Online Integrated Solutions, the official visa application authority and biometrics service provider for Nigeria, has introduced new charges for biometric enrolment, applicable to both foreigners entering the country and locals travelling abroad.

OIS has stated that foreigners arriving in Nigeria through Lagos and Abuja International Airports will be charged a $110 biometric enrolment fees, which is separate from the visa application fee.

The biometric enrolment fee ($90 for biometric visa and $20 for processing) is payable on arrival to the service providers engaged by the government of Nigeria.

Nigeria took a giant stride when it decided to join the ranks of countries like US and the UK to incorporate biometric visas for enhanced border control and security. However, the country decided to do so through the private sector due to the colossal costs involved with areas of the economy that require government funding.

Nigerian-owned company Online Integrated Service (OIS) has been charged with the responsibility of providing end-to-end infrastructure for the Nigerian Immigration Service under the Nigeria e-Immigration solution platform.

It launched the first Nigerian biometric visa at the Nigeria High Commission in London on September 8. Since then, every Nigerian seeking to acquire US and British visas (with the exception of holders of diplomatic passports) is required to undergo biometric enrolment.

Likewise, all foreigners coming to Nigeria from countries where the biometric visa is being issued (UK, USA, China, India and South Africa) are expected to visit the OIS centers in those countries for biometric enrolment, after which they will proceed to the relevant Nigerian Mission for the issuance of the actual visa.

To date, OIS has fully operational centers in 25 cities and 12 major countries. - TradeArabia News Service