when I get to Nigeria - I am in Nigeria for only 3 weeks. I will actually like to go to Abuja because I've never been - it was still under construction when I left,

So what is the process of getting one in Nigeria? Can I possibly get my family to start the process before I arrive in Nigeria. Thanks.

^^^

Ha Elo my bestest friend  on NL is back, we ^{myself and TOH} have not been able to sleep a wink since you mentioned you were travelling to India and a few weeks later, those terrorists bombed the Taj Mahal in India Glad to have you back, absence makes the heart grow fonder you see

chris_j:

Some great comments and advice. I was born in the Uk but grew up in Nigeria - even did NYSC b4 travelling abroad.

I will try and see whether I can get a Nigerian passport when I get to Nigeria - I am in Nigeria for only 3 weeks. I will actually like to go to Abuja because I've never been - it was still under construction when I left,

So what is the process of getting one in Nigeria? Can I possibly get my family to start the process before I arrive in Nigeria. Thanks.

It usually costs N5,000, but if you want it done in a day, you are looking at paying anything from N20,000 upwards and you have to be present to have the passport picture done, ^{though I would not be surprised if it can be done in absentia} and you do not have to have a right of abode on it, well I don't and I have been using it for about 4 years now.


Make sure you get it done, because apart from saving you the hassles of dealing with those rude staffs every time you need to get a visa as you have encountered, you would be saving yourself the £40 it costs to get the visa every time you wanna travel to Nigeria too.

chaircover:

The new e-passport official price is N10, 000

You have to be there in person as they take the picture as well as thumbprints and if I remember correctly, I had to sign it as well.

We had ours done at their office in Abuja and you can wait and take your passport away. I don’t know what it’s like in Lagos, but like most things, things are much civilised and easier in Abuja than in Lagos.

I will say go for it; its much cheaper on the long run and less hassle; no more having to spend 2 days at the High commission in London.

The only thing to be mindful of is that when you leave Nigeria, they will want to see both passports i.e both British & Nigerian so please have both to hand.

Very Very true

Believe me, I was reduced to tears (full grown adult-like me) when I did my Nigerian e-passport in Lagos back in 2007.

After paying 23k to a cheat, I went through hell!! On one fateful night I started crying, the Controller had to help me. I was still living in Nigeria then sha!!

I don't know how it works now.

If you know anyone in Abuja, just do it there!!

This thread should give you a rough idea of how much a Nigerian passport costs, so just hold your N20k plus like I said earlier because you might need to have your passport pictures taken and have to notarize some documents at the local Courts if you don't wanna hand over your originals


https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-322555.0.html#msg4528371

@Poster.
Im of dual british and nigerian nationality aswell, but was born in nigeria.
My wife is also dual but was born in london and works with the UKBA. (UNITED KINDOM BORDER AGENCY)

I am telling you from experience.

In order for you to get a Nigerian passport here (with london written as ur place of birth). "YOU WILL NEED A COPY OF YOUR UK BIRTH CERTIFICATE" to show at the nigerian passport office.

Do not get tempted at offers from people telling u they wil get ur passport done without ur uk birthcert. THEY WILL GIVE U PASSPORT YES, BUT IT WILL SHOW PLACE OF BIRTH AS NIGERIA. Now this will cause complications for you with UK authorities. Because im sure u know how strict the UK is, they will wonder "y are born in nigeria, and also born in london, you cant be born in two places at the same time".


Secondly. They will direct you to the chief immigration officer to get authorisation for approval of your nigeria passport. It is classed as "foreign birth" Really funny but he will ask you "are u sure you'r nigerian"??, lol



DO NOT TAKE UR ORIGINAL BRITH CERTFICATE, I REPEAT DO NOT TAKE YOUR ORIGINAL. I dont need to tell u y, im sure u know.


The reason for this is they need to prove u were indeed born in the uk. due to fraudulent applications for uk passports recieved by the uk embassy here.

