The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has rolled out a crucial update to its passport tracking system, introducing a new real-time status feature designed to eliminate the confusion surrounding passport collection.
For months, the most frustrating phrase for Nigerian travellers hasn’t been “insufficient funds”, but the “Production Queue.” But following a wave of public backlash regarding prolonged delays and vague feedback, the NIS has finally tweaked its portal to tell applicants exactly what they need to know: Is the booklet actually printed?
This development, confirmed via the service’s official channels this week, addresses a major blind spot that has led to overcrowding and shouting matches at passport offices from Ikoyi to Gwagwalada.
Knowing When Your Passport Is Actually Ready
Until this week, the tracking portal was notoriously binary. Applicants were often stuck in the limbo of “Processing” or “In Queue,” with no way of knowing if their passport was sitting in a drawer or still just a file on a computer. The new update changes the game by introducing a specific milestone: “PRODUCED (PASSPORT PRODUCED, READY FOR COLLECTION).”
According to the updated interface on track.immigration.gov.ng, this status confirms that the physical booklet has been printed and quality-checked.
- For Walk-ins: It is the green light to physically go to the NIS office for pick-up.
- For Courier Users: It signals that the document is ready for the logistics partner to dispatch.
This seemingly small technical tweak solves a massive administrative headache: the “Ghost Passport” problem, where thousands of printed passports sit uncollected because their owners are still waiting for an email notification that often never arrives.
Why the Government Made This Change
Let’s be honest—this transparency didn’t happen in a vacuum. It is a direct response to a timeline that has been burning with complaints.
By late 2025, public patience had worn thin. Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), were flooded with stories of applicants waiting six months or more for simple renewals. High-profile complaints, including those from investigative journalists and business leaders, highlighted a system where paying higher fees did not guarantee faster service.
The frustration was compounded by the recent price hikes. With the cost of a 10-year validity passport rising to ₦100,000, expectations for service delivery shifted. When you pay a premium, you expect premium communication. Instead, applicants were met with silence and the dreaded “stuck in queue” status.
How to Check Using the New Tracker
If you are currently waiting for your passport, you don’t need to guess anymore. Here is the simple way to check:
- Visit the official portal: track.immigration.gov.ng.
- Input your Application Number and Reference Number.
- Check for the new “PRODUCED” tag.
What the Messages Now Mean:
- Production Queue: Your biometric data is approved, but the booklet hasn’t been printed yet.
- PRODUCED: The booklet exists. It is safe to go to the office.
- Issued: You have collected it (or the courier has picked it up).
Will This Fix the Long Wait?
While this update is a significant win for transparency, it is not a magic cure for the underlying issue of speed. Knowing a passport is “Produced” is excellent, but if the timeline from “Enrolment” to “Production” remains sluggish, the frustration will persist.
However, for the thousands of Nigerians who have been visiting immigration offices blindly, only to be turned back by security, this tool is a necessary relief. If you have an application pending, check the portal today. You might be angry at the delay, only to discover your passport has been waiting for you since last Tuesday.
