Can I take my own Nigeria passport photo?

Yes! You can take your own photo and use our free tool to crop it to the exact 35×45mm size required by NIS.

Nigeria Passport Photo Size & Requirements

Q: What size is a Nigerian passport photo?

Nigerian passport photos must be 35×45mm (1.4×1.8 inches) with a white background.

Nigeria Passport Photo Requirements

Last updated: February 2026 | By Prabir Sarkar

Create your perfect passport photo for Nigerian e-Passport applications – guaranteed to be accepted by Nigerian Immigration Service.

Quick Overview: Nigerian Passport Photo

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Photo Size

35 × 45 mm

1.4 × 1.8 inches

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Background

White

Plain, no patterns

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Digital Size

413 × 531 px

At 300 DPI

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Photo Age

6 months

Must be recent

Nigeria, the Giant of Africa! 🌍 With over 200 million people, Nigeria has one of the most traveled populations on the continent. Whether you're applying for a fresh e-Passport or renewing an existing one, getting the right photo is crucial.

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has adopted the enhanced e-Passport system that requires high-quality biometric photos. Our free tool makes creating NIS-compliant photos a breeze!

What Documents Need Nigerian Photo?

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Nigerian e-Passport

Enhanced biometric passport with 10 years validity for adults

See requirements →

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National ID Card (NIN)

National Identification Number card - essential for all Nigerians

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Nigeria Visa

For foreigners visiting or working in Nigeria

See requirements →

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Driver's License

Nigerian driving license from FRSC

How to Take Your Nigeria Passport Photo

Find good lighting

Natural daylight works best. Avoid harsh shadows on your face.

Use a white background

A plain white wall works perfectly. Or use our AI background removal!

Upload to VisaPicPro

Select "Nigeria Passport" preset and let us do the rest!

Download & Print

Get your perfect 35×45mm photo ready for NIS.

NIS Photo Guidelines

Official Requirements (Nigerian Immigration Service)

DO

✓ Face the camera directly
✓ Keep neutral expression
✓ Both ears visible
✓ Eyes open and visible
✓ Remove glasses
✓ White background only

DON'T

✗ Smile with teeth showing
✗ Wear non-religious headwear
✗ Use filters or edits
✗ Cover face with hair
✗ Shadows on face
✗ Colored backgrounds

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is a Nigerian passport photo?

The Nigerian passport photo size is 35×45mm (3.5×4.5cm). This is the standard international size used for most passports worldwide.

Can I wear traditional headwear in my Nigerian passport photo?

Religious head coverings are permitted if worn daily for religious reasons. However, your face from forehead to chin and both edges must be clearly visible.

How much does a Nigerian e-Passport cost?

Nigerian e-Passport fees are approximately ₦35,000 for 32 pages (5 years) and ₦50,000 for 64 pages (5 years). For 10-year validity, fees are ₦70,000 (32 pages) and ₦100,000 (64 pages). Fees may vary - check portal.immigration.gov.ng

How do I apply for a Nigerian passport online?

Visit portal.immigration.gov.ng to start your application. You'll need to create an account, fill the form, upload your photo, pay the fee, and book an appointment for biometric capture at an NIS office.

Nigeria ePassport Photo Guide — NIS Requirements & Tips

Nigeria's Enhanced ePassport Changed What's Acceptable

Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) introduced the enhanced ePassport with polycarbonate data pages and advanced biometric features. This upgrade meant the old photo standards that worked for the green MRP passport were no longer sufficient. The biometric system now demands a 35×45mm photo with a clean white background, sharp focus, even lighting, and accurate skin tones. NIS scanning equipment at passport offices runs automated quality checks, and photos that look "fine" to the human eye sometimes fail the machine reading.

A common misconception is that you don't need to bring photos because NIS captures your biometric photo at the office. While that's true for the chip data, you still need to upload a qualifying photo to the online portal when starting your application at portal.immigration.gov.ng. If that upload fails validation, your application can't proceed to the payment and appointment stage.

NIS Offices

NIS Headquarters, Abuja — Sauka, Airport Road, Abuja. The main administrative office, though state commands also process applications.
Ikoyi Passport Office, Lagos — 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi. One of the busiest in the country.
Festac Passport Office, Lagos — 2nd Avenue, Festac Town. Handles overflow from Ikoyi.
Kano State Command — Bompai Road, Kano. The primary office for northern Nigeria.
Nigeria High Commission London — 9 Northumberland Avenue, London WC2N 5BX
Nigerian Embassy Washington DC — 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

Payment is exclusively through the Remita platform. No cash payments at passport offices.

Photo Mistakes Nigerian Applicants Make

Studio uses blue backdrop — This was standard in Nigeria for decades. The ePassport requires white. Specifically tell the photographer: "I need white background for enhanced ePassport."
Photo underexposed — Darker skin tones require careful lighting to ensure all facial features are clearly defined. Insist on seeing the raw image on the camera screen before printing — the photo should look bright and clear.
Gele or head tie too tall — Traditional headwraps are allowed for religious/cultural reasons but shouldn't extend too far above the head or cast shadows on the face. The outline of the head should still be apparent.
Photo taken years ago — Must reflect your current appearance. NIS officers are known to challenge mismatches between the uploaded photo and the person at the appointment.
File format wrong for portal upload — The NIS portal accepts JPEG only, under 200KB. Other formats, oversized files, or heavily compressed images all fail the upload validation.

Fee Structure

The enhanced ePassport comes in two sizes: 32-page at $80 USD and 64-page at $110 USD, both with 10-year validity. Processing officially takes 3-6 weeks domestically, though actual timelines vary by state. Premium fast-track processing isn't officially offered, but Abuja and Lagos tend to be faster than state commands. For Nigerians in the diaspora, the cost is the same ($80/$110 USD) plus consular service fees, with processing times of 6-12 weeks at most missions.