You can retrieve a forgotten National Identification Number from your phone by dialling the official NIMC USSD code, *346#, from the phone number recorded on your NIN profile.
The service does not require mobile data or a smartphone. It normally works through Nigerian mobile networks, but you need an active SIM, sufficient regular airtime and access to the number connected to your NIMC record.
Quick answer: Dial *346# from the phone number used for your NIN enrolment or later updated on your NIMC record. Select NIN Retrieval, approve the displayed charge and copy the 11-digit number shown on the screen.
Official Code for Checking Your NIN
The NIN retrieval code is:
*346#
Use the code to recover a NIN that has already been issued to you. It does not register you for a new NIN and does not correct errors in your identity record.
The service is commonly available to customers of:
MTN Nigeria;
Airtel Nigeria;
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How to Check Your NIN From Your Phone in 2026
Aug 20, 2026
Aug 20, 2026
17 min read
Published
Updated:
You can retrieve a forgotten National Identification Number from your phone by dialling the official NIMC USSD code, *346#, from the phone number recorded on your NIN profile.
The service does not require mobile data or a smartphone. It normally works through Nigerian mobile networks, but you need an active SIM, sufficient regular airtime and access to the number connected to your NIMC record.
Quick answer: Dial *346# from the phone number used for your NIN enrolment or later updated on your NIMC record. Select NIN Retrieval, approve the displayed charge and copy the 11-digit number shown on the screen.
Official Code for Checking Your NIN
The NIN retrieval code is:
*346#
Use the code to recover a NIN that has already been issued to you. It does not register you for a new NIN and does not correct errors in your identity record.
The service is commonly available to customers of:
MTN Nigeria;
Airtel Nigeria;
Globacom; and
9mobile.
Network availability can vary temporarily. Follow the wording and price displayed in the USSD menu because the order of the options and the service charge may change.
What You Need Before Dialling the Code
Make sure you have:
The SIM associated with your NIMC record.
Access to the phone number used during enrolment or officially updated afterwards.
A working mobile-network signal.
Enough regular airtime for the retrieval charge.
A safe place to record the 11-digit number.
Do not use another person's phone and assume the system will ask for your name. The retrieval service identifies the record through the phone number making the request.
How to Check Your NIN With *346#
Step 1: Insert or select the correct SIM
Use the phone number connected to your NIN record. If you have a dual-SIM phone, confirm that the USSD call will be made from the correct line.
Step 2: Open the phone dialler
Open the same app you use to make calls.
Step 3: Dial the official code
Enter:
*346#
Then press the call or send button.
Step 4: Select “NIN Retrieval”
Choose the option labelled NIN Retrieval. It is often option 1, but read the menu instead of assuming the number because the options can be updated.
Step 5: Review and approve the charge
The menu should show the service charge before the request is completed. Current Nigerian guides commonly report a charge of about ₦20 per successful retrieval, but confirm the amount shown on your phone because NIMC or a network operator may change it.
Cancel the session if the displayed amount is unexpected.
Step 6: Copy the 11-digit NIN
Your National Identification Number should appear on the screen. It contains 11 digits.
Write it down carefully or store it in a secure password manager or private encrypted note. Do not post a screenshot publicly or save the number in a shared phone.
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How to Check NIN on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile
The core retrieval process is the same across the major Nigerian networks:
Network | NIN retrieval code | What to do |
MTN | *346# | Select NIN Retrieval and confirm the displayed charge |
Airtel | *346# | Select NIN Retrieval and confirm the displayed charge |
Glo | *346# | Select NIN Retrieval and confirm the displayed charge |
9mobile | *346# | Select NIN Retrieval and confirm the displayed charge |
The codes a network uses for SIM registration, SIM-NIN linking or checking linkage status are different services. If your goal is to recover the 11-digit identity number, start with NIMC's *346# retrieval route.
How Much Does NIN Retrieval Cost?
The phone service is not normally free. Recent 2026 consumer guides report a fee of approximately ₦20, deducted from regular airtime after confirmation.
Because the current NIMC SMS-services page does not expose a fixed fee in its accessible page text, XTRAfrica recommends treating the amount shown in the live USSD menu as authoritative. Charges can be changed by NIMC or the mobile network.
If the balance is too low, recharge with regular airtime and try again. Bonus airtime may not work for the service.
NIN Code Not Working? Try These Fixes
1. Confirm that you used the correct phone number
Dial from the number stored against your NIMC record. A different line may return no record even if both SIMs belong to you.
Remember that a SIM being linked to your NIN for telecom compliance is not always proof that it is the contact number stored in your original NIMC profile.
2. Select the correct SIM on a dual-SIM phone
If two lines are active, the phone may send the USSD request through the wrong network. Choose the NIMC-linked SIM before dialling.
3. Add regular airtime
The retrieval may fail if the line cannot cover the service fee. Recharge and retry after confirming that the balance is available for ordinary paid services.
4. Check the network signal
USSD sessions need an active mobile-network connection. Move to an area with better reception and try again later if the session times out.
5. Wait for temporary system problems to clear
The mobile network or NIMC service may be temporarily unavailable. Do not keep redialling rapidly if the system is failing. Wait and try again later.
