Nigerian NIN Registration & Enrolment in the UK

Where can I register for Nigerian NIN in the UK?

You can register for a Nigerian NIN in the UK at a NIN diaspora enrolment centre. Dicksons World Services runs one at 530–532 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London E8 4AH, open Monday to Saturday, 9am–6pm. You book an appointment, bring your NPC birth attestation, Nigerian passport and NIMC pre-enrolment reference, and we capture your biometrics.

NIN registration (also called NIN enrolment or NIMC registration) is the process of adding yourself to Nigeria's National Identity Database, which is run by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Once you are enrolled, NIMC issues your 11-digit National Identification Number. For Nigerians abroad this is usually called NIN diaspora registration, and it has to happen in person at an enrolment centre because your fingerprints, photograph and signature are captured on the day.

Our centre is in Dalston, East London, and serves people from across London and the rest of the UK. If you want the local details first (directions, opening hours and the map), see our London NIN enrolment centre page.

What is a NIN?

The National Identification Number (NIN) is an 11-digit number given to a person when they are successfully enrolled into Nigeria's National Identity Database. The number itself carries no meaning (it does not encode your birthday or state of origin); it simply points to your record, which holds your demographic details and biometrics. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), set up under the NIMC Act 2007, runs the database and issues the number.

You only ever get one NIN. It does not expire, it does not change if you move country, and it stays with you if you change your name. That is why the enrolment needs your fingerprints: they make sure the same person cannot be enrolled twice under different details.

Who can register for NIN in the UK?

NIN registration is for Nigerian citizens and people entitled to Nigerian citizenship who live outside Nigeria. At our centre we enrol:

• Adults (18 and over) who were born in Nigeria and now live in the UK.
• Adults born in the UK or elsewhere abroad to Nigerian parents, using an NPC foreign birth record.
• Children under 16, enrolled with a parent or guardian who already has a NIN. See child NIN registration for the separate document list.

If you are 16 or 17, or your situation is unusual (for example your birth was never registered, or your passport and birth record show different names), message us before booking so we can tell you which documents apply.

Why you may need a NIN while living in the UK

The NIN is Nigeria's main identity number, and more and more Nigerian services ask for it. People in the UK most often need it for:

• Nigerian passport applications and renewals. The Nigeria Immigration Service asks for a NIN as part of the passport application. Read whether you need NIN to renew a Nigerian passport in the UK.
• Banking in Nigeria, including linking your NIN to your accounts and your BVN. Need a BVN as well? See BVN registration in the UK.
• SIM cards and phone numbers registered in Nigeria.
• Property, pensions, tax and government services that require identity verification.

Even if you do not need it today, enrolling while you are settled in the UK saves a rushed appointment later when a passport or bank deadline is close.

How do I register for NIN in the UK?

To register for NIN in the UK: get your NPC birth attestation, complete the NIMC pre-enrolment form online, book an appointment at an enrolment centre, attend with your Nigerian passport and documents, pay the fees, and have your biometrics captured. You leave with an enrolment slip showing your transaction ID.

1. Get your NPC birth record. Every applicant needs a record from Nigeria's National Population Commission. Adults born in Nigeria use the NPC birth attestation portal. Anyone born outside Nigeria (adults or children) uses the NPC foreign birth portal, which costs $80.00. Keep the NPC digitised certificate number.
2. Complete NIMC pre-enrolment. Fill in the pre-enrolment form online and keep the reference number. This speeds up your appointment because your details are already in the system.
3. Book your appointment. Use our online booking calendar. See how NIN appointments work if you want to know what happens on the day.
4. Attend with your documents. Bring your Nigerian passport (valid or expired), your NPC certificate number, your pre-enrolment reference and a debit or credit card. The full list is on our NIN registration requirements page.
5. Pay and enrol. The NIMC fee is paid before enrolment begins. We verify your documents and capture your photograph, ten fingerprints and signature.
6. Keep your enrolment slip. It shows your transaction ID, which you need to follow up on your NIN.

For a longer walkthrough with tips on each step, read our guide how to register for NIN in the UK.

What documents do I need for NIN registration in the UK?

Adults need a Nigerian passport (valid or expired), an NPC birth attestation with its digitised certificate number, and a NIMC pre-enrolment reference. Children need an NPC birth registration or foreign birth notification, plus one parent's Nigerian passport and NIN. An affidavit is only needed when no birth record exists.

Document problems are the most common reason an appointment cannot go ahead, so it is worth reading the full document checklist for adults and children before you book. If you are unsure about anything, send us a photo of what you have on WhatsApp.

How much is NIN registration in the UK?

At Dicksons World Services, adult NIN enrolment costs £95.00 in total ($72.73 / £55.00 NIMC fee plus a £40.00 centre fee). Child enrolment costs £80.00. The NPC birth attestation, $80.00, is paid separately and directly to the NPC.

Fees can change when NIMC or the NPC change their charges. Always check current NIN fees before you travel.

Can I register for NIN online?

Not completely. You can do the preparation online: the NPC birth attestation and the NIMC pre-enrolment form. New NIN registration still needs your fingerprints, photograph and signature captured in person, so you must attend an enrolment centre. Be careful of anyone offering a NIN "fully online" for a fee.

We explain what can and cannot be done from home in can you register for NIN online in the UK?

What happens after NIN enrolment?

At the end of your appointment you receive an enrolment slip with your transaction ID. Your record then goes to NIMC for processing. Many of our clients receive their NIN within a few working days, but NIMC controls the timeline and some records take longer, especially if there is a mismatch in your details. We cannot guarantee a date, and you should not trust anyone who does.

When your NIN is issued you can verify it with NIMC's official tools. If you lose it later, our page on how to retrieve your NIN in the UK explains the legitimate options. Read more about timing in how long it takes to get NIN in the UK.

Registering in the UK vs registering in Nigeria

Some people wait for their next trip home to enrol. Both routes give you exactly the same NIN in the same database, so the choice is about cost, time and convenience.

If you need your NIN for a Nigerian passport application, remember the passport application asks for it, so enrolling in the UK first usually avoids a long delay.

NIN registration terms explained

These words come up again and again during NIN registration. Knowing them makes the official instructions much easier to follow.

• NIMC – National Identity Management Commission, the Nigerian agency that issues the NIN.
• NPC – National Population Commission, which keeps Nigeria's birth records and issues birth attestations and foreign birth notifications.
• Birth attestation – an NPC birth record for people born in Nigeria, usually adults whose birth was not registered at the time.
• Foreign birth notification – the NPC record for a Nigerian born outside Nigeria.
• Digitised certificate number – the reference number on your NPC record. We enter it during your NIN enrolment.
• Pre-enrolment – filling in your details online before your appointment, which gives you a reference number.
• Diaspora enrolment – NIN enrolment for Nigerians living outside Nigeria, carried out at licensed centres abroad.
• Enrolment slip / transaction ID – the slip you receive after biometric capture and the ID used to follow up your record.
• Modification – NIMC's term for correcting or updating details on an existing NIN.

Updating or correcting NIN details

If you already have a NIN but your name, date of birth or other details are wrong, you do not need a new registration. Some changes can be made through NIMC's self-service portal; others need supporting documents and a visit to an enrolment centre. Our page on NIN updates and corrections in the UK explains the routes and what we can help with.

Our London NIN enrolment centre

All enrolments take place at our office on Kingsland Road in Dalston, in the London Borough of Hackney. Dalston is served by London Overground (Dalston Junction and Dalston Kingsland stations) and by buses along Kingsland Road. Plan your route with Google Maps or the TfL Journey Planner before you travel.

NIN registration in the UK: frequently asked questions