The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued detailed instructions for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration, alongside a breakdown of common issues candidates may face.

The guidelines, published on Sunday via JAMB’s official X handle, are aimed at helping prospective applicants prepare adequately ahead of the registration exercise.

Registration Procedure

JAMB advised candidates to ensure that all personal details—especially their National Identification Number (NIN), email address, and A-Level results—are accurate before generating a profile code.

To obtain the code, candidates must send their 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 in the correct format (e.g., NIN00000011111). Once generated, the profile code cannot be changed. All biodata is pulled automatically from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

After generating the code, candidates should proceed to any JAMB office or accredited CBT centre to begin registration.

JAMB also stressed that E-PINs must be purchased strictly from approved outlets, including banks, online payment platforms, and accredited vendors at registration centres.

Candidates must ensure that the correct registration template is used and that all information provided is accurate before final submission. The board warned that inconsistencies in data may lead to avoidable complications.

Important Tips for Candidates

• Candidates should resolve all personal-data issues with NIMC ahead of time and confirm that any corrections—such as changes to name, date of birth, gender, or state of origin—have reflected on their NIMC portal before registering.

• Email addresses and phone numbers serve as unique identifiers and cannot be altered or shared. They must be functional and accessible throughout the admission process.

• Anyone experiencing biometric difficulties should visit the nearest JAMB office, as no CBT centre is permitted to force biometric capture.

• A dual-screen setup must be used at all centres, and candidates should verify that their passport photograph and biometrics are captured correctly.

Common Challenges During Profile Code Generation

JAMB also listed frequent errors candidates may encounter:

• Error 55019/66019: This occurs when the message format is incorrect. Candidates should resend the request using the required format (NIN 00000011111).

• “Number Already Registered”: This indicates that the phone number has been used previously. Candidates should retrieve the SIM used earlier or use a new number.

• “Unable to Verify NIN”: Candidates are advised to wait for some time and retry, as this is usually a temporary NIMC server issue.

Registration Timeline

The 2026 UTME application form will be available for purchase from Friday, January 31, 2026, to Saturday, March 8, 2026.