JAMB, WAEC, and admissions guides for Nigerian students
JAMB 2026 Registration: Dates, Fees, and How to Register
JAMB opened the 2026 UTME registration window in mid-January 2026 and closed it in late February 2026. The official fee was set at ₦7,200, payable through accredited CBT centres, and the price includes the recommended novel and the e-PIN for the exam. Candidates who completed the steps below received their printed JAMB exam slip with the centre, date and time stamped on it, and went on to sit the UTME in the late-April to mid-May 2026 window.
Last updated: May 2026 If you are reading this after the 2026 window has closed, JAMB has confirmed that the 2026 exam ran through April and May 2026 and results have been released through the JAMB official portal. The 2027 cycle follows the same pattern, with registration typically opening in January. Confirm any change on the JAMB official portal at jamb.gov.ng before paying for anything; JAMB has adjusted fees mid-cycle in previous years.
The detail below covers the full 2026 cycle: the dates, the fee breakdown, the CBT centre experience, the six registration steps, what changed from the 2025 cycle, the common mistakes that lose candidates a sitting, and the FAQ. Bookmark this page if you are a JAMB 2027 candidate; we keep it updated as JAMB publishes the next year’s calendar.
Key dates, fees and figures
The table below carries the headline numbers JAMB published for the 2026 UTME cycle. Confirm each figure on jamb.gov.ng if you are paying or planning around it, since JAMB sometimes shifts a date or adjusts a fee by official press release.
Detail
2026 value
Registration opens
Mid-January 2026
Registration closes
Late February 2026
JAMB mock exam
Mid-March 2026
Main UTME window
Late April to mid-May 2026
Result release
Rolling, from late April 2026
UTME registration fee
₦7,200 (includes recommended novel and e-PIN)
Direct Entry fee
₦5,700
Mock exam fee
Free for candidates who opted in at registration
Change of Course / Institution
₦2,500 per change (opens after main UTME)
Official portal
jamb.gov.ng
What this means for candidates
If you sat the 2026 UTME, the registration step is behind you and your focus is on Post-UTME at your first-choice school and CAPS. If you missed the 2026 window or you are preparing for the 2027 cycle, the process below is what to expect. JAMB makes minor tweaks each year, but the core flow has been steady for the last four cycles. The biggest changes are usually around the National Identification Number (NIN) requirement, the list of accredited CBT centres, and the recommended novel that comes with the registration package.
You do not register on the JAMB website directly. You register at an accredited CBT centre, with a JAMB profile created from your phone or computer first. The profile is created using the same email and phone number you will use to check your result later, so pick a working email you actually own and a Nigerian phone number that is in your name. The profile carries you through registration, result-checking, CAPS, and admission letter printing, so the credentials matter for the next twelve months at least.
One detail that catches first-time candidates: JAMB ties your profile to the NIN that is linked to the phone number used during enrolment. If your NIN was enrolled with a different phone number than the one in your hand, the SMS confirmation will fail and the CBT centre cannot finish your registration. Walk into a NIMC centre to either update the linked phone or recover the original one before you set foot at a CBT centre. Most failed registrations trace back to this one mismatch, not to lost passwords or wrong subjects.
What changed from JAMB 2025 to JAMB 2026
The 2026 fee held at ₦7,200, matching the late-2025 adjustment after an initial price hike controversy. JAMB also kept the four-subject UTME format with Use of English compulsory and 60 minutes added to the total exam time at the request of candidate advocacy groups. NIN remained mandatory, but JAMB widened the validation window so candidates whose NIN-phone linkage failed at first attempt could retry within 24 hours without paying a new e-PIN.
JAMB also published an updated list of accredited CBT centres in early January 2026, dropping a number of centres flagged for malpractice during the 2025 cycle. If you registered at a centre that was active in 2025 but is no longer on the 2026 list, your registration would not have processed. Always check the official accredited list on jamb.gov.ng before paying at a centre, regardless of how convenient the location.
