Guidance

Niger: Knowledge Base profile

Published 29 August 2025

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/niger-knowledge-base-profile/niger-knowledge-base-profile

Version 2.0

About: Niger

This document contains useful information about Niger which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

  • version 2.0
  • published for Home Office staff on 14 August 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Niger: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Niger.

Dual nationality is not recognised in Niger.

Niger: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Niger.

Legitimacy

Niger recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

  • legitimate:
    • if their parents were married at the time of the birth
    • from the time of the marriage if their parents marry after the birth
  • illegitimate if their parents never marry

Islamic marriages do not legitimatise a child if they were illegitimate from birth.

Niger: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Niger.

Adoption is legal in Niger.

Niger: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Niger.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Niger.

Niger: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Niger.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not allowed in Niger.

Niger recognises:

  • civil marriages
  • religious marriages
  • customary marriages

Polygamy is legal in Niger, but civil ceremonies do not accommodate polygamous marriages.

Niger: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents from Niger.

Birth, marriage, and death records are not held centrally in Niger.

Birth certificates

Births in Niger must be registered within:

  • 10 days if the birth occurred within a health facility
  • 30 days if the birth occurred elsewhere

Late registrations are allowed and will incur a fine, unless the person reporting the birth can provide a valid reason.

Birth certificates are issued immediately upon registration.

Births are registered with the Service d’Etat Civil or the town hall (Mairie) for births occurring in:

  • Niamey
  • Maradi
  • Tahoua
  • Zinder
  • Diffa
  • Tillabery
  • Dossso
  • Agadez

Births occurring elsewhere are registered with the sous prefecture where the birth occurred.

Marriage certificates

Marriages in Niger must be registered within 10 days. Late registrations are allowed and will incur a fine, unless the person reporting the marriage can provide a valid excuse.

Marriage certificates are issued immediately upon registration.

Marriages are registered with the Service d’Etat Civil or the town hall (Mairie) for marriages occurring in:

  • Niamey
  • Maradi
  • Tahoua
  • Zinder

Marriages occurring elsewhere are registered with the sous prefecture where the birth occurred.

Where the marriage is between a Niger citizen and a non-Niger citizen, the marriage must either be registered or celebrated in a Niger civil registration centre.

Death certificates

Deaths in Niger must be registered within:

  • 10 days if the death occurred within a health facility
  • 30 days if the death occurred elsewhere

Late registrations are allowed and will incur a fine unless the person reporting the death can provide a valid excuse.

Death certificates are issued immediately upon registration.

Deaths are registered with the Service d’Etat Civil or the town hall (Mairie) for deaths occurring in:

  • Niamey
  • Maradi
  • Tahoua
  • Zinder

Deaths occurring elsewhere are registered with the sous prefecture where the death occurred.

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