The United States has warned its citizens residing in Nigeria against using its online passport renewal system, cautioning that doing so from outside the United States could automatically invalidate their current passport and leave them without a valid travel document.
The warning follows reports of US citizens abroad unknowingly submitting online passport renewal applications while outside the country, only to discover that their existing passports had been cancelled before they received replacement documents, reports The Guardian.
According to guidance issued by US diplomatic missions, citizens physically present outside the United States, including those in Nigeria, are not eligible to use the online passport renewal platform. Once an application is submitted through the system, the passport being renewed is automatically cancelled and can no longer be used for international travel, even if it remains within its validity period.
“Applying to renew a U.S. passport online while outside the United States will result in the automatic cancellation of your current passport,” the embassy said in a recent advisory, urging citizens abroad to use embassy or consular services instead.
The US Embassy in Abuja and the US Consulate General in Lagos continue to provide passport services for American citizens in Nigeria, including renewals and first-time applications through scheduled appointments.
Officials advised citizens requiring passport renewals to follow the appropriate overseas renewal procedures rather than attempting to use the domestic online system designed for applicants within the United States.
The advisory comes as the US government continues to encourage its citizens overseas to maintain valid travel documents and stay informed about security developments in their host countries.
Nigeria remains under a Level 3 travel advisory issued by the US State Department, which advises Americans to reconsider travel to certain parts of the country due to concerns including crime, terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest.
The embassy noted that eligible applicants in Nigeria may also have access to a mail-in passport renewal service through the US Embassy in Abuja, reducing the need for in-person visits in some cases.
US citizens were further encouraged to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which provides security updates, travel information and emergency notifications from US diplomatic missions.
The embassy advised Americans in Nigeria who are uncertain about their passport status or renewal options to contact the nearest US diplomatic mission before taking any action that could affect the validity of their travel documents.
Additional information on passport services and travel guidance is available through the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria.
