Contents
What is NIN
The National Identification Number (NIN) is a set of numbers assigned to an individual upon successful enrolment. Enrolment consists of the recording of an individual’s demographic data and capture of the ten (10) fingerprints, head-to-shoulder facial picture and digital signature, which are all used to cross-check existing data in the National Identity Database to confirm that there is no previous entry of the same data.
USSD for NIN Retrieval
Forgotten your NIN? Don’t remember where you kept your NIN slip? Not to worry, NIMC’s USSD service enables you to retrieve your NIN conveniently using your mobile phone.
This service is now available on all mobile networks in Nigeria.
To use this service, simply go through the following steps:
- dial *346#
- from the options displayed, select “NIN Retrieval”, by typing in ‘1’, if you are using the same phone number you enrolled with for your NIN
- follow the steps displayed on your screen and provide the required inputs
- note that using this service attracts a
N20 (tweny naira) fee only (deducted from your phone credit balance).
How can I get my national ID card online
This is the “do it yourself whenever and wherever you are” process of enrolment. For this option of the enrolment process, the applicant visits the official website of NIMC (www.nimc.gov.ng) and pre-enrols online using the Pre-enrolment Portal (https://penrol.nimc.gov.ng/), filling in his/her data in block letters, then prints out a summary sheet that has a 2D Barcode. It is important to note that the Online Pre-Enrolment is an initial step in the enrolment process. The enrolment is only completed after the applicant gets his or her biometric data (fingerprints, headshot photograph and signature) captured and processed by an Enrolment Officer at any NIMC Enrolment Centre.
Downloading and Using the Enrolment Form
Rather than filling in the online pre-enrolment form and printing out a summary sheet with the 2D barcode, an applicant can also download the Enrolment Form to print out and fill. To download your enrolment form online go to www.nimc.gov.ng. Fill all forms in block letters and proceed to the nearest enrolment Centre for biometrics capturing in order to obtain the National Identification Number (NIN). Note: you can also pick up an enrolment form at NIMC’S ERC.
Below is an illustrated summary of the online pre-enrolment process:
Step 1
Applicant visits NIMC website to access the Pre-Enrolment Portal: https://penrol.nimc.gov.ng and the online Enrolment Form.
Step 2
Applicant fills the Enrolment Form online, prints out a summary sheet with a 2D Barcode and heads to any NIMC Enrolment Centre.
Step 3
Applicant verifies and confirms the enrolment data on the system.
Step 4
Applicant has his/her headshot photograph, fingerprints and signature captured.
Step 5
Applicant has his/her supporting documents scanned.
Step 6
Applicant’s enrolment is acknowledged; two slips are generated and given to the applicant: (a) Transaction Slip (b) NIN Slip indicating completion of enrolment.
How to check if your Nigerian National ID card is ready?
Step 1. Firstly, visit NIMC official portal for checking ID card status using touch.nimc.gov.ng/.
Step 2. Click on “proceed” when the site demands for a response.
Step 3. Enter your First name, Last name and your National Identification Number (NIN). You can locate your NIN on your temporary national ID slip.
Step 4. Finally, click on the ‘check now’ button and wait for the network to load.
After completing all the above steps, you’ll receive a notification on the website telling your if your national ID card is ready or not.
How to Enrol (Minors)
This is the enrolment of every Nigerian and Legal Resident who meets NIMC’s criteria from the age of 0 to 15 years.
Walk into the nearest NIMC Enrolment Centre with any of the following required Original and Valid supporting documents:
Mandatory requirements for minors (Enrolment of Children)
- Parent/Guardian’s National Identification Number (NIN) Slip ( father, mother or guardian’s NIN ) MUST be provided.
- Supporting documents and evidence of proof as the Guardian to the minor (if Guardian’s NIN is used).
- Registered Birth Certificate/ Statutory Age Declaration.
- All minors MUST be accompanied by at least one of the parents or a Guardian.
Supporting Documents
- Birth certificate
- Declaration of age
- School ID Card private/Public
- NHIS ID card
- Nigerian passport
- Attestation letter from a prominent ruler in the community
- Attestation letter from religious/traditional leader
Process for capturing minors (0 to 15 years):
- Applicant walks into the enrolment Centre with Their parent/guardian and the required supporting document.
- Applicant will be verified to ascertain if he/she has enrolled before through the verification portal.
- Applicant will be issued an enrolment form to fill if he/she has not enrolled before. OR the printed Barcode slip will be collected if the applicant had pre-enrolled earlier using the pre-enrolment services.
- Applicant forms will be vetted by a NIMC Official to crosscheck the information filled on the form against the supporting document provided and to check for errors/mistake filled on the form.
Note: Parents/Guardians who cannot read nor write should come along with another person who can do the form filling on their behalf.
