How to Check Your NIN Number: 4 Ways
Your NIN is on your NIMC record, and there are four ways to get it back. Which one works for you depends on whether you still have the SIM you enrolled with.
GuidesNovember 2, 20265 min read
The 4 Ways, Side by Side
Your National Identification Number (NIN) is 11 digits. If you've forgotten it, start with the free options from NIMC. Use the online route when they don't fit your situation.
| Way | What you need | Cost | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dial *346# | The SIM you linked to your NIN, in your phone | Free or a small network charge | You still have that SIM |
| NINAuth app (NIMC) | A smartphone you're already signed in on | Free | You've used the app before |
| NIMC enrolment centre | A visit, and sometimes your fingerprints | Free | Nothing else works, or your record needs fixing |
| FastCAC, online | The phone number you registered with, and a face check | ₦500 | You've lost the SIM or can't use the app |
1. Dial *346# From Your Registered Line
- Put in the SIM whose number you gave NIMC when you enrolled.
- Dial *346# and choose NIN retrieval.
- Your NIN comes back by SMS.
It works on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile, but only from the number linked to your NIN. Guides disagree on whether networks charge for it; if they do, it's a few naira of airtime.
2. Use NIMC's NINAuth App
NINAuth is NIMC's own app for Android and iPhone. Once you're signed in, it shows your NIN. In July 2026 NIMC announced free NIN slip downloads in the app too. Download it only from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, never from a link someone sends you.
3. Visit a NIMC Enrolment Centre
Staff can look up your record, usually with your fingerprints. It's also where to go if your details are wrong, your record has no photo, or you need a modification. Bring any old slip or ID you have.
4. Get It Online With Your Phone Number
If you've lost the SIM, changed phones or can't get into the app, you can still get your NIN with the number you registered with, from any phone or laptop:
- Open Get your NIN and start the check.
- Enter the phone number you gave NIMC, then follow the short face check with your camera.
- See your photo and name from your NIMC record, so you know it's yours, then pay ₦500 plus a small processing fee.
- Your NIN shows on screen and is emailed to you. Add your NIN slip for ₦1,200 in total.
The face check is what keeps it safe: nobody can get your NIN just because they know your phone number. If the check fails, you aren't charged.
Checking Your NIN: FAQs
What is the code to check my NIN?
Dial *346# from the phone number you used when you enrolled for your NIN, then choose NIN retrieval. It only works from that number.
Can I check my NIN with someone else's phone?
Not with *346#: it reads the number you dial from. Online, you can use any phone or laptop, as long as you enter the number you registered with and pass a face check against your NIMC photo.
I lost the SIM I registered with. How do I get my NIN?
You still know the number, so you can get your NIN online with it and a face check. Or recover the line from your network first, then dial *346#. Our guide to retrieving a forgotten NIN covers both.
Is it safe to get my NIN online?
Only use a service that checks it's really you before showing anything. FastCAC shows a NIN only after a live face check matches the photo on that NIMC record, and deletes the details after 7 days. FastCAC isn't part of NIMC.
Do I need my NIN to register a business?
Yes. CAC asks for every proprietor's NIN, and checks it against NIMC. Once you have yours, you can register a business name with FastCAC.
Also read: forgot your NIN? how to retrieve it and how to get your NIN slip.
FastCAC Legal Team
Helping Nigerian businesses register with CAC and stay active.
