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The short answer
Most NIN corrections can be started from the UK on NIMC's self-service portal, selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng, which covers name, phone number, address and date of birth. NIMC's February 2026 charter lists ₦2,000 for a name or other change and ₦28,574 for a date of birth change; gender and state of registration cannot be changed, and a date of birth can be changed only once.
What can and cannot be changed
NIMC's modification page for adults separates the record into two groups:
| Can be updated | Cannot be updated |
|---|---|
| Names | Gender |
| Date of birth | The NIN itself |
| Addresses | State and LGA of registration |
| Phone number | Enrolment centre and tracking number |
| Place of birth and origin | Fingerprints and signature |
| Parents' NIN and origin |
If the error is in a field on the right, a modification will not fix it. Contact NIMC at nimcmodification@nimc.gov.ng and explain the problem.
The self-service route from the UK
NIMC's self-service portal at selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng handles changes of name, phone number, date of birth and address. You verify your NIN, log in, pay through Paystack, upload the supporting documents, and receive the new slip by email once the change is approved. NIMC's service charter says self-service modifications take 48 to 72 hours, and a date of birth change of more than five years takes about two weeks.
Supporting documents NIMC lists
- Name change
- Sworn court affidavit, newspaper extract, marriage certificate, or another government ID
- Address change
- Utility bill, tenancy agreement or community leader attestation
- Phone number change
- Police report
- Date of birth change
- National Population Commission (NPC) certificate: a digitised NPC attestation if born before 1992, or an NPC birth certificate if born after
Most of these can be produced in the UK. A UK marriage certificate supports a married-name change; a UK affidavit can support a correction, and our guide to swearing an affidavit in the UK for Nigeria explains how. For a phone number change, NIMC lists a police report; ask NIMC whether a UK police report is accepted before obtaining one. The NPC attestation for a date of birth change is applied for online at nationalpopulation.gov.ng.
Common corrections for Nigerians in the UK
Married name
The most frequent case. If your passport now shows a married surname, a name change on the portal with your marriage certificate brings the NIN into line. If you married in the UK, the UK certificate is the document; if your marriage was customary in Nigeria, see proving a traditional marriage for the paperwork that usually accompanies it.
Names in the wrong order
UK forms put the surname last, Nigerian forms often first, and enrolment operators sometimes swap first and middle names. A swap is a name change in NIMC's terms, so treat it as one and support it with an affidavit that states the correct order.
A typo at enrolment
A missing letter is still a modification. Support it with your passport or another government ID, which NIMC lists as acceptable evidence for a name change.
An old Nigerian phone number
If the number on your NIN is a line you no longer have, change it, because NIMC's phone-based services rely on that number. NIMC lists a police report as the supporting document for a phone change.
Fees
| Change | In Nigeria (NIMC charter, Feb 2026) | Diaspora (Nairametrics, May 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Name or other detail | ₦2,000 | $60 name, $10 other (outside Africa) |
| Date of birth | ₦28,574 | $55 in Africa; outside Africa not reported |
Which fee applies depends on the channel. The self-service portal charges in naira through Paystack; a UK diaspora partner charges NIMC's diaspora fee in dollars. NIMC's own fees web page still showed older figures when checked, so go by the payment invoice.
Date of birth: once only
NIMC's diaspora facts sheet says a date of birth change needs notarised evidence and a letter, Governing Board approval, and is allowed once in a lifetime, with a decision within seven working days. The CBN applies a similar once-only rule to the date of birth on a BVN. Get it right: the new date should match your passport and birth record exactly.
Steps in order
- Work out what is wrong and which record is correct, normally your Nigerian passport.
- Gather the supporting document for that change and scan it clearly.
- Log in to the self-service portal with your NIN and pay the fee shown.
- Upload the document and the transaction slip if asked.
- Wait for the email with your new slip; the NIN number does not change.
- Update your bank, BVN and phone network with the corrected details.
The last step matters. A corrected NIN that no longer matches your BVN can trip bank checks; see fixing a BVN and passport name mismatch. For the Nigeria-side detail on NIMC's process, see how to correct your NIN details.
If the portal fails
Contact nimcmodification@nimc.gov.ng with your NIN, the change requested and any payment reference. NIMC's charter says email complaints get a reply within 48 hours and complex cases are resolved in 10 to 15 working days. You can also log a complaint at nimc.esupport.ng.
Where Pryme fits
Consistent records make it easier to run Nigerian accounts from abroad. A Pryme Personal Account can be opened from any country; see how Pryme works.
Questions people ask
Can I change my NIN name from the UK?
Yes. NIMC's self-service portal handles name changes online, with a supporting document such as a marriage certificate or sworn affidavit. NIMC's charter lists ₦2,000 for the change.
How much is NIN date of birth correction?
NIMC's February 2026 service charter lists ₦28,574. A date of birth change is allowed only once.
Can I change the gender on my NIN?
No. NIMC's modification page lists gender among the details that cannot be updated.
How long does NIN modification take?
NIMC's charter says 48 to 72 hours for self-service modifications, and about two weeks for a date of birth change of more than five years.
Sources
- NIMC: NIN modifications (adults) · accessed Oct 2026
- NIMC: Self-service modifications · accessed Oct 2026
- NIMC Service Charter (Feb 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Nairametrics: NIMC releases new prices for NIN modification services (10 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- NIMC: Diaspora Enrolment Facts Sheet (updated 18 Apr 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
- Technext: CBN says BVN remains for life; 2021 framework rules on changes (May 2023) · accessed Oct 2026
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