Regards

german007:

@Poster.
Im of dual british and nigerian nationality aswell, but was born in nigeria.
My wife is also dual but was born in london and works with the UKBA.  (UNITED KINDOM BORDER AGENCY)

I am telling you from experience.

In order for you to get a Nigerian passport here (with london written as your place of birth).  "YOU WILL NEED A COPY OF YOUR UK BIRTH CERTIFICATE"  to show at the nigerian passport office. 

Do not get tempted at offers from people telling u they wil get your passport done without your uk birthcert.  THEY WILL GIVE U PASSPORT YES, BUT IT WILL SHOW PLACE OF BIRTH AS NIGERIA.      Now this will cause complications for you with UK authorities. Because im sure u know how strict the UK is, they will wonder "y are born in nigeria, and also born in london, you cant be born in two places at the same time".


Secondly.  They will direct you to the chief immigration officer to get authorisation for approval of your nigeria passport. It is classed as "foreign birth"  Really funny but he will ask you "are u sure you'r nigerian"??, lol



DO NOT TAKE your ORIGINAL BRITH CERTFICATE,   I REPEAT DO NOT TAKE YOUR ORIGINAL. I dont need to tell u y, im sure u know.


The reason for this is they need to prove u were indeed born in the uk. due to fraudulent applications for uk passports recieved by the uk embassy here.

Regards

Hence the reason I said he should take along extra money to get original documents he does not want to hand over notarized in Court.


Although I was present at the Passport Office, it was my Dad's friend that did all the legwork that day and when he said I should hand over my B/C to his friend, I refused, saying it was him who told me not to trust anyone in Nigeria, my pops didnt' know what to say or where to look after this and just drove me to the Court


All I did was go to some Court, paid some money and was given an A4 sized letter stating that "My name was blah, blah, blah and I was born in the UK . . ." and this was all I took to the Passport Office in Ikeja in place of my Birth Certificate. If my memory serves me right, the Court was also in Ikeja.


And my Sister did hers after mine (2007) and was not even present in the Country despite all the noise people make that you have to be present to have your pictures taken

@busy-body.


Interesting. I bet that was a long time ago though?

german007:

@busy-body.


Interesting. I bet that was a long time ago though?

Nope, check my post again, have modified it, money talks in Naija you know Naija is sweet

@Busybody

Okay il enlighten you a bit

No -one can do a nigerian-passort in absence anymore. Since last year its all gone electronic. All the passports are processed in malaysia. This is not a case of "money talks" They take your biometric details, and infact to recieve your passport once it is done, they need your fingerprints to release it.

The finger prints at the point of release has to match the finger prints on the passport's electronic data page.

They dont accept court affidavits like the one you did anymore. They have to see at least a copy of the uk birthcert. Even a copy of the british passport isnt acceptable.

Thanks

german007:

@Busybody

Okay il enlighten you a bit

No -one can do a nigerian-passort in absence anymore. Since last year its all gone electronic. All the passports are processed in malaysia. This is not a case of "money talks" They take your biometric details, and infact to recieve your passport once it is done, they need your fingerprints to release it.

The finger prints at the point of release has to match the finger prints on the passport's electronic data page.

They dont accept court affidavits like the one you did anymore. They have to see at least a copy of the uk birthcert. Even a copy of the british passport isnt acceptable.

Thanks

I beg to differ so make I enlighten you too small


As long as people are still being issued the old style passport for N50,000 in only one area in Nigeria, anything goes jare, abeg no be Naija


Wow, tonight is a night of enlightenment oya na ya turn to enlighten me next

LOL, U FUNNY

Yes hun , the old style one is issued in "ekiti state." but from this year october it will be phased out totally and be unaccepted everywhere, including embassies, banks, etc, So my beautiful, why spend 50k for something that'l be useless by next year? ?.

german007:

LOL, U FUNNY

Yes  hun , the old style one is issued in "ekiti state." but from this year october it will be phased out totally and be unaccepted everywhere, including embassies, banks, etc,  So my beautiful, why spend 50k for something that'l be useless by next year? ?.

