The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has cut the processing time for new passport applications and renewals to about two weeks, in a move aimed at improving consular services for Nigerians living in the Gulf country.
The development followed a 10-day dedicated passport intervention exercise conducted by the embassy in Doha from August 11 to 21, 2026, during which 751 Nigerians had their passport applications processed.
Of the applications, 441 were for five-year passports, while 310 were for 10-year passports.
The embassy commenced distribution of the completed passports on September 18, less than a month after the biometric capture exercise ended.
Speaking on the development, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the faster turnaround as a major milestone in efforts to improve consular services to Nigerians in the country.
“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 told reporters.
He stressed the importance of valid passports to Nigerians living abroad, particularly for international travel, employment and maintaining lawful residency status.
The intervention came amid increasing demand for consular services by the Nigerian community in Qatar, where valid travel documents are essential for several immigration and employment requirements.
Passport issuance and renewal remain among the key services provided by Nigerian diplomatic missions to citizens residing outside the country.
The embassy’s intervention was therefore designed to process a large number of applications within a defined period while reducing delays associated with obtaining new or renewed passports.
The processing of 751 applications during the 10-day exercise, followed by the commencement of distribution on September 18, represents a targeted effort to address passport-related demands among Nigerians in Qatar.
The embassy said the improved turnaround time would help ease the burden associated with prolonged waits for travel documents and strengthen the mission’s capacity to respond to consular needs.
For Nigerians living and working in Qatar, the development is expected to facilitate access to essential travel and identity documents, particularly for those whose residency and employment status depend on valid passports.
