The Nigerian Embassy in Qatar has reduced the processing time for passport renewals and fresh applications to about two weeks following a 10-day intervention exercise aimed at clearing a backlog of applications and improving consular services for Nigerians in the Gulf country.
The intervention, held in Doha from August 11 to 21, 2026, resulted in the processing of passport applications for 751 Nigerian nationals, according to a statement issued by the embassy on Monday.
Of the applications handled, 441 were for five-year passports, while 310 were for 10-year passports.
The completed passports began to be distributed to applicants on September 18, less than a month after the biometric capture exercise ended.
The development represents an improvement in turnaround time for Nigerians who depend on valid passports for international travel, employment and residency-related requirements.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Qatar, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the development as a significant step in the mission’s efforts to make consular services more efficient and responsive to the needs of Nigerians living 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 said.
He stressed the importance of timely passport services to Nigerians in Qatar, particularly given the role of valid travel documents in international travel, employment and maintaining legal residency status.
The intervention was organised against the backdrop of growing demand for consular services from Nigeria’s expatriate community in Qatar, with passport issuance and renewal among the most frequently sought services at diplomatic missions.
By dedicating a specific period to passport processing, the embassy was able to handle a large number of applications within 10 days and subsequently begin distributing the completed documents less than a month after biometric capture.
The embassy said the accelerated process was expected to reduce the waiting period for Nigerians seeking to renew or obtain passports and help those whose travel, employment or residency arrangements depend on valid documentation.
For the 751 applicants who participated in the Doha intervention, the commencement of distribution on September 18 marked the final stage of the exercise.
The mission said the initiative reflected its continued efforts under Ambassador Yakubu’s leadership to improve consular service delivery and respond more effectively to the needs of Nigerians resident in Qatar.
The development also highlights the important role of Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad in providing essential services, particularly passport issuance and renewal, to citizens living outside the country.