JAMB Releases Full Guidelines for 2026 UTME Registration, Highlighting Common Challenges Candidates May Face

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has issued comprehensive instructions for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration and published a list of errors candidates frequently encounter during the process. The announcement, shared on the board’s official X platform on Sunday, is intended to help prospective applicants prepare ahead of the registration window and avoid mistakes that could delay or invalidate their application.

JAMB advised prospective candidates to confirm that their personal details, including their National Identification Number, functional email address and A-Level information where applicable, are correct before attempting to generate a profile code. According to the board, candidates are required to send their 11-digit NIN to either 55019 or 66019 in the correct SMS format, after which a profile code will be issued. Once generated, this code cannot be altered, as biodata is pulled directly from the national identity database.

Upon receiving the profile code, candidates must visit the nearest JAMB office or any approved CBT centre to complete their registration. The board stressed that E-PINs for registration should be purchased only through authorised channels, including commercial banks, approved online payment platforms, and accredited vendors stationed at registration centres. Candidates are expected to review their details thoroughly before final submission, since errors in personal information could lead to complications during examination or admission processing.

JAMB further advised candidates experiencing issues with their biodata to get updates done early through the national identity management system and confirm that corrections such as name changes, date of birth, gender or state of origin have been reflected on their profile before registration begins. The board reminded applicants that phone numbers and email addresses serve as unique identifiers in the system, meaning they must not be shared or recycled and must remain functional throughout the registration period. Candidates encountering fingerprint or biometric challenges are expected to report directly to the nearest JAMB office, as CBT centres are instructed not to register anyone forcefully or manually. The board added that the use of a dual registration screen is compulsory to ensure candidates visually confirm that their passport photograph and biometric capture match their identity.

While outlining registration challenges commonly reported each year, JAMB explained that errors during profile code generation are mostly linked to incorrect SMS formatting, phone numbers previously used for registration or temporary difficulty verifying NIN details. The board noted that the “Error 550/66019” response means the request was not properly formatted and that the correct SMS structure must be used. It also stated that a notification such as “Number Already Registered” indicates that the phone number is linked to an existing profile, meaning candidates must either retrieve the SIM card or use a different number. In cases where the system is unable to verify NIN, candidates are advised to wait and retry.

Sales of the 2026 UTME application form will open on Friday, January 31, 2026, and close on Saturday, March 8, 2026, giving prospective applicants over a month to finalise registration ahead of the examination cycle.