How to Check Your NIN Number in Nigeria in 2026: USSD Codes, NIMC App and How to Link to Your Bank

📌 Quick Summary: To check your NIN (National Identification Number) in Nigeria, dial *346# from the phone number linked to your NIN — select option 1 to retrieve your 11-digit NIN. A ₦20 fee applies. On Airtel, dial *121*1# instead. On MTN, the shortcut *346*1# skips the menu. Free alternatives: download the NIMC Mobile ID app (Android and iOS) or visit the NIMC self-service portal at self.nimc.gov.ng. Your NIN must also be linked to your bank accounts — the CBN requires this for all Nigerian bank accounts to remain fully active. This NaijaSabi guide covers every method to retrieve your NIN, how to link it to your bank, and what to do if the USSD code does not work.

Your National Identification Number is the most important identity number in Nigeria after your BVN — and in some ways, more fundamental, since the BVN is linked to your NIN in the NIMC database. Your NIN is required for passport renewal, SIM card registration, voter registration, bank account KYC, international travel, government benefits and dozens of other transactions. Yet millions of Nigerians cannot remember their NIN or never collected their slip from NIMC. This guide tells you exactly how to retrieve it in under two minutes without visiting any office.

Method 1 — USSD Code *346# (MTN, Glo, 9mobile)

This is the fastest way to retrieve your NIN — works without internet, on any MTN, Glo or 9mobile line that was registered with NIMC at the time of your NIN enrolment.

1. Make sure you are using the SIM card that was linked to your NIN when you enrolled at NIMC — this is critical. The USSD code only returns your NIN for the number registered with NIMC
2. Dial *346# and press the call/send button
3. A USSD menu appears — select option 1 (Retrieve NIN)
4. Your 11-digit NIN appears on screen
5. Screenshot or write it down immediately — USSD screens disappear quickly

MTN shortcut: Dial *346*1# directly — this skips the menu and takes you straight to NIN retrieval without navigating options.

Fee: ₦20 is deducted from your airtime balance each time you use the USSD retrieval. Ensure you have at least ₦20 airtime before dialling. If you have no airtime and need a free alternative, use the NIMC Mobile ID app or portal (Methods 3 and 4 below).

Method 2 — USSD Code *121*1# (Airtel Only)

Airtel uses a different USSD code from the other major networks for NIN retrieval:

1. Dial *121*1# from your Airtel line that was registered with NIMC
2. Follow the prompts — select the NIN retrieval option
3. Your NIN appears on screen

If your Airtel SIM is not yet linked to your NIN, the retrieval will not work — visit an Airtel customer service centre or a NIMC enrolment point to complete the linkage first.

Method 3 — NIMC Mobile ID App (Free, No Airtime Needed)

The NIMC Mobile ID app is the official free app from the National Identity Management Commission — it shows your NIN and digital ID without any airtime charge.

1. Open the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS)
2. Search for “NIMC Mobile ID” — download the official NIMC app (published by National Identity Management Commission)
3. Open the app and enter your NIN (if you know it) or your date of birth and other registration details to retrieve it
4. Your NIN and a digital version of your national ID card are displayed in the app

The NIMC Mobile ID app also functions as a digital identity document — you can show it on screen as proof of identity at some institutions. However, not all Nigerian institutions accept the digital version — many still require the physical NIN slip or national ID card for formal transactions.

Method 4 — NIMC Self-Service Portal (Free, Online)

1. Go to self.nimc.gov.ng in your browser
2. Click “Retrieve NIN”
3. Enter your registered phone number, date of birth and other verification details
4. Your NIN is displayed after verification

This method is free and useful when you have internet access but no airtime. It requires the phone number you registered with NIMC.

Method 5 — Your Original NIN Slip

When you enrolled at a NIMC centre, you received a NIN slip — a small printed card or receipt. Your 11-digit NIN is printed in the top-left corner of that slip. If you still have it, that is the quickest reference.

If you have lost your NIN slip but have previously collected your national ID card, your NIN is also printed on the reverse of the national ID card in some formats, and embedded in the card’s chip.

Method 6 — Visit a NIMC Enrolment Centre

If all digital methods fail — SIM changed, USSD error, forgot phone number used at registration — visit any NIMC enrolment centre with a valid government-issued ID. The NIMC officer retrieves your NIN from the database after identity verification. Find the nearest enrolment centre at nimc.gov.ng. This is free but requires an in-person visit.

What to Do If *346# Does Not Work

• “NIN not found” or “No record found”: You are dialling from a SIM that was not linked to your NIN at enrolment. Try the other SIM in your phone, or the number you used when you enrolled at NIMC
• “Service unavailable” or no response: The USSD service may be temporarily down on your network. Try again after a few minutes. If it consistently fails on MTN or Glo, try *346*1# instead of *346# — this routes directly to retrieval
• You changed your phone number since enrolling: Your NIN is still registered to your old number. Use the NIMC self-service portal (self.nimc.gov.ng) or visit a NIMC office to update your phone number on your NIN record — bring your NIN slip or national ID and a valid ID
• You have never enrolled for NIN: The USSD code will not work. You must enrol in person at a NIMC enrolment centre — find your nearest one at nimc.gov.ng. Bring your birth certificate or valid ID. NIN enrolment is free

How to Link Your NIN to Your Bank Account

The CBN requires all Nigerian bank account holders to link their NIN to their bank accounts. Accounts without NIN linkage face restrictions. Here is how to link at each major bank:

