How To Register for JAMB UTME: Step by Step, From NIN to CBT Centre

JAMB registration is not hard, but it is strict. A small mistake with your NIN, phone number or details can follow you all the way to admission.

The 2027 process has not been announced yet. This guide uses the 2026 process, so you know exactly what to prepare before the window opens.

Start with your NIN, not with the form

JAMB pulls your details directly from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database. That means you cannot change your name or date of birth at a CBT centre.

If anything on your NIN record is wrong, fix it with NIMC first. Do it months before registration, because corrections can take time.

Step 1: get your profile code

Send your 11-digit NIN by SMS to 55019 or 66019, using the format "NIN" followed by the number. JAMB then sends you a 10-character profile code.

Use your own personal phone number for this. JAMB treats the number and the email address as unique, so they cannot be shared with another candidate.

Step 2: pay for your e-PIN

For 2026, the price depended on what you chose. UTME without mock was ₦7,200, UTME with mock was ₦8,700, and Direct Entry was ₦5,700.

You pay through banks, POS agents or approved fintech platforms, and JAMB sends the e-PIN to your phone by SMS. These amounts may change for 2027, and e-PIN payments were not refundable, so buy only through channels JAMB lists on its website.

Step 3: complete registration at an accredited centre

Take your profile code, your e-PIN and your documents to an approved JAMB CBT centre. There you choose your course, institutions and subjects, and give your fingerprints and photograph.

The centre will show your details on a screen for you to confirm. Read every line, because that is your last chance to catch a mistake before it is submitted.

Details you must check before you confirm

Many registration problems are caused by small errors that were visible on the screen. Go through this list slowly at the centre.

• Your name, date of birth, gender and state of origin.
• Your four subjects, which must match your course.
• Your course and your institution choices.
• Your phone number and email address.

If anything looks wrong, say so right away. Do not let anybody tell you that it can be fixed later for free.

Age rule for registration

For 2026, JAMB required candidates to be at least 16 years old by 30 September of that year. Younger candidates had to meet a very high standard in assessments.

Expect a similar rule for 2027, but wait for the official notice. Read our guide on what to do if a JAMB result is withheld, because age problems are one of the causes.

Registration problems and how to handle them

Sometimes the system rejects you. A phone number already tied to another profile will cause an error, and biometric problems can block your submission.

If your fingerprints will not capture, JAMB advises candidates to visit a JAMB office instead of forcing the registration at a centre. Do not pay anyone to bypass the system.

Choosing your course and subjects

Pick your course first, then choose the subjects that go with it. If you do it the other way round, you may end up with a combination your course does not accept.

Use our guide on JAMB subject combinations and the admission eligibility checker before you go to the centre.

What to do while you wait for 2027 dates

You do not need to wait for the announcement to start. Check your NIN record, get a personal phone number and email address that only you use, and prepare your documents.

Also read our JAMB 2027 guide to see what is confirmed. A calm start now makes registration day much easier.