- Applicant’s pre-filled information will be inputted on the NIMC Software by a NIMC enrolment officer or the Barcode slip be scanned by the NIMC enrolment officer to populate all the required fields.
- The enrolment officer will ask the applicant’s parents to double check their ward information using the applicant’s monitor to check for errors.
- If the Parent/Guardian is satisfied with the demographics information inputted, the biometrics of the applicant will be captured subsequently.
- After completing the enrolment registration, a Transaction Slip will be issued to the applicant as an evidence of the transaction. However, the Transaction slip does not confer the right to National Identification Number. The applicant will be requested to come back for the NIN within 1-5 working days, as it is subject to the speed/availability of network, authentication and verification.
- A National Identification Number Slip is issued to the applicant after processing.
- The National e-ID Card will not be issued to this categories of applicant until they become 16 years of age and above.
- A text message will automatically be sent to the Applicant, Parent or guardian to come for update when they become 16years of age.
Service Fee: ENROLMENT IS FREE
Availability: Monday – Friday (8a.m. to 4p.m.)
Dependencies:
- Availability of the NIMS Backend.
- Availability of Network for data transmission.
- Availability of power for the enrolment system.
How to Enrol (Adults)
This is the enrolment of every Nigerian and Legal Resident from the age of 16 years and above.
Supporting Documents
Walk into the nearest NIMC Enrolment Centre with your BVN if you have one and any of the following required Original and Valid supporting documents:
- Old National ID Card
- Driver’s License
- Voter’s card (Temporary or Permanent)
- Nigerian International passport
- Certificate of Origin
- Attestation letter from a prominent ruler in your community
- Birth certificate
- Declaration of age
- Attestation letter from religious/traditional leader
- NHIS ID card
- Government staff ID card
- Registered/recognized private organization staff ID card
- School ID Card (private/public)
- Tax Clearance certificate
- Valid immigration documents
Process for capturing applicants of 16 years and above (Adult Enrolment):
- Applicant walks into the enrolment Centre with a supporting document.
- Applicant will be verified to ascertain if he/she has ever enrolled using the NIN verification portal.
- Applicant will be issued an enrolment form to fill if he/she has not enrolled before. OR the printed Barcode slip will be collected if the applicant had pre-enrolled earlier using the pre-enrolment service.
- Applicant’s forms will be vetted by a NIMC Official to crosscheck the information filled on the form against the supporting document provided and to check for errors/mistake filled on the form. Note: applicants who cannot read nor write should be accompanied by a literate individual who can do the form filling for him/her.
- Applicant’s pre-filled information will be inputted on the NIMC Software by a NIMC enrolment officer or the Barcode slip will be scanned by the NIMC enrolment officer to populate all the required field.
- The enrolment officer will ask the applicant to double check his/her information for errors using the applicant monitor.
- If the applicant is satisfied with his/her demographic information, the biometrics (ten finger prints and facial image) of the applicant will be capture subsequently.
- After completing the enrolment, a Transaction ID Slip will be issued to the applicant as an evidence of the transaction. However, the Transaction slip does not confer the right to National Identification Number. The applicant will be requested to come back for the NIN within 1-5 working days, as it is subjected to availability of network, authentication and verification.
- A National Identification Number (NIN) Slip is issued to the applicants after processing.
- The National e-ID Card will be Issued to applicant within 12months after Issuance of NIN barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Service Fee: ENROLMENT IS FREE
Availability: Monday – Friday (8a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Percentage of availability: 95 % (The Remaining 5% can be attributed to upsurge of applicants etc.)
Dependencies:
- Availability of the NIMS Backend.
- Availability of Network for data transmission.
- Availability of power for the enrolment system.
Below is an illustrated summary of the enrolment process:
Types of Enrolment Processes
Self Service
This is also a “walk in and do it yourself” process of enrolment whereby an applicant walks in to an Enrolment Centre and fills an Enrolment Form (hard copy). The completed form is handed over to the Enrolment Office who in turn captures the biometric data of the applicant and process the data in the completed Enrolment Form.
Assisted Service
This is a “walk in and get assistance from a Support Officer” method of enrolment. This method involves the same steps as the Self Service one above, but in this case the applicant cannot fill the Enrolment Form on his/her own and walks in to the Enrolment Centre to be assisted by a Support Officer whose responsibility it is to guide the applicant in correctly filling the Enrolment Form with the required information.
Mobile Service
The Mobile-Service process involves an applicant enrolling for the NIN by going to any of the Mobile Enrolment Stations available in his/her neighbourhood at any point in time. For this method of enrolment, the applicant may request for an Enrolment Form and personally complete it or request for assistance from the Support Officer. This method is valid and complete after the biometric data of the applicant is captured and the data in the filled Enrolment Form processed by the Enrolment Officer at the station.
