How to Register for JAMB UTME in Nigeria
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 07, 2026 • Africa Admissions & Exams
Register for JAMB UTME online, then complete biometric capture at an accredited CBT center to finish the process. For the 2026 cycle, fees range from N5,700 for Direct Entry to N8,700 for UTME with Mock, and forms went on sale from January 26, 2026.
🎓 Create your JAMB profile with your NIN before you buy an e-PIN.
💵 2026 fees: N5,700 Direct Entry, N7,200 UTME only, N8,700 UTME with Mock.
📩 You must visit your chosen CBT center in person for biometric capture.
⏱️ The 2026 registration window opened January 26, 2026.
No candidate enters the exam hall without biometric verification.
What JAMB UTME Registration Involves
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) runs the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the entrance test for undergraduate admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Registration happens online through the JAMB portal, but you finish the process in person at an accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) center.
You register once a year, during a window JAMB announces ahead of the exam. For the 2026 cycle, UTME and Direct Entry forms went on sale from January 26, 2026, with separate deadlines for registration and for the exam itself, according to Punch .
What You Need Before You Register
Your National Identification Number (NIN), which JAMB uses to create and verify your profile.
A valid email address and phone number for OTP verification and result notifications.
A recent passport photograph that meets JAMB's specifications.
Your O'Level result numbers if you already have WAEC or NECO results, or your exam number if you are awaiting results.
Money for the registration fee, payable through the JAMB portal or an accredited bank.
Step by Step Registration Process
Create your JAMB profile on the official portal using your NIN. Fix any mismatch between your NIN details and your name early, since JAMB rejects profiles with inconsistent data.
Pay for your e-PIN through the portal or a bank. Keep your payment receipt.
Log in and fill out the registration form: choose your subjects, your first and second choice of institution, and your course.
Select a CBT center close to you from the list of accredited centers.
Visit the center on your scheduled date for biometric capture (fingerprint and photograph) and document verification. Registration only completes after this step.
Print your registration slip and keep it safe. You need it, along with a valid ID, on exam day.
2026 UTME Registration Fees
JAMB sets three fee categories depending on whether you register for Direct Entry, UTME only, or UTME with the optional Mock exam. For the 2026 cycle, the breakdown is:
| Category | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| Direct Entry | N5,700 |
| UTME only (no Mock) | N7,200 |
| UTME with Mock | N8,700 |
The UTME fee covers the application (N3,500), a reading text (N1,000), a CBT center registration service charge (N700), a CBT center UTME service charge (N1,500), and bank charges (N500). Adding the Mock exam adds a further CBT center charge of N1,500, according to Businessday . Fees change from year to year, so confirm the current amount on the JAMB portal before you pay.
Biometric Capture Is Mandatory
JAMB does not admit any candidate into the exam hall without biometric verification completed during registration. If you have a biometric issue that a regular CBT center cannot resolve, only a JAMB National or State Office can register you, according to Legit.ng .
Do not skip this step or leave it for the last day of the registration window.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Buying an e-PIN from an unofficial agent instead of the JAMB portal or an accredited bank.
Registering with a name that does not match your NIN or your O'Level certificate.
Choosing a CBT center far from where you will be on exam day.
Waiting until the deadline to complete biometric capture, when centers get crowded.
Losing your registration number or slip before the exam.