JAMB Unveils 2026 UTME Registration Guidelines — What Every Candidate Needs to Know

 

What’s New — 2026 UTME Registration Guidelines

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the official registration guidelines for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The guidelines — detailed in an announcement on JAMB’s social media handle — are designed to help prospective candidates navigate the process smoothly. 

The 2026 UTME registration (sale of forms) opens Friday, January 31, 2026 and closes Saturday, March 8, 2026. 

Step-by-Step: How to Register

Candidates must begin by generating a profile code — to do so, send your 11-digit National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) number (NIN) via SMS to either 55019 or 66019. Once generated, this profile code cannot be changed. 

Personal data — name, date of birth, gender, state of origin — are pulled automatically from NIMC records. Candidates should ensure those details are up-to-date and accurate before generating the profile. 

Purchase your e-PIN only from authorised sources (banks, approved vendors, recognised online platforms, or accredited CBT centres). 

Registration must be done at a certified JAMB office or a JAMB-approved CBT centre; bear in mind that biometric capture (photo + fingerprints) will be required. 

Ensure your contact — GSM number and email — are unique, valid and functional. These serve as your identifiers in the registration system. 

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

JAMB flagged a number of common issues that often cause registration delays or cancellations: 

Sending wrongly formatted command to generate profile code (e.g. incorrect NIN format) — always use “NIN 00000011111” format. 

Using a phone number already linked to another profile — each candidate needs a unique GSM number. 

Discrepancies between NIMC data and academic records (e.g. name differences, incorrect DOB, gender) — fix such mismatches with NIMC before registering. 

Biometric issues (photo/fingerprint capture) — if this happens, go to the nearest JAMB office; no CBT centre should force-register you. 

 What Candidates Should Do Now

Verify your NIMC record — ensure name, date of birth, gender, state of origin are correct.

Have a unique, working GSM number and a valid email address ready.

Purchase e-PIN only from authorised sources.

Prepare to register at an approved JAMB office or CBT centre — avoid unverified agents or unapproved venues.

Generate your profile code early, double-check all data, and complete biometric capture carefully.