Identity (NIMC)
How to modify your NIN online.
How to modify your NIN online: the NIMC fee and route for a name, date of birth or address change, the evidence to upload and when you need a visit.
Your NIN record is the source of truth for every Nigerian government identity check — banks, FRSC, NIS passport, your Tax ID, SIM registration. A typo or out-of-date detail blocks all of them. NIMC has a modification route for each kind of change. This guide covers the most common ones, what evidence each route needs, and the one change that needs a visit.
The change types NIMC supports
NIMC charges ₦28,574 to correct a date of birth and ₦2,000 to change any other field, such as your name or address. Check nimc.gov.ng/fees for the current list. The most common changes in 2026:
- Name modification — adding, dropping, or changing a surname or middle name.
- Date of birth correction — fixing a wrong date captured at first enrolment.
- Address update — changing your residential address on the record.
- Phone number / email update — refreshing contact details.
- Photograph change — when the existing photo is unrecognisable. This one needs a visit (see below).
- Marital status update.
- Place of origin / state of origin correction.
Step-by-step: a name modification
A name change after marriage is the highest-volume request. The exact sequence:
1. Get the legal step done first
NIMC will not change your name without a legal trigger document — usually a sworn affidavit of name change from a Nigerian high court. After marriage, guides say the self-service portal asks for a court affidavit, a government-issued ID, your marriage certificate and a newspaper publication.
2. Fill the modification form
NIMC takes change requests on its self-service portal (selfservicemodification.nimc.gov.ng). The form asks for your NIN, the change you want, and the supporting document. Upload the affidavit (and marriage certificate where applicable) as a clear PDF.
NIMC asks you to sign in on the same device and browser used to create the account, so do not switch phones or clear your browser halfway through. On Docufy you tick the change on a short form, upload the same evidence from your phone, and a vetted partner firm submits it.
3. Pay the modification fee
NIMC shows the fee for your change type when you submit, and you pay it online. On Docufy you pay one all-in price, VAT included, shown before you pay.
4. Wait for the slip
NIMC sets the processing time, and a name change with complete evidence moves fastest. Once NIMC approves it, the updated record is available. On Docufy, the filing page shows the target time in business days before you start, and you follow each step on your phone.
Date of birth corrections take longer
Date of birth is the strictest field. Guides say NIMC needs an NPC birth certificate or attestation before it will make the change. It requires multiple supporting documents — birth certificate, declaration of age, attestation, sometimes a court order — and the review usually takes longer than for other changes. Plan for this if you need a corrected DOB before a passport application.
You can change your date of birth only once, so get the new date right the first time. The correction is free if NIMC made the original error.
Address and phone updates are the easiest
These do not require court documents. A utility bill, tenancy agreement, or bank statement is usually enough for an address update. Phone number updates can be done with an OTP confirmation.
When you need physical re-capture
A photo change needs one visit to a NIMC enrolment centre, because the new photo has to be captured in person. Other changes need no visit. On Docufy, ticking Photo on the form asks you to acknowledge that biometric appointment, so you know before you pay.
For more on NIN changes, fees and slips, see our NIN and NIMC guides, or check current NIMC charges in the government fees index.
Questions
Frequently asked.
How much does a NIN modification cost?
NIMC charges ₦28,574 to correct a date of birth and ₦2,000 to change any other field, such as your name or address. On Docufy you pay one all-in price, VAT included, shown before you pay.
How long does a NIN name change take?
NIMC sets the pace. A routine name change with the right supporting documents moves fastest, and date-of-birth corrections usually take longer because more evidence is reviewed. On Docufy, the filing page shows the target time in business days before you start.
Do I need to go to a NIMC office?
Not unless you are changing your photo. A photo change needs one visit to a NIMC enrolment centre for a new capture, and the Docufy form tells you before you pay. Other changes need no visit.
Can I change my date of birth without a court order?
Sometimes. A birth certificate from the National Population Commission, plus a sworn declaration of age, is often enough. A court order is the strongest evidence and is sometimes required when the change is large or the original record is contested.
My NIN slip has the wrong spelling of my name. Is that a modification or a re-issue?
A spelling correction is a modification — it is changing the recorded name. A re-issue is just a fresh print of the existing record without changes.
Sources
- Fees | NIMC - National Identity Management Commission
- Change or correct your NIN details with the 2024 NIMC self service — TechCabal (4 Apr 2024)
- NIMC releases new prices for NIN modification services, DOB correction now N28,574
- NIMC gives condition to waive N28,574 Date of Birth correction fee
- NIMC issues new guidelines for Nigerians accessing NIN self-service modification portal
- NIMC warns Nigerians to modify NIN only on official self-service portal for security reasons
Fees and rules last checked 27 Sep 2026. The agency that issues the document has the final word. See our editorial policy.
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Ready to file your nin modification?
Target: 7 business days. Your document lands in your vault as a PDF with a verify link.
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