Manny Ita
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the comprehensive timeline and fee structure for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) registration, following a formal announcement on January 13, 2026. According to the board’s schedule, the sale of E-PINs will commence on Monday, January 19, and conclude on February 26, while the actual registration window for the UTME opens on Monday, January 26, and shuts on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Direct Entry candidates are expected to begin their application process on March 2, with a deadline set for April 25, 2026. The main examination has been scheduled to run from Friday, April 17, through Tuesday, April 28, 2026, preceded by an optional Mock-UTME on April 4.
In a move intended to alleviate the financial burden on parents and guardians, JAMB has maintained its previous fee structure, offering three primary payment tiers. Candidates opting for the UTME with the mock exam will pay ₦8,700, while those declining the mock will pay ₦7,200. Direct Entry applicants are charged ₦5,700, and foreign candidates are required to pay $50. The total cost includes a ₦3,500 application fee, ₦1,000 for the required reading text, and various service charges for CBT centers and banks.
A significant highlight of the 2026 cycle is the board’s strict adherence to age requirements. JAMB has stated that candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to be eligible for admission. The board clarified that underage candidates who fall short of this cutoff can only apply under “strict conditions” and must undergo an intensive evaluation, further noting that such candidates “must also have scored at least 80% in each of their academic assessments (UTME/A-Level, SSCE, etc.) to qualify for a waiver.”
The registration process remains anchored on the National Identification Number (NIN). Prospective candidates are required to generate a profile code by sending “NIN [space] 11-digit NIN” to 55019 or 66019. JAMB officials emphasized that the phone number and email used are unique identifiers that “cannot be shared or changed once registered.” After purchasing an E-PIN from authorized banks or platforms like Remita and Interswitch, candidates must complete their biometric capture at accredited CBT centers. The board has mandated a “Dual Screen Rule” to allow candidates to verify their passport photographs and personal details in real-time, warning that all ten fingerprints must be successfully captured.
Prospective students have been cautioned to ensure their biodata—including name, date of birth, and state of origin—is accurate within the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database before starting the process, as JAMB will pull this information directly from NIMC. The board also reiterated a “zero tolerance for double registration,” stating that any false declaration or multiple applications will lead to the automatic invalidation of the candidate’s record. Furthermore, Direct Entry registration remains restricted to JAMB State and Zonal Offices rather than private CBT centers
