NIN Modification and Correction in Nigeria: Fees and Steps (2026)

October 16, 2026

2 Views 0

NIN modification and correction in Nigeria

Last updated: 16 October 2026 · By Naijatipsland Editorial Team · Editorial policy

A wrong name, a wrong date of birth or an old phone number on your National Identification Number (NIN) record can block a passport application, a bank account, a SIM registration, a JAMB or NYSC profile or a tax registration. The fix is called NIN modification, and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has changed how it works more than once in the last two years. This guide explains what you can change, how the NIMC self-service portal works, the fees reported since the May 2025 price review, the documents you need, the limits that third-party guides mention, and the mistakes to avoid. Rules and fees change, so confirm current details on the NIMC website before you pay. This is general information, not legal advice.

If you only want to check your NIN or find a lost one, see our guide to verifying your NIN.

The short answer

Use the official self-service portal. In October 2024 NIMC said modification would no longer be done at enrolment centres and told NIN holders to use its self-service modification portal, selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng.
Fees went up in 2025. Legit.ng, citing NIMC’s fee schedule published on 10 May 2025, reported N28,574 for a date of birth correction (previously N16,340) and N2,000 per transaction for other fields such as name and address (previously about N1,500).
A birth certificate matters for date of birth. The portal asks for your National Population Commission (NPC) certificate number and the date fills in automatically, according to Guardian.
Pay only through official channels. NIMC told its partners to follow the new prices strictly and said those that overcharge face sanctions, including licence revocation.

What can be changed?

The self-service portal handles modification of the personal details on your NIN record, with the date of birth, name, phone number and address the fields most guides discuss. Reports differ on the details. A January 2026 guide on Silicon Africa lists the date of birth, name, phone number and address as changeable on the portal. A May 2026 guide on Naijasabi says name, date of birth, gender and photograph still need a visit to a NIMC office, while phone, email and address are done online. Neither of those is an official NIMC source, so check the portal and NIMC’s website to see what applies to your case. If your photograph or biometrics need correcting, ask NIMC how to proceed.

Fees

NIMC announced in May 2025 that it was revising prices after “a decade of maintaining the same price structure”, according to Nairametrics. Legit.ng listed the following from NIMC’s Schedule of Fees, Licences and Permits, Version 3.0:

Date of birth correction in Nigeria: N28,574 (previously N16,340).
Other field modifications, such as name or address: N2,000 per transaction (previously about N1,500).
NIN slip reissue: N600 (previously N500).
Enrolment and first issuance of a NIN slip: free.

Fees can change again, so the amount shown in the official portal is what counts. Document costs such as affidavits, birth certificates and late registration are separate and are paid to the courts, the NPC and others, not to NIMC.

Documents you may need

Requirements depend on the field and on what NIMC asks for at the time. Third-party guides commonly report the following, so treat them as a checklist to confirm rather than as official rules:

Date of birth: an NPC birth certificate. If you do not have one, Guardian reports that you can complete an online birth attestation through the National Population Commission’s website first. Some guides mention an age declaration from a court as an alternative.
Name: a court affidavit and a government ID showing your full name, and for marriage-related changes a marriage certificate. Bank statements, WAEC results or other records are sometimes mentioned.
Address: a recent utility bill, tenancy agreement or bank statement.
Phone number: access to the new number for verification. Some guides mention a police report for specific cases, which we could not confirm.
Children: a parent or guardian with their own NIN and ID.

Use original documents, make sure names are spelt the same across them and keep scans that are clear.

How to apply on the self-service portal

Go to selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng, which is the address given by NIMC’s notice in October 2024. Type it yourself and do not use links from messages.
Register or log in using your NIN and the details requested.
From the dashboard, select NIN Modification and choose the field you want to change.
Pay the fee online (the portal used Paystack in 2024).
For a date of birth change, enter the NPC certificate number. The date of birth fills in automatically and cannot be edited.
Upload your supporting documents, review the request, tick the attestation box and submit.
Keep the transaction slip. After approval you should receive a notification, and your updated NIN slip is emailed to you and can be printed from your dashboard.

Processing times vary, and the guides we saw give different estimates, from a day or two for simple fields to a couple of weeks for name or date of birth changes. Treat those as rough.

Limits to know about

Silicon Africa’s guide says a date of birth can be changed once, a name up to three times on the portal and a phone number three times before you must go to a NIMC office. NIMC’s own notices we reviewed did not state limits, and other guides give none, so treat this as unconfirmed and assume you may only get one chance. Get the correct spelling and documents ready before you pay.

Known problems and how to cope

OTP not arriving. Guardian and Nairametrics reported in 2024 that some users could not receive the one-time password needed to proceed. Check that your phone can receive messages, try again later and avoid third-party “OTP sellers”.
Rejected after payment. Some users reported being marked rejected after paying, with no clear next step. Keep your payment receipt and slip and contact NIMC through its official channels.
Mismatched documents. A name spelt differently across your birth certificate, ID and bank records is a common reason for delay.

After the change: update everything linked to your NIN

A corrected NIN record does not automatically fix every system that holds your data. Check your BVN with our guide to the BVN, your SIM registration in our guide to SIM registration and NIN rules, and any exam, school, passport or job profile that uses your NIN. Naijasabi suggests allowing a few days for records to sync across linked systems, though it gives no source.

Avoid touts and fake sites

Do not pay people at NIMC gates or agents on WhatsApp who promise “fast” or “remote” modification.
Do not enter your NIN on a website you reached through an advert or message. Check the address.
NIMC has told its partners that overcharging is sanctionable, so report it to NIMC.
Keep your NIN private. See our guides to data privacy and fake alerts and phishing SMS, and how to report cybercrime if you are targeted.

Common mistakes

Paying before checking which field and documents are needed.
Using a birth date different from your birth certificate.
Uploading blurry or cropped documents.
Using someone else’s phone or email for the account.
Trusting a third-party fee table without checking NIMC.
Not saving the transaction slip.
Leaving corrections until a deadline.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my name on my NIN?

Use the NIMC self-service portal, pay the fee and upload the documents asked for, such as a court affidavit and ID. Check NIMC for the current requirements for your case.

How much does NIN modification cost?

Reported fees since May 2025 are N28,574 for a date of birth correction and N2,000 per transaction for most other fields. Confirm in the portal.

Can I still modify my NIN at an enrolment centre?

NIMC said in October 2024 that modification was moving to the portal. Some guides still send people to offices for particular changes, so ask NIMC if the portal cannot handle your case.

How many times can I change my date of birth?

One third-party guide says once. We could not confirm this with NIMC, so plan as if you have one attempt.

How long does it take?

It depends on the field and the queue. Simple fields can be quick, while name and date of birth changes can take longer.

Will changing my NIN also change my BVN?

Not automatically. Check your BVN and bank records separately.

What if the portal rejects me after I pay?

Keep your receipt and slip and contact NIMC through official channels. Do not pay an agent to “fix” it.

Bottom line

Fix your NIN details early and carefully, because you may not get many tries. Use the official NIMC self-service portal, check the fee shown there, prepare matching documents and keep your receipt and slip. Then update your BVN, SIM and any other record that uses your NIN.