How to Register for NIN in the UK: Step-by-Step Guide

To get a Nigerian NIN in the UK you need to: (1) get your NPC birth attestation, (2) complete NIMC pre-enrolment online, (3) book an appointment at a UK enrolment centre, (4) attend with your Nigerian passport and reference numbers, and (5) have your biometrics captured. You leave with an enrolment slip, and NIMC then issues your NIN.

This guide walks through each step in the order you should do them, with the practical details that the official instructions tend to leave out. If you just want the service details and fees, see our NIN registration in the UK page.

Before you start: check which category you are in

The documents you need depend on two things: your age, and where you were born.

• Adult born in Nigeria – NPC birth attestation through the attestation portal.
• Adult born in the UK or elsewhere abroad – NPC foreign birth record through the foreign birth portal.
• Child under 16 – NPC birth registration or foreign birth notification, plus a parent's NIN and passport. See our child NIN guide.

Step 1: Get your NPC birth attestation

The National Population Commission (NPC) record is required for every NIN enrolment at our centre, so do this first. It is also the step that takes longest to sort out if something goes wrong.

• Born in Nigeria: apply at attestation.nationalpopulation.gov.ng.
• Born outside Nigeria: apply at foreignbirth.nationalpopulation.gov.ng ($80.00).

Tip: the NPC website only accepts MasterCard. Use your full name exactly as it appears on your Nigerian passport, and write down the digitised certificate number it gives you. That number is what we need at your appointment.

Step 2: Complete NIMC pre-enrolment

Pre-enrolment means entering your personal details online before your appointment. You receive a reference number. Bringing it saves time at the appointment and reduces typing mistakes, because your details are already in the system.

Tip: check your date of birth and the spelling of every name before you submit. NIMC strictly limits later date of birth changes.

Step 3: Book an enrolment appointment

NIN enrolment for Nigerians in the UK takes place at diaspora enrolment centres, not at the Nigeria High Commission. Our NIN enrolment centre in London is at 530–532 Kingsland Road, Dalston, E8 4AH, and you can book a NIN appointment online. If you are not sure your documents are right, message us on WhatsApp before booking.

Step 4: Gather what to bring

• Nigerian passport (valid or expired)
• NPC digitised certificate number
• NIMC pre-enrolment reference
• Your BVN, if you have one (optional)
• A debit or credit card

The complete list, including when you need an affidavit, is on our NIN registration requirements page.

Step 5: Attend your appointment

At the appointment your documents are checked, the fees are paid, your details are confirmed and your photograph, fingerprints and signature are captured. Arrive 10–15 minutes early. At our centre, adult enrolment costs £95.00 in total; see current NIN fees for the breakdown.

Step 6: Keep your enrolment slip safe

You leave with an enrolment slip showing your transaction ID. Photograph it and keep the paper copy somewhere safe. You will need the transaction ID if you have to follow up on your NIN.

Step 7: Receive and verify your NIN

NIMC processes your record and issues your NIN. Many people receive it within a few working days, but NIMC controls the timing and some records take longer. Once you have it, you can verify it with NIMC's official app. Read how long it takes to get NIN in the UK.

Common reasons registrations are delayed

• No NPC certificate number, or the NPC application is still pending.
• Names spelt differently on the passport and NPC record.
• Pre-enrolment not completed.
• A child arriving without the parent's NIN.

Our article on mistakes to avoid before your NIN appointment explains how to fix each one.

How long does each step take?

• NPC attestation: depends on the NPC. Start it first, because it is the step you control least.
• Pre-enrolment: one sitting online, if you have your passport to hand.
• Booking: choose any available slot, Monday to Saturday.
• Appointment: allow enough time, and more for families.
• NIN issued: set by NIMC. Many people receive it within a few working days, but this is not guaranteed.

A worked example

Ada was born in Lagos, moved to the UK as a teenager and now needs to renew her expired Nigerian passport. Her steps:

1. She applies on the NPC attestation portal (born in Nigeria), pays with her MasterCard and saves the digitised certificate number.
2. She completes NIMC pre-enrolment, copying her names exactly as they appear on her old passport.
3. She books a Saturday appointment at our Dalston centre and sends us a photo of her documents on WhatsApp beforehand.
4. At the appointment she pays £95.00, confirms her details and has her biometrics captured.
5. When her NIN is issued she verifies it, then starts her passport application.

If Ada had been born in the UK, the only difference would be step 1: she would use the NPC foreign birth portal instead.

How to register for NIN in the UK: FAQs