If you have been asking when the next JAMB registration starts, you are far from alone. Every year, more than a million candidates preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or Direct Entry go hunting for accurate dates, requirements, and a clear sense of how the registration actually works.
Here is the good news: JAMB runs to a remarkably consistent calendar, so we can project the JAMB 2027 registration window with real confidence by looking at what the board has done in recent years. This guide gives you the confirmed recent dates, the projected 2027 timeline, the requirements, and a step-by-step walkthrough so you are ready when the portal opens.
What JAMB does and why it matters
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is Nigeria’s official matriculation body. It conducts the UTME and Direct Entry exams that feed admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Whether you are a first-time UTME candidate or a Direct Entry applicant with a National Diploma or NCE, you pass through the same system: you create a JAMB profile, register and pay through the official channels, and sit your exam at an approved JAMB CBT centre. Knowing the timeline is the first step, because miss the window and you wait a full year for the next one.
Recent JAMB registration dates
The clearest way to predict 2027 is to look at what just happened.
2026 UTME (confirmed by JAMB)
- Registration: Monday, 26 January 2026 to Saturday, 28 February 2026
- Mock UTME (optional): Saturday, 28 March 2026
- Main UTME exam: Thursday, 16 April to Saturday, 25 April 2026
- Direct Entry: Monday, 2 March to Saturday, 25 April 2026
2025 UTME (for comparison)
- Registration: Monday, 3 February 2025 to Saturday, 8 March 2025
Put the two years side by side and the pattern is obvious. UTME registration opens in late January or early February, runs for about four to five weeks, and closes in late February or early March. The exam follows in April, and Direct Entry registration opens a little later and stays open longer.
Projected JAMB 2027 registration dates
JAMB keeps its calendar steady from year to year, so based on the 2025 and 2026 dates, here is what to expect for 2027:
- Registration begins: expected late January 2027 (around the last week of January)
- Registration ends: expected late February or early March 2027
- Mock UTME (optional): expected late March 2027
- Main UTME exam: expected April 2027
- Direct Entry: expected to open in early March 2027 and run into April
Treat these as projections, not gospel. JAMB announces the official 2027 dates closer to the time, so confirm on the official JAMB portal before you act on anything here. The pattern is reliable, but the board occasionally shifts a window by a week or two.
Step-by-step JAMB registration process
When the window opens, here is how registration works from start to finish.
1. Get your National Identification Number (NIN)
Your NIN is compulsory. Without it you cannot even create a profile. If you do not have one yet, enrol at an accredited NIMC centre well ahead of the registration window, since NIN issues are one of the most common reasons candidates get stuck near the deadline.
2. Create your JAMB profile
Send your NIN by SMS to 55019 or 66019 in the format “NIN” followed by your number (for example, NIN 12345678901). You will receive a profile code on the phone number you use. Use a personal phone number you control, because it becomes your unique identifier for all dealings with JAMB, now and in future.
3. Buy your e-PIN
Use your profile code to purchase the JAMB e-PIN through approved banks or the official channels. The fee bundles the application fee, a compulsory reading text, and the CBT centre service charges.
4. Complete registration at an approved CBT centre
Visit an accredited centre to capture your personal details and biometrics and to upload your documents. Using only approved centres is what makes your registration valid, so do not cut corners here.
5. Collect your e-Slip
Once you finish, you receive an e-Slip carrying your JAMB registration number and your exam details. Keep it safe. You will need it repeatedly.
Registration fees
Fees are set by JAMB each year and announced with the calendar. For reference, the 2026 UTME breakdown was: application fee ₦3,500, reading text ₦1,000, CBT centre registration service charge ₦700, CBT centre UTME service charge ₦1,500, and bank charges ₦500, with the optional mock adding ₦1,500. JAMB held fees steady that year rather than raising them.
Expect the 2027 fees to land in a similar range, but wait for JAMB’s official announcement for the exact figures, since this is the kind of detail that can change.
Documents and information you will need
Have these ready before you start so nothing slows you down:
- Your NIN
- Your O’level results, or awaiting-results details
- Your JAMB subject combination for your intended course (check the official JAMB brochure)
- A valid email address and an active personal phone number
- Past questions for practice
Direct Entry candidates
If you are applying through Direct Entry, you need a National Diploma, NCE, or an equivalent qualification. The DE window usually opens after UTME registration begins and stays open longer. You will provide your transcripts or proof of qualification during the admission process, and DE registration is handled through JAMB’s state and zonal offices rather than the general CBT centres.
Tips for a smooth registration
- Register early. Do not wait for the final days. Late registration brings long queues, system slowdowns, biometric failures, and NIN delays, any of which can cost you the exam.
- Use only approved centres. It is the only way to be sure your registration counts.
- Double-check your details. Your personal information must match your official records exactly.
- Practice with past questions. They build both speed and confidence for the CBT format.
- Follow the JAMB syllabus. It tells you exactly what to study, so you are not reading blind.
After registration: what comes next
Once you are registered:
- Keep your JAMB registration number somewhere safe.
- Check the JAMB CAPS platform regularly to track your admission status.
- Sit the mock exam if you paid for it, since it is good practice for the real thing.
- Prepare seriously using the syllabus and past questions.
Getting help
If you run into trouble, JAMB offers several support routes: state offices for general queries, zonal offices for escalated issues, the official portal for checking results and printing slips, and the CBT centres for technical help during registration.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next JAMB registration starting? JAMB 2027 registration is projected to open in late January 2027 and close in late February or early March 2027, following the pattern of recent years. Confirm the official dates on the JAMB portal once announced.
Do I need a NIN to register? Yes. The NIN is compulsory for every candidate, and you cannot create a JAMB profile without it.
How do I create my JAMB profile? Send your NIN by SMS to 55019 or 66019 in the format NIN followed by your number, and you will receive a profile code.
When is the JAMB exam usually held? The main UTME is typically held in April, a few weeks after registration closes.
Can Direct Entry candidates use the same dates? No. Direct Entry registration usually opens later than UTME and runs longer, and it is handled at JAMB’s state and zonal offices.
Final thoughts
Knowing when the next JAMB registration starts is the first move in your 2027 admission journey. The calendar is predictable: expect registration to open in late January 2027 and the exam to follow in April, but always confirm the official dates on the JAMB portal before you act. Bookmark the portal, watch for the announcement, get your NIN sorted early, and start studying now. The candidates who plan ahead are the ones who avoid the deadline scramble.
Official source
- Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB): https://www.jamb.gov.ng/
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