The CBT centre experience
A JAMB CBT centre is a school-owned or commercial computer lab with 40 to 200 networked CBT terminals, biometric capture stations, and JAMB-approved staff. On the day of registration, you walk in with your e-PIN receipt, your password (set during profile creation), and your passport-style photograph. Staff lead you through biometric capture, where they record ten fingerprints, your full-face photograph, and a digital signature. The whole sitting takes 30 minutes to two hours depending on how busy the centre is.
The same centre may be your exam centre on UTME day, but not always. JAMB allocates exam centres based on capacity and your registration data; the centre and time will appear on your printed exam slip. Plan to arrive 45 minutes early on exam day. If your allocated exam centre is far from your registration centre, JAMB usually allows a request to reassign through the JAMB office in your state, but the request must be made at least two weeks before the exam.
How to register, step by step
The six steps below cover the full registration flow as JAMB ran it in 2026 and is likely to run it for 2027. Each step matters; skipping or short-cutting one is the most common reason a candidate’s registration fails to process by the closing date.
Get your NIN. Dial *346# on a Nigerian SIM or visit a NIMC enrolment centre. NIN is mandatory and your JAMB profile cannot be created without it. If you already have a NIN but it is linked to an old phone number, visit NIMC to update the linkage before registering.
Create a JAMB profile. Send your NIN to 55019 (works on MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile) and follow the SMS prompt to set a strong password. Save the password somewhere offline. You can also create the profile on the JAMB portal at jamb.gov.ng. The profile email and phone are what you will use for the next year.
Pay the JAMB fee. Pay ₦7,200 at any approved bank (Access, GTBank, First Bank, UBA, Zenith, Sterling, Wema and others) or use a debit card on the JAMB portal. The bank or portal issues an e-PIN receipt. Keep the e-PIN safe; you cannot continue without it.
Visit an accredited CBT centre. Bring your e-PIN, your password, your passport-style photograph and a means of identification. The centre captures biometrics, ten fingerprints and your photograph. Centres charge a service fee on top of the JAMB fee (₦500 to ₦1,500); anything well above ₦2,000 is overcharging and you should report it to JAMB.
Choose courses and schools, then upload O Level details. First choice, second choice, optional third and fourth choices. You also upload your O Level grades (or mark “awaiting” if you have not sat WAEC or NECO yet). The first choice gets first look at admission, so do not pick a competitive school as plan A if you cannot meet its cut-off.
Print your exam slip when JAMB notifies you. About two weeks before the exam, log in to your JAMB profile, click “Print Examination Slip”, and download it. The slip carries your centre, your exam date, your reporting time, and your registration number. Print two copies. You must bring the printed slip to the exam centre; the centre will not accept a phone screenshot.
After registration: what to expect next
Registration is one step in a longer cycle. After your CBT centre completes your registration, JAMB sends a confirmation email and SMS. The next milestone is the JAMB mock exam in mid-March, which is optional but useful. Candidates who tick “yes” to the mock at registration are assigned a mock centre and date; the score does not count towards your real UTME but it gives you a feel for the CBT interface and the timing.
About two weeks before your UTME date, JAMB releases exam slips for printing. Once you have the slip, visit the listed exam centre at least a day before to confirm location, parking, and reporting flow. UTME day itself runs in three slots (morning, midday, afternoon) and you must arrive at least 45 minutes before your slot, with your printed slip, a valid means of identification, and absolutely no phone, smart watch, or written material. JAMB security is strict on this; candidates who bring banned items are turned away.
Common mistakes to avoid
Most failed JAMB registrations trace back to a handful of small mistakes made early in the process. Read this list before you start; fixing these at the planning stage takes a few hours, while fixing them in mid-February is impossible.
Using a phone number that is not in your name. The NIN-to-phone linkage must match. If the SIM is registered to a parent or sibling, the SMS-based JAMB profile creation will fail. Visit a NIMC centre and update the linked number before registration.
Registering at an unaccredited centre. JAMB publishes the list of accredited centres on jamb.gov.ng. A centre may have been active last year and dropped this year. Always verify before you pay, especially if the centre asks for “extra” fees.
