The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially announced the commencement of the sale of application forms for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) admissions.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the Board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, outlined a strict schedule for the 2026/2027 academic session, emphasizing that there may be no extensions to the stated deadlines.
Prospective candidates are urged to take note of these critical dates to avoid the “last-minute rush” that often leads to technical bottlenecks.
| Activity | Start Date | Closing Date |
| UTME e-PIN Vending | Monday, Jan 19, 2026 | Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 |
| UTME Registration | Monday, Jan 26, 2026 | Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 |
| Mock-UTME (Optional) | Saturday, March 28, 2026 | — |
| Main UTME Examination | Thursday, April 16, 2026 | Saturday, April 25, 2026 |
| Direct Entry (DE) Sale | Monday, March 2, 2026 | Saturday, April 25, 2026 |
To participate in the 2026 exercise, candidates must satisfy several non-negotiable criteria:
- A valid National Identification Number (NIN) is mandatory. JAMB warned that any discrepancy between the NIN data and the registration profile will disqualify the candidate.
Age Benchmark: Candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026. Underage candidates (those below 16) must undergo a specialized “intensive evaluation” to determine eligibility for a waiver.
The “Henna” Warning: In a unique update, JAMB has banned the use of Henna (Lali/Lale) on fingers during registration and exams, as it has been found to obstruct biometric verification.
Estimated Costs: While total costs vary by center, the typical breakdown is:
UTME e-PIN: ₦3,500
Reading Text (Novel): Free (Included in e-PIN)
CBT Service Charge: ₦700
Exam Fee: ₦1,500
Total (Without Mock): ₦6,200 (Approx. ₦7,700 with Mock)
JAMB has implemented a “No Change of Biodata” policy for 2026. Once a profile is generated using NIMC data, subsequent changes to names or dates of birth will not be tolerated.
How to Generate Your Profile Code:
Send an SMS in the format: NIN [11-digit NIN Number] to 55019 or 66019.
Ensure the phone number used is unique to you and has not been used for any other candidate’s profile.
“We are monitoring all registration centres live from the headquarters. Any centre found engaging in irregular practices or failing to provide a dual-screen for candidate verification will be de-listed immediately.” – JAMB Headquarters, Jan 13, 2026.