GTBank — Dial *737*20*BVN#

• Dial *737*20*[your BVN]# from your GTBank-registered phone number
• Alternatively, log in to GTBank internet banking at gtbank.com and link under Account Settings
• Or visit the nearest GTBank branch

Access Bank — Dial *901*11#

• Dial *901*11# from your Access Bank-registered number
• Follow the on-screen prompts — enter your NIN when requested
• Alternatively, visit accessbankplc.com NIN/BVN linkage section online

Zenith Bank — Dial *966*NIN#

• Dial *966*[your 11-digit NIN]# from your Zenith-registered number
• Alternatively, log in to Zenith internet banking, go to Account section, select “Update Account (NIN)”

UBA — WhatsApp or Website

• Message UBA’s virtual assistant Leo on WhatsApp, Facebook or Instagram with “Hi” and follow the NIN update prompts
• Alternatively, visit uba.com self-service section for NIN update

First Bank — Branch or Internet Banking

• Log in to First Bank internet banking at firstbanknigeria.com — go to Self Service and select NIN update
• Or visit the nearest First Bank branch with your NIN slip and valid ID

NIN vs BVN — Key Differences Every Nigerian Must Know

Many Nigerians confuse their NIN and BVN — they are two different numbers. Your BVN starts with a different prefix from your NIN. If you check your BVN via *565*0# and your NIN via *346#, you will see two different 11-digit numbers. Both are required for full banking compliance in Nigeria.

NIN Correction — What to Do If Your Details Are Wrong

If your NIN record contains incorrect information — wrong name spelling, wrong date of birth, wrong gender — you must visit a NIMC enrolment centre to request a correction:

• Bring your NIN slip, valid government-issued ID showing the correct information, and a birth certificate or sworn affidavit for date-of-birth corrections
• Name modification fee: ₦500 — paid via Remita (the Federal Government payment platform) at the NIMC office
• Processing takes approximately 3–10 business days
• Do not pay cash directly to any NIMC officer for corrections — official fees are paid through Remita only

The 3-SIM-Per-NIN Rule — What It Means for Nigerians

Under NCC regulations, a maximum of three SIM cards across all networks can be linked to one NIN. If you have more than three SIM cards, the additional lines must be deactivated — or risk restriction by the network operator. If you are getting an error when trying to link a SIM to your NIN, it may be because three SIM cards are already linked. Visit a NIMC office or your network provider’s customer service centre to review and manage which SIMs are linked to your NIN.

Frequently Asked Questions — NIN Nigeria 2026

What is the code to check NIN in Nigeria?

For MTN, Glo and 9mobile users: dial *346# from the phone number registered with NIMC, select option 1, and your 11-digit NIN appears on screen. A ₦20 fee applies. MTN shortcut: dial *346*1# to skip the menu. For Airtel users: dial *121*1#. Free alternatives without airtime: download the NIMC Mobile ID app (Android/iOS) or visit self.nimc.gov.ng. All methods require the phone number you registered with NIMC at enrolment — using a different number returns an error.

Is my NIN the same as my BVN?

No — your NIN and BVN are two different 11-digit numbers. Your NIN is issued by NIMC and is used for national identity across all government and private services — passport, SIM, voter card, bank accounts, travel. Your BVN is issued by the CBN/NIBSS and is specifically linked to your Nigerian bank accounts. Both are 11 digits, both are linked to your biometrics, and both are required for full banking compliance — but they have different values. Check your NIN with *346# and your BVN with *565*0# and you will see two different numbers.

How do I get my NIN if I have never enrolled?

You must visit a NIMC enrolment centre in person — NIN enrolment requires biometric capture (fingerprints and photograph) which cannot be done remotely. Find the nearest NIMC enrolment centre at nimc.gov.ng. Bring any valid government-issued ID (birth certificate, driver’s licence, voter’s card, international passport) and your completed pre-enrolment form — available at nimc.gov.ng. NIN enrolment is free. After enrolment, you receive a Transaction ID slip and your NIN is issued within days — retrieve it using *346# on the number you registered with.

My NIN USSD is not working — what should I do?

The most common reason *346# fails is that you are dialling from a SIM that was not linked to your NIN at enrolment. Try the other SIM in your device, or the number you used when you first enrolled at a NIMC centre. If you changed your number since enrolling, the old number is still the one linked to your NIN — update it at a NIMC office (bring your NIN slip and valid ID). If you are on Airtel, use *121*1# instead of *346#. For a free internet-based alternative, use the NIMC Mobile ID app (Android/iOS) or self.nimc.gov.ng.

Sources

1. NCC Nigeria — Frequently Asked Questions on NIN and SIM Integration — ncc.gov.ng / consumer.ncc.gov.ng
2. Nairametrics — How to retrieve your National Identification Number — NIMC — nairametrics.com
3. TechCabal — How to check your NIN number with USSD code in Nigeria — techcabal.com
4. Shuftipro — How to check NIN number on Nigerian networks MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9mobile — shuftipro.com
5. NIMC Nigeria — National Identity Management Commission official portal — nimc.gov.ng / self.nimc.gov.ng

Last updated: 26 September 2026 · NaijaSabi Civic Desk. USSD codes and bank linking processes may be updated by NIMC, NCC or individual banks. Always confirm current codes with your network provider if any method stops working. NaijaSabi is not affiliated with NIMC, the NCC or any Nigerian bank.