JAMB Releases Updated Registration Guidelines for 2026 UTME

JAMB Releases Updated Registration Guidelines for 2026 UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the full and official instructions for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise. This announcement was made via the board’s verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, giving candidates ample time to prepare before the portal opens.

Every year, thousands of applicants make avoidable mistakes during registration due to misinformation, incomplete documents, or issues with their NIN and email setup.

To reduce problems in 2026, JAMB has provided clear steps and solutions to the most common errors students encounter.

Below is a detailed, simplified breakdown of the 2026 UTME registration guidelines, rewritten to help you understand each requirement easily.

Complete Registration Process for the 2026 UTME

Before you begin any step of the registration, JAMB strongly advises that you confirm all your personal information. Ensure the following details are correct:

• Your National Identification Number (NIN)
• A valid email address that you can access anytime
• Your O’level or A’level qualifications
• Correct spelling of your name, accurate date of birth, gender, state and LGA of origin

These details are extremely important because JAMB retrieves your biodata directly from the NIMC database once your profile code is generated.

1. Generating Your Profile Code

The first mandatory step is to create your JAMB profile code. Candidates must send their 11-digit NIN in the correct format below:

Send: NIN 00000011111 to 55019 or 66019

Once this message is sent successfully, you will receive:

• A unique 10-digit profile code
• Biodata pulled directly from NIMC

Note that the profile code cannot be changed once created. This is why candidates must ensure that their NIN information is accurate before sending the SMS.

2. Visit a JAMB Office or Accredited CBT Centre

After obtaining your profile code, the next step is to complete your registration at any approved:

• JAMB State Office, or
• Accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre

Only centres recognized by JAMB can conduct valid registrations. Avoid using business centres, cyber cafés, or unverified vendors as this could lead to invalid or incomplete registration.

3. Purchasing Your JAMB E-PIN

Your E-PIN is the official ticket that allows you to register for the UTME. You can purchase the E-PIN from:

• Commercial banks
• JAMB-approved online payment platforms
• Authorized vendors within accredited CBT centres

Stay away from unapproved agents to avoid fake E-PINs or payment fraud.

4. Filling and Confirming Your Registration Details

Before the CBT centre submits your form, you must carefully review all your details. Pay attention to:

• Your personal data (name, age, gender, LGA, state)
• Your choice of course and institutions
• Uploaded passport photograph
• Biometric fingerprint capture

JAMB has mandated that every CBT centre must use a dual-monitor system so candidates can view the information being entered in real time.
If the centre does not allow you to see your screen, do not proceed, ask them to follow JAMB’s rules or report them immediately.

ALSO READ: 2026 JAMB Subject Combination for All Courses

Key Instructions Every Candidate Must Follow

To make your registration process smooth, JAMB expects candidates to comply with the following important guidelines:

• Correct any mistake on your NIN before generating your profile code
• Use an email address that you can access easily
• Register with a phone number that has never been used for another JAMB profile
• If your fingerprints fail to capture properly, do not allow the CBT centre to force registration — visit the nearest JAMB office
• Store your profile code, E-PIN, and printout safely

Following these steps will reduce problems like rejected registration, mismatched biodata, and failure to retrieve passwords or exam slips.

Common Problems During Registration and Their Solutions

✔ “Error 55019/66019”

This happens when the SMS format is incorrect. Ensure your message follows this exact format:

NIN 00000011111

✔ “Number Already Registered”

This means the mobile number has been used to register a previous JAMB profile. You can fix this by:

• Getting the old SIM and using it again, or
• Using a brand-new phone number that has never been linked to JAMB

✔ “Unable to Verify NIN”

This is mostly caused by temporary network or server delays between JAMB and NIMC.
Simply wait for a few minutes and resend the message.

Official Date for the 2026 UTME Registration

JAMB has officially confirmed the timeframe for the sale of the 2026 UTME registration form:

• Registration Opens: Friday, January 31, 2026
• Registration Closes: Saturday, March 8, 2026

Candidates are strongly advised to register early. Last-minute rush often leads to biometric problems, crowded centres, and mistakes that may affect admission processing.

BESTEXAMHUB.com.ng will continue to share updates, important announcements, past questions, study resources, and official JAMB news to help candidates prepare effectively.

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