By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has significantly reduced the turnaround time for passport renewals and new issuances, with applicants now receiving their newly produced travel documents about two weeks after biometric capture.
The development followed a 10-day passport intervention exercise conducted by the embassy in Doha from August 11 to 21, 2026, during which consular officials processed applications for 751 Nigerian nationals.
The applications comprised 441 requests for five-year passports and 310 applications for 10-year passports, reflecting the growing demand for consular services among Nigerians residing in the Gulf country.
Distribution of the completed passports commenced on September 18, less than a month after the biometric capture exercise ended, enabling applicants to receive their travel documents considerably earlier than conventional diplomatic processing timelines.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the development as a significant milestone in the mission’s efforts to improve consular service delivery.
“The fact that passports are now being completed and returned within about two weeks of capture demonstrates our commitment to improving service delivery and responding to the needs of our community,” Yakubu said.
He stressed the importance of valid passports to Nigerians living abroad, noting that the documents are essential for international travel, employment and maintaining lawful residency status.
The intervention comes amid increasing demand for consular services from Nigeria’s growing expatriate community in Qatar, with the embassy’s faster processing aimed at reducing delays and improving access to essential travel documentation.
The development underscores the mission’s efforts to make consular services more efficient and responsive to the needs of Nigerians in the diaspora.