What You mean it would not be valid more than next year even if it has a five years expiry date on it Chei, thank God it wasn't me who forked out that amount, na sopona I would have invoked on their head for chopping my money, it would not have been funny at all


But jokes aside, how did you know about this "Ado-ekiti thing", I was assured that this exclusive information was only for rich royal people of my ilks with blue blood flowing in their veins, and I pay millions of pounds a year in bribe charitable good cause to retain this priviledge, so how come a commoner like you got to find out, because even those local indigineous Ekiti bush people were not supposed to know this If not for my donation, would Ekiti have a major road linking it to civilisation? Would they have just one Secondary School or was it the only University in town I built with my hard-earned cash


Heads must surely roll 

my beautiful who tell you say i be commoner? lol.

and hmmmm i like dat word "royal", so il call u princess?? ,lol

german007:

my beautiful who tell you say i be commoner?   lol.

and hmmmm i like dat word "royal", so il call u princess?? ,lol

Glad you recognise I am a beautiful Princess I honestly didn't know some of you commoners could be this sharp, I am impressed

well, did'nt have to c ur pics to know ur a beautiful princesss, cos only a princess'l be awake on a beautiful nite like dis,

german007:

well, did'nt have to c your pics to know your a beautiful princesss, cos only a princess'l be awake on a beautiful nite like dis,

I don't like to boast but the one time I uploaded my pix on NL, the server went into meltdown, it was overwhelmed by my beauty you see and if not that I was a modest person, I would have informed you that Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Halle Berry and all those pretty women rolled together, have nothing on me, I easily put them in the shade, but like I said I am too modest to boast

hmmmmm my beautiful princess, very interesting,
no wonder nl was down for a bit, y dont u go to americas next top model?, lol

So tell me, u in london or lagos?,

I live in london , but im here in nigeria and have been for 3 months.

Well, i could direct you to someone to help out at the Immigrations office in Abuja (airport road)
Abuja is always better

Its not much of a hassle, i couldnt wait to collect my passport the same day.
i went for it two days after.

The official price at the time i got mine was 8750, this year,
but you'd have to settle some scores with about 7000

german007:

hmmmmm my beautiful princess, very interesting,
no wonder nl was down for a bit, y dont u go to americas next top model?, lol

So tell me, u in london or lagos?,

I live in london , but im here in nigeria and have been for 3 months.

What a question, anyway I will let you off this one time commoner Where else would a QUEEN-IN-WAITING live if not London ehn

Gamine:

Well, i could direct you to someone to help out at the Immigrations office in Abuja (airport road)
Abuja is always better

Its not much of a hassle, i couldnt wait to collect my passport the same day.
i went for it two days after.

The official price at the time i got mine was 8750, this year,
but you'd have to settle some scores with about 7000

See another enlightener (sic) in the house German007 you see, I am a modest person like I keep on saying and I didn't want to use my wordy loquacious Queen's English to bombard and confuzzle you commoner's senses hence the reason I used the "e" word, you get me bruv

UPDATE ON NIGERIAN PASSPORTS AND VISAS - 10 Nov 2014 - 16.55

I travelled to Lagos in July 2014. I have not been for several years. I was born in London and hold a UK passport, but grew up in Lagos. I couldn't get to the Nigerian High Commission in London (NHC) and because of the numerous complaints online, I paid the airline approved visa company to do this for me. This cost approx. 400 GBP in total, including the NHC fees (they appear to charge twice - once at the HC in London, and online to a company in Lagos!).

I still had to send them all the documents: (1) UK passport; (2) 2 photos; (3) letter of intro; (4) proof of employment; (5) proof of financial means; (6) letter of invitation/sponsorship from a Nigerian Passport holder and (7) a copy of his passport plus ( the visa application form. However, it was well worth it as the visa company dealt with the NHC and the online application and returned the visa to me in 6 days.