Picking a first-choice school you do not meet the cut-off for. Your first choice gets first look at admission and JAMB will not silently move you to a second-choice school. A weak first choice wastes your slot. Pick a first-choice school where you genuinely meet the working cut-off.
Forgetting your JAMB profile password. The password is needed to print the exam slip, check the result, accept admission on CAPS, and print the admission letter. Save it offline. The reset flow exists but routinely fails during peak admission windows.
Paying for “fast registration”, “score upgrade” or “JAMB runs” services. None of these exist. JAMB does not sell answers, does not offer fast-track registration, and does not run an upgrade service. Every one of these claims is a scam. Money paid to such operators is gone, and worse, your profile data may be sold to fraud rings.
Cross-registering for a different cycle. Each JAMB UTME is single-cycle. A 2026 result expires after the 2026 admission year; you cannot use it for 2027 admission. Plan around this if you are taking a gap year.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register for JAMB without a NIN?
No. The National Identification Number is mandatory and the SMS linkage between your NIN and your phone number must work before the CBT centre will accept your registration. If you do not have a NIN, visit any NIMC enrolment centre with a national passport, birth certificate, or voter card to enrol. The enrolment process takes about 30 minutes and the NIN is issued the same day in most cases. Plan to do this at least two weeks before JAMB registration opens, because NIMC centres get very busy as the JAMB window approaches.
How much should the CBT centre charge above the ₦7,200 JAMB fee?
JAMB sets the official fee at ₦7,200, which goes to JAMB and covers the recommended novel and the e-PIN. CBT centres charge a small service fee for biometrics capture, slip printing, and use of their facilities, typically between ₦500 and ₦1,500. Anything well above ₦2,000 is overcharging; some centres in big cities have been reported charging ₦4,000 or more, which JAMB has publicly told candidates to refuse. If a centre insists on an inflated fee, walk out and report the centre to your state JAMB office; the centre risks losing accreditation.
Can I change my course or school after registration?
Yes. JAMB opens a Change of Course and Change of Institution window after the main UTME exam, usually in May or June. The fee is ₦2,500 per change, paid through your JAMB profile. You can switch the course you applied for, the school, or both, subject to the cut-off and subject-combination rules of the new course or school. Most candidates use the window when their first-choice cut-off rises beyond their JAMB score, when their preferred course turns out to require a subject combination they did not register for, or when family circumstances change. The window closes when JAMB publishes the year’s admission policy.
What if I missed the 2026 window completely?
If you missed the 2026 window, you cannot back-date your registration. The 2026 UTME is closed. Your option is to register for the 2027 UTME cycle, which typically opens in mid-January 2027. In the meantime, use the year to strengthen your O Level result (consider WAEC GCE in August/September if your WAEC May/June was weak), study the syllabus for your four UTME subjects, and consider whether you want to change your first-choice course or school. A clean year of preparation often lifts a candidate’s score by 30 to 60 marks.
Is the recommended novel actually tested in the UTME?
Yes. JAMB tests the recommended novel as part of the Use of English paper, with around 10 marks of the 100-mark Use of English score coming from comprehension and theme questions on the novel. Read the novel at least twice between registration and exam day, take notes on the major characters, the central conflict, and the recurring themes. Candidates who skip the novel typically lose 6 to 10 easy marks; over four years of admission cycles, that gap has decided slots at competitive courses where the top 50 candidates finish within a 5-mark band.
Can a parent or relative register on my behalf?
The biometric capture step requires the candidate’s physical presence; ten-finger biometrics and a live photograph are taken at the CBT centre, and they must be yours. A parent can pay the fee, help create the profile online, and accompany you to the centre, but the candidate must show up. Anything else is a fraud risk; even if the centre allows a stand-in, JAMB cross-checks biometrics on exam day and will not let you sit if the biometrics do not match. The candidate’s twenty minutes at the centre is non-negotiable.
Lagos-based education writer covering JAMB, WAEC and NECO, and tertiary admissions across Nigeria. Chinedu tracks cut-off marks, admission lists, and school portal updates so students and parents do not have to.
