How to Check Your NIN in Nigeria (and Link It to Your SIM)

Both methods come straight from the Nigerian Communications Commission's official FAQ on NIN and SIM linking. The code works on all networks, as long as you dial from the right number.

What your NIN is

The NCC describes the NIN as the 11-digit number that uniquely identifies you as a Nigerian citizen or a foreigner legally resident in Nigeria. It's issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) when you enrol, and it's linked to your fingerprints, face and other details in the national identity database. Banks, wallets and mobile networks use it to confirm who you are.

Ways to find your NIN

Method	What you need	Notes
Dial *346#, press 1	The phone number you registered with NIMC	Works on all networks; a small network fee may apply
Your enrolment slip	The slip NIMC gave you	The NIN is the 11-digit number at the top left
A NIMC enrolment centre	Your details and ID	For lost slips and lost lines

Check your NIN by USSD, step by step

1. Use the SIM you gave NIMC when you enrolled.
2. Dial *346#.
3. Press 1 to retrieve your NIN.
4. Your NIN appears on the screen. Save it somewhere private.

The NCC confirms that *346# is the official NIMC code for NIN retrieval, and that only codes and links shared by your network, NIMC or the NCC can be trusted.

The catch: it must be the NIMC-registered number

The NCC's FAQ says you can only retrieve your NIN on the same phone number you registered with NIMC. If you dial from another line, it won't work. And if you keep getting an error even from the right number, the NCC says to call your network's helpline.

Here's the useful twist the FAQ adds. Some BVN holders were automatically given a NIN because the BVN database was harmonised with NIMC. If you think that's you, dial *346# from the phone number linked to your BVN to check. NINs created this way still have to be verified by NIMC.

Don't have a NIN yet?

Visit a NIMC enrolment centre. The NCC says other government bodies, state governments and private companies have been approved as enrolment centres too, and NIMC publishes the official list on its website. Moniepoint's guide adds that you can enrol with original documents such as your BVN, driver's licence or voter's card.

How to link your NIN to your SIM

If your network asks you to link your NIN, the NCC lists these official routes:

• Any network: dial *996# and follow the steps, or dial *996*your NIN#.
• MTN: dial *785# from the line you want to link, or *785*your NIN#.
• Airtel: dial *121*1#, choose 1 for NIN capture and enter your NIN.
• Glo: send UPDATENIN followed by your NIN, first name and last name to 109.
• 9mobile: use the NIN update page on 9mobile's website.

If you have several lines, the NCC says you need to submit your NIN to each network. Your network then validates the NIN with NIMC and tells you whether the link worked.

NIN or BVN: when apps ask for one

Many Nigerian wallets and banks accept either your NIN or BVN to open an account, and ask for both to raise your limits. Moniepoint, for example, asks for a BVN or NIN at its first level and needs the names and date of birth on both records to match at its second level. If an app says verification failed, a mismatch between your NIN and BVN records is a common cause, and fixing the record at NIMC or your bank is the only real cure.

Lost your NIN slip?

You don't need the paper slip to use your NIN. The NCC's FAQ says people who have registered but lost their slip, or never had one, can retrieve the number by dialling *346# from the phone number they gave NIMC. Write the number down somewhere safe once you have it. If you need a printed version for an employer or a bank, ask at a NIMC enrolment centre.

NIN for foreigners living in Nigeria

The NCC's FAQ says legally resident foreigners, people living and working in Nigeria, also need a NIN, and can get one by presenting a valid residence or work permit at an enrolment centre. It's also clear that a NIN identifies you but doesn't make you a citizen. Visitors on a tourist visa use their passport to get a SIM instead.

Protect your NIN

Don't post your NIN slip on social media or share it in WhatsApp groups. Only give your NIN to your bank, your network or a licensed app you're signing up with. Ignore messages with links to "update your NIN". The NCC is clear that only channels from network providers, NIMC or the NCC are authentic.

When *346# keeps failing

• Wrong line: dial from the exact number you gave NIMC, not a newer SIM.
• No airtime: top up, since your network may charge a small fee for the code.
• Error message every time: the NCC says to call your network's helpline.
• Never enrolled: you won't have a NIN yet, so visit an enrolment centre.

Why it matters if you earn online

Most payout routes in Nigeria now ask for NIN or BVN verification before you can receive or withdraw. Getting both sorted saves hold-ups later. See my guides on Wise in Nigeria, PayPal in Nigeria and freelancing in Nigeria.

Frequently asked questions

What is the code to check my NIN?

Dial *346# from the phone number you registered with NIMC and press 1.

Can I check my NIN from a different number?

No. The NCC says you can only retrieve your NIN on the number you registered with NIMC.

Does having a BVN mean I already have a NIN?

Possibly. The NCC says some BVN holders were allocated a NIN. Dial *346# from your BVN-linked number to check.

How do I link my NIN to my SIM?

Dial *996# on any network, or use your network's own code: *785# on MTN, *121*1# on Airtel, or SMS to 109 on Glo.