I arrived on a Thursday in Lagos. On Friday morning, I was at the FESTAC Immigration Office to apply for a Naija passport. The official cost is about N10,000 (and probably takes forever), but I was told I could get it by the following Monday if I paid N20,000. Due to lack of time and for an easy life, I paid up. A lovely immigration officer checked the original docs, and I gave COPIES of my birth certificate, old UK passports, current UK passport, expired Nigerian driving licence from 1975 (when I left), copy of my uncle's ID and a current Naija utility bill as proof of address. (There is a copy booth on the premises charging N10 per copy).

On Monday morning, I went to the immigration office (I.O) to check progress. The machine had broken down and they were expecting a new one from Abuja. In the meantime, I was interviewed by a second officer who thought my application was suspicious and said I had to provide a Letter of Indigene from the Chairman of Lagos State to prove that I was a Nigerian as my father died over 30 years ago (even though they all knew the family name)!! This didn't arrive 'til Thursday. Early Friday I was back at the I.O. to pick up the passport. Unfortunately, the new laminator was faulty and had destroyed a batch of 10 passports, so mine had to be redone. Around 2pm I was brought to another room to have my photo taken electronically for the passport, sign it and I was fingerprinted.

Finally, at 3.30pm, the passport was ready and I had to rush to the bank in torrential rain before it closed. My lovely immigration lady took me out the quick route to get a cab and came with me to the bank. . Whatever I gave her was money well spent.

¡¡HAPPINESS!!

Now I have to figure out how the dual-passport works when travelling, but that's another post.

@OP, I have dual nationality which is uk & Nigeria.
I've always had a British passport, I was born in London, came to Nigeria with a visa, which expired long time ago but was never bothered as I know it's my fatherland lol.
Anyways, I was going to the uk in February, knew I didn't want to waste any money for naija visa when coming back so simply went to get my naija passport done before I left.
I presented my birth certificate, copy of my dad's naija passport, all other documents where done for me on the spot, got it done at the Ikeja NIS office, went there by 9am & left by 12pm with my passport, paid the guy 21k for everything cos I didn't wanna stress, so no queueing up & all that!
Also my naija passport does say I was born in uk.

I have a question, I have two nationality, both nigerian/british, do I have to show both passport when leaving uk airport or just nigerian, however I have errors on my Nigerian passport.like my date of birth and names, wuld correct it wen I get to nigeria, can I still leave uk....any answers pls would be grateful and helpful

olazy1:
I have a question, I have two nationality, both nigerian/british, do I have to show both passport when leaving uk airport or just nigerian, however I have errors on my Nigerian passport.like my date of birth and names, wuld correct it wen I get to nigeria, can I still leave uk....any answers pls would be grateful and helpful

There was a weird memo passed round to Travel agents, Nigerian Embassy in UK and some few professionals, around August/September last year...


Something about travelling with one passport to/fro Nigeria only...Border machines at the airport are being reprogrammed, so very soon you would only be able to travel to/back from Nigeria with just one passport.


Until now, we can travel out with our Nigerian Passport and return with our UK passport, but once this dodgy rule kicks in, if you choose to travel with your UK passport, you have to buy a £400 Nigeria visa to guarantee a smooth passage to Nigeria otherwise you would be sent back from UK airport that you don't have a visa to travel to Nigeria. If you use your Nigerian passport to fly out, you would be denied boarding back to the UK because the computer would not show up that you are a British Citizen, so you would be told to go and apply for a UK visa if you want to travel to UK.


The counter staffs would not be able to help you because every time they swipe your passport, it will show up as blank. So be warned...


I reckon 100% that there would be war in Nigeria following the February 14th election, started by either Boko because Buhari is going to win, but the result will be rigged and the seat given to GEJ, hence reason for such drastic sinister moves...