The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the complete JAMB 2026 registration guidelines ahead of the commencement of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) form sales.
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In a statement issued on Sunday through its official X handle, the board outlined the procedures candidates must follow, the requirements for successful registration, and common challenges associated with profile code generation.
Registration Timeline
According to JAMB, the 2026 UTME form will be on sale from Friday, January 31, 2026, to Saturday, March 8, 2026. The board advised candidates to begin the process early to avoid last-minute congestion at Computer-Based Test centres.
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Key Requirements and Procedures
JAMB stressed that candidates must ensure their personal details with the National Identity Management Commission are accurate before attempting to generate a profile code.
To obtain the code, candidates are required to send their 11-digit NIN to either 55019 or 66019 using the format:
NIN 12345678901
The board noted that once a profile code is generated, it cannot be changed, as biodata is automatically retrieved from the NIMC database.
Candidates are to visit any approved CBT centre or JAMB office with their profile code to complete the registration. The board emphasised that E-PINs must be purchased only from authorised vendors such as banks, approved agents, online platforms, or at registration centres.
JAMB also advised candidates to carefully review their registration templates and use a dual screen during the process to confirm that passport photographs and biometric data are correctly captured.
Important Warnings
The board reiterated that phone numbers and email addresses used for registration serve as unique identifiers and must not be shared or reused by another candidate.
JAMB added that candidates experiencing fingerprint or biometric issues must visit the nearest JAMB office for resolution, warning that no CBT centre should forcefully register such candidates.
Common Profile Code Issues
The JAMB 2026 registration guidelines also highlighted several recurring challenges with profile code generation:
- Error 550/66019: Caused by an incorrect SMS format.
- “Number Already Registered”: Indicates that the phone number has been previously used for a different profile.
- “Unable to Verify NIN”: Usually due to temporary connectivity issues with NIMC systems.
Candidates were advised to retry after some time if verification fails.
Early Preparation Recommended
With the release of the JAMB 2026 registration guidelines, the board urged candidates to correct any NIN-related errors early, activate functional contact details, and ensure that all personal information is consistent before beginning registration.
JAMB stated that following the laid-out instructions will reduce cases of mismatched data, invalid registrations, and delays during admission processes.