JAMB Releases Full UTME/DE Registration Procedure and Guidelines for 2026; The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced the registration procedure and process flow for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE).
The sale of UTME e-PINs will begin on Monday, 19th January, 2026, and end on Thursday, 26th February, 2026. UTME registration will commence on Monday, 26th January, 2026, and close on Saturday, 28th February, 2026.
Direct Entry (DE) e-PIN sales and registration will begin on Monday, 2nd March, 2026, and end on Saturday, 25th April, 2026.
Candidates are advised to carefully read all guidelines and requirements before starting the registration process.
Official Reading Text for 2026 UTME
The official novel for the 2026 UTME is “The Lekki Headmaster” by Kabir Alabi Garba. All UTME candidates are expected to read this text, regardless of their chosen course of study.
Eligibility for 2026 UTME and DE
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Only candidates who will be at least 16 years old by 30th September, 2026 are eligible to apply. Candidates below this age may be considered only after undergoing an intensive evaluation process and must score not less than 80% in each of the following:
- UTME or A-Level
- Post-UTME
- SSCE
- Exceptional candidate assessment
The UTME results of underage candidates will be released only after the completion of the full evaluation process.
Once registration is completed using biodata supplied by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), no further biodata changes will be entertained for the 2026 admission cycle unless processed through official re-query procedures.
JAMB 2026 Registration Fees and Charges
JAMB will continue its cashless registration system to prevent exploitation of candidates. All third-party fees will be centrally collected and remitted weekly.
Categories of e-PINs
- Direct Entry (DE): N5,700
- UTME without Mock: N7,200
- UTME with Mock: N8,700
Fee Breakdown
- UTME/DE application fee: N3,500
- Reading text: N1,000
- CBT registration service charge: N700
- CBT UTME service charge: N1,500
- Bank charges: N500
- Optional Mock-UTME centre charge: N1,500
Candidates must specify the correct e-PIN category at the point of purchase, as no refund will be made.
Registration Periods at a Glance
- UTME e-PIN sales: 19th January – 26th February, 2026
- UTME registration: 26th January – 28th February, 2026
- DE e-PIN sales and registration: 2nd March – 25th April, 2026
Candidates must have a valid and accessible personal email address before beginning registration.
General Entry Requirements
UTME (100 Level Degree, ND, NCE)
- Degree: Minimum of five credit passes including English and relevant subjects, obtained in not more than two sittings
- ND/NCE: Minimum of four credit passes, including English for non-science courses and Mathematics for science courses
Direct Entry Requirements
- Minimum of five O’Level credit passes in not more than two sittings
- At least two subjects at Principal or Advanced level
- Acceptable qualifications include ND, NCE, HND, IJMB, JUPEB, NABTEB A-Level, Cambridge A-Level, International Baccalaureate, First Degree, and other recognised certificates
Awarding institutions must verify all DE qualifications before registration can be completed.
Important Direct Entry Registration Rules
- Awaiting result candidates are not allowed to register unless required documents are uploaded
- All claimed results must be verified before admission processing
- Statement of results is valid only within three years (one year for NCE)
- UTME-to-DE upgrade is allowed only for candidates who indicated awaiting A-Level results during UTME registration
Creation of JAMB Profile (Step-by-Step)
Each candidate must use a unique phone number that will remain their permanent identification with JAMB.
To create a profile:
- Send NIN (space) 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019
- Receive a 10-character Profile Code via SMS
- Use the Profile Code to purchase an e-PIN
- Present Profile Code and e-PIN at an accredited CBT centre for registration
Once a profile is created, the phone number cannot be changed.
Biometric Capture and Examination Rules
- All ten fingerprints must be captured correctly
- Candidates whose biometrics are not verified will not be allowed to sit for the examination
- Only candidates with successful biometric verification on exam day will be permitted to write UTME or Mock
Candidates with biometric challenges can only register at JAMB State or National Offices.
UTME Examination Date and Venue
The 2026 UTME will be conducted from Thursday, 16th April to Saturday, 25th April, 2026.
Examinations will take place in the candidate’s chosen examination town. JAMB does not post candidates to towns outside their selected options.
Optional Mock-UTME
The optional Mock-UTME is scheduled for Saturday, 28th March, 2026.
Registration Centres and Security Warnings
- Registration is conducted only at JAMB-accredited CBT centres
- Group or school-based registration is prohibited
- Candidates must not share profile codes, passwords, or e-PINs
- Registration outside approved centres is done at the candidate’s own risk
Persons With Disabilities (PWDs)
Candidates with disabilities such as blindness, deafness, albinism, autism, cerebral palsy, or physical impairment must indicate this during registration to receive special assistance. Registration fees are fully refunded for eligible blind, deaf, and wheelchair-bound candidates.
Admission Integrity and Legal Warning
All admissions must be processed through JAMB CAPS. Any admission not backed by a JAMB admission letter is illegal and void.
Examination malpractice is a criminal offence and attracts result cancellation, publication of names, and prosecution.
Conclusion
Candidates are strongly advised to complete registration early, carefully review all information before biometric confirmation, and strictly follow JAMB’s guidelines to avoid disqualification or invalid registration.
This guide serves as the official and complete overview of the 2026 JAMB UTME and Direct Entry registration process.
