All government agencies require you to input your National Identification Number (NIN) when applying for jobs, scholarship, contracts and so on. This requirement might warrant you to ask questions like

• What is NIN?
• How to get my NIN?
• How to check my NIN online?

What is NIN?

NIN is National Identification Number. It is a unique set of number assigned to an individual after he or she have successfully enrolled for National Identity Card. Once the NIN is issued out to a person, it cannot be issued to another person.

It is a non intelligible number randomly chosen and assigned to an individual. An NIN is retired once the owner is dead and issued a death certificate and the certificate presented to the commission.

Requirements for NIN enrollment

Any Nigerian or any legal resident in Nigeria up-to sixteen years of age is eligible to register or enroll for the National Identity Card. To enroll for NIN, the following documents are required

• 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

Minors can as-well be enrolled for the NIN. However, the requirement for enrollment is different from that of adults. To enroll a minor, the following must be made available

• Parent/Guardian’s National Identification Number (NIN) Slip ( father, mother or guardian’s NIN ) MUST be provided.
• Supporting documents and evidence of proof as the Guardian to the minor (if Guardian’s NIN is used).
• Registered Birth Certificate/ Statutory Age Declaration.
• All minors MUST be accompanied by at least one of the parents or a Guardian.
• Birth certificate
• Declaration of age
• 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

How to get my NIN?

To successfully enroll for National Identity Card, there must be proper capturing of your personal data. The data captured include

• Your demographic data
• Your 10 fingerprint
• Head to shoulder facial picture
• Signature

These data are used to cross check other data in the data base to confirm there is no previous registration.

How to check my NIN online?

To check your NIN is very simple. If you already have your temporal or permanent National Identity Card, your NIN is written in front of your ID card. However, if you are yet to get either of the two, you can check your NIN using USSD code.

• Dial *346#
• Select NIN retrieval
• Follow the step displayed in your screen

Note: You will be charged N20 service charge by your network provider.