Not every Nigerian passport is the same colour, and not every colour costs the same. The blue "official" passport is one NIS reserves for a specific group of applicants.
Here's what it is, what it costs, and who actually qualifies. Getting this fee confused with the standard one is a common, and avoidable, source of a queried payment.
What the public officer passport is
NIS issues three passport types: standard (green), official (blue) and diplomatic. The official passport is the blue one. It sits between the standard green booklet most Nigerians carry and the diplomatic passport, which goes to a smaller group still.
It's built for public officers on government business, not for personal trips on official-looking paper. For the full picture of all three, see Nigerian passport types explained.
Its fee, and who qualifies
The official passport costs ₦40,000, for eligible public officers only.
You can't simply tick a box for this on the portal. NIS doesn't publish the exact eligibility process, so confirm your status with your employing agency before you start the form.
NIS's stated timeline
NIS's stated target time for the official passport beats a standard renewal's: 7 days after enrolment. Treat that as NIS's own goal for this booklet, not a fixed promise, the same caution that applies to any of its stated timelines.
How it compares with the other two types
The standard green passport is what most applicants apply for. It's priced by booklet and validity, as our passport fees guide covers.
A diplomatic passport sits at the other end. NIS issues it free of charge, but only to a narrow group, smaller again than public officers.
The official passport sits in the middle. It carries a real fee, and a wider group of eligible holders than the diplomatic booklet, but a much narrower one than the standard passport.
Applying like any other passport
Once eligibility is confirmed, an official passport application follows NIS's usual steps. That means the portal, your NIN check, payment, and an appointment at your chosen passport office for photo and biometric capture.
The paperwork and the visit work the same way as for any other passport. Only the fee and the eligibility rule are different.
Common mistakes
- Assuming you can apply for the official passport without confirmed public-office eligibility.
- Confusing the official (blue) passport with the diplomatic one, which is free.
- Paying the standard booklet fee by mistake when the official passport fee is different.
- Expecting the standard renewal's timeline rather than the official passport's own, faster target time.
A vetted partner firm can help with the paperwork for a passport application, once your eligibility for this route is settled.
If your role changes and you no longer qualify, expect your next renewal to follow the standard booklet and its own fee instead.