A Nigerian citizen in Burkina Faso whose passport has been lost or stolen, or has expired, may need a travel document to return home quickly. The Embassy assists Nigerian citizens in this situation.
From the Emergency Travel Certificate to the Single Travel Emergency Passport
For many years, Nigerian missions abroad issued an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) to citizens who needed to travel back to Nigeria without a valid passport. In November 2025, the Nigeria Immigration Service announced that the ETC is being replaced by the Single Travel Emergency Passport (STEP).
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap, described the STEP as "a temporary travel document for Nigerians abroad whose passports have expired, lost, or stolen, enabling them to return home safely and securely". It is issued at designated Nigerian embassies and consulates abroad and is valid for a single entry into Nigeria.
Who can apply
The emergency travel document is for Nigerian citizens who are outside Nigeria, who need to return home and who cannot use their passport because it has expired, been lost or been stolen. It allows one journey back to Nigeria. It is not a replacement passport for further travel.
What to do
- Contact the consular section on +226 25 36 09 80 during opening hours (Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:00). The consular officers will tell you which document applies to your case and what you need to provide.
- If your situation is urgent, for example if you must travel within hours or you are in danger, call the emergency line on +226 72 00 00 11, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Related services
See also the consular services of the Embassy, in particular emergency assistance and consular registration. Nigerians who register with the Embassy can be reached and assisted more quickly when something goes wrong.