The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to Australia, Ambassador Jane Bassey Adams, has said that there is no hiking of administrative fees in Australia.

Daily Trust reports that the Nigerian Scholars in Australia (NISA) had on Saturday expressed concern over the recent increase in administrative fees by the Nigerian High Commission in Canberra.

The development follows a circular issued by the mission on 26 February 2026, announcing revised administrative charges for consular services effective 1 March 2026.

Under the new structure, Nigerians applying for passport renewals, emergency travel certificates, and document authentication will pay 150 Australian dollars per service, while company product authentication fees were adjusted to 1,000 Australian dollars per document.

Adams, in a statement issued in Canberra, Australia, said that the high commission was only looking at current market realities to ensure that the fees were in tandem with the consular services rendered by the high commission.

In a statement on Saturday, NISA President, Comrade Juwon Fayomi, said the association believes the new fees represent a significant increase compared to previous charges

However, while reacting to this development on Sunday, Adams said the high commission had planned the increments to be able to meet the consular needs of Nigerians in the host country accordingly.

The envoy explained that although letters were initially issued to that effect, it was immediately withdrawn for further consultations.

The envoy wondered why the President of Nigerian Scholars in Australia (NISA), an association that had been in close contact with the high commission, did not deem it necessary to clarify the development before rushing to the media.

She urged the public to disregard any counter information regarding administrative fees in Australia, saying that the interest of Nigerians living in Australia is paramount to the high commission.

“We are here to meet the yearnings of our Nigerian nationals in Australia by responding to their consular needs, and this is of utmost importance to us. But… it became necessary to increase administrative fees to reflect current economic realities in the host country,” she said.

Adams however added that, “The High Commission has reversed to status accordingly. At the moment, no administrative fees have been increased.” (Daily Trust)

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