Home✔Naija HB SpecialHow to apply for Nigerian National ID Card and get your NIN

How to apply for Nigerian National ID Card and get your NIN

Published on

Are you interested in applying for the Nigerian national ID cards? If your answer is yes, then welcome aboard. In this guide you’ll discover all the steps involved in applying for the National ID card in Nigeria.

According to Wikipedia, an identity document (or ID, in short form) is any document which may be used to prove a person’s identity. If issued in a small, standard credit card size form, it is usually called an identity card.

In Nigeria, there are various forms of Identity Document; however, the most basic and most recommended one to obtain is the national ID card.

One good thing about this important piece of document is that it is easy to apply for and, above all, it is free of charge.

How to apply for a national ID Card in Nigeria?

Step 1. Visit NIMC pre-enrollment portal and complete the National ID card application form online. Thereafter, print the completed form and

Step 2. Proceed to any NIMC enrollment outlet nationwide, making sure you have all necessary documents.

Step 4. Complete and submit the enrollment form.

Step 5. Submit the form to the enrollment officer and wait for verification.

Step 5. Answer all questions asked by the vetting officer, and complete all necessary biometrics.

Step 6. Wait for the printing of your enrollment slip which will contain your tracking code.

The NIMC pre-enrollment portal appears as shown below:

Nigerian National ID card pre-enrollment portal notice

As can be seen on the notification that greets you on the portal, the whole application stress reduces by a great deal if you complete the pre-enrollment steps online. Plus everything is completely free of charge.

Nigerian national ID Card pre-enrollment portal.

The information you need to provide on the pre-enrollment portal include your names, email address, a username and password.

Afterwards, login to your portal using your details and complete your pre-enrollment for a national ID card.

Take note: Carrying out the pre-enrollment procedure is not mandatory. You can just walk into any NIMC office near you to register even if you didn’t carrying out the pre-enrollment.

In other words, you can ignore the step 1. above if you consider it cumbersome.

How to get your NIN

After completing the above steps, you have successfully enrolled for the National ID card. You will be required to visit the enrollment outlet — within 1-5 working days — for the collection of your Temporary Identity Slip.

The temporary Identity Slip will contain your NIN number, and can be used for all forms of transactions that require official identification.

Requirements for getting a national ID card in Nigeria

Now that you know how to apply for a national ID card, let’s talk about the requirements for getting one.

Basically, applicants are grouped in to two: Minors (0 – 15-year-olds) and adults (from 16 and above). And for both groups, the requirements and application steps vary a little.

Requirements for adults (16 and above)

Visit any enrollment centre, making sure you go along with at least one of the following 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

Requirements for minors (0 – 15-year-olds)

  • At leans one of the parents or guardian must accompany the minor.
  • Applicant must be able to provide the NIN of any of their parents / guardians.
  • In cases whereby a guardian represents the minor, they must be able to provide a document which proves they are the legal guardian.
  • Applicants must be able to provide a registered Birth Certificate or a Statutory Age Declaration form.

In addition to the above requirements, the applicant must be able to provide at least one of the following supporting documents:

  • 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

After successfully applying, it might take a few years before the plastic e-card gets ready. In any case, the temporarily slip which contains your NIN is useful at all times.

Read also:

Latest articles

Who is The Tenge Tenge Kid?

Videos of the Tenge Tenge kid have garnered hundreds of millions of views on...

List of Nigerian States with APC Governors

Discover the list of Nigerian States being governed by the All Progressives Congress (APC)...

See the Names and States of PDP Governors in Nigeria in 2023

Get to know the governors leading their states under the People's Democratic Party (PDP)...

Present Governors of All 36 States in Nigeria, Deputies & Parties (2023)

This post provides information on the present governors for all 36 states in Nigeria....

More like this

Who is The Tenge Tenge Kid?

Videos of the Tenge Tenge kid have garnered hundreds of millions of views on...

List of Nigerian States with APC Governors

Discover the list of Nigerian States being governed by the All Progressives Congress (APC)...

See the Names and States of PDP Governors in Nigeria in 2023

Get to know the governors leading their states under the People's Democratic Party (PDP)...