Nigeria Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC): how to get one (2026)
If you are a Nigerian abroad and your passport has been lost, stolen or has expired while you are stranded, an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) — sometimes called an emergency travel document — is what gets you home. It is a one-way travel document issued by a Nigerian embassy or high commission to allow a citizen to return to Nigeria. This guide explains who qualifies, what you need, and how to get one quickly without the common mistakes.
What an ETC is — and is not
- It is a one-way document to travel back to Nigeria when you cannot get a passport in time.
- It is not a passport. You cannot use it for onward international travel or as general ID — once home, you apply for a proper passport.
- It is for Nigerian citizens whose passport is lost, stolen, damaged or expired abroad.
Do you need an ETC? Check in 20 seconds
What you typically need
- Proof of Nigerian citizenship — a copy of the lost passport if you have one, your NIN, birth certificate or old ID.
- A police report if the passport was lost or stolen.
- Passport photographs to the mission’s spec.
- Your travel details — proof of the journey back to Nigeria.
- The application form and official fee at the mission.
After you get home
An ETC gets you into Nigeria; it does not replace your passport. Once back, apply for a new Nigerian passport (you will need your NIN). We can line that up so you are not left without a travel document for long.
Stranded abroad without a valid passport?
Tell us where you are and what happened. We will help you prepare the ETC application and evidence so the Nigerian mission can get you home — and sort a proper passport once you are back.
Get ETC help Chat on WhatsAppRelated guides
Getting your passport? You’ll probably also need
Handpicked next steps for this — we can handle any of them for you.