6. Restart the phone
A restart can clear a stuck USSD session or temporary SIM error. Confirm that the correct SIM is active after the phone turns back on.
7. Contact the mobile network
If ordinary calls and other USSD codes also fail, the problem may be with the SIM or network account. Ask the operator whether premium USSD services are blocked.
8. Contact NIMC if the record still cannot be found
Use NIMC's official contact page or visit an authorised NIMC enrolment centre. Do not send your NIN, BVN, biometric data or identity documents to an unofficial social-media account.
What to Do if You Lost the SIM Linked to Your NIN
The simplest first step is to recover the same phone number from your mobile operator. Take the identification and SIM-ownership evidence required by the network.
If the number cannot be recovered:
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Visit an official NIMC office or authorised enrolment centre.
Explain that the phone number on the NIN record is lost or inaccessible.
Take any NIN slip, tracking ID or valid identity record still available to you.
Complete the identity and biometric checks requested by NIMC.
Follow the official process for retrieving the NIN or updating the recorded phone number.
NIMC lists phone number as an updatable identity field. Supporting evidence may be required, and an official modification or slip-reissuance fee may apply.
Do not register for a second NIN because the original number was forgotten or the SIM was lost. A NIN is unique and remains attached to one identity.
Can You Check Your NIN Online?
NIMC provides digital identity services, including NINAuth and mobile identity tools. However, a public website should not reveal a person's NIN merely from a name or phone number. That would create a serious identity-theft risk.
Some NIMC mobile services require the user to already know the NIN before creating or restoring an account. Therefore, they may not solve the problem when the 11-digit number itself has been completely forgotten.
For a forgotten NIN, use *346# from the recorded phone number or seek help at an authorised NIMC centre. Avoid websites that promise instant retrieval after you submit a BVN, card information or one-time password.
Can You Check Your NIN by SMS?
The widely recognised self-service retrieval method is the *346# USSD menu. It is dialled like a phone code rather than sent as a normal text message.
Do not text personal information to random numbers advertising NIN retrieval. Use the official NIMC service or an authorised centre.
NIN Retrieval Is Not the Same as NIN Verification
These terms refer to different actions:
Service | Meaning |
NIN retrieval | Recovering your existing 11-digit NIN after forgetting or losing it |
NIN verification | Confirming that a NIN and identity record are valid |
NIN-SIM linking | Associating a mobile line with the subscriber's NIN through a network operator |
NIN slip download or reissue | Obtaining an official printable identity slip |
NIN modification | Correcting or updating an approved field in the NIMC record |
Dialling *346# retrieves the number. It does not correct a name, change a date of birth, print an official slip or automatically resolve a failed bank or SIM verification.
NIN and Tracking ID: What Is the Difference?
A NIN is the permanent 11-digit number assigned after successful enrolment and de-duplication.
A tracking ID is connected to the enrolment process and is not a substitute for the completed NIN. If a service requests your 11-digit NIN, do not enter the tracking ID.
If enrolment has not been completed and no NIN has been issued, *346# cannot create one. Contact the centre where you enrolled or visit NIMC.
What to Do After Retrieving Your NIN
After the number appears:
Check that it contains exactly 11 digits.
Copy it carefully without spaces or missing digits.
Keep it in a secure private location.
Obtain or reprint an official NIN slip if an organisation requires the document.
Share it only with a verified institution for a legitimate identity purpose.
Never publish it on Facebook, X, TikTok, WhatsApp groups or a public form.
NIMC describes the NIN as sensitive identity information that should be guarded and disclosed only to relevant authorities when required.
Scam and Privacy Warning
NIMC warns the public against unauthorised apps, websites and social-media accounts that collect NIN or BVN information. A fake retrieval service may use the data for identity fraud.
Never give an unknown person your:
Full NIN or NIN slip.
BVN.
Bank-card details or PIN.
One-time password.
Fingerprints or facial image.
SIM-replacement code.
Password for a government or financial account.
Do not allow a stranger to dial the retrieval code while holding your unlocked phone. Someone with access to the registered SIM may be able to view the number.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What code can I use to check my NIN?
Dial *346# from the phone number connected to your NIMC record and select NIN Retrieval.
How many digits are in a NIN?
A National Identification Number contains 11 digits.
Can I check my NIN without internet access?
Yes. The *346# USSD service uses the mobile network and does not require mobile data.
Can I check my NIN on any phone?
You can put the correct SIM in another handset, but the request must be made through the phone number associated with your NIMC record. The handset itself is not the identity key.
Can I use another person's phone number?
No. The service searches for the record associated with the line making the request. Use your recorded number or visit NIMC for assistance.
How much does *346# cost?
Recent guides commonly report about ₦20 for a successful retrieval. Confirm the live amount displayed in the USSD menu before approving it.
Does *346# work on MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile?
It is the common NIMC retrieval code used across the major Nigerian networks. Temporary network or system availability can still affect a request.
Why is my NIN not showing?
Possible causes include using the wrong SIM, insufficient airtime, poor network coverage, temporary NIMC downtime or an incomplete identity record.
Can I retrieve a NIN that has never been issued?
No. Retrieval only returns an existing NIN. A person who has never completed NIMC enrolment must enrol through an authorised centre.
Can I retrieve my NIN after losing the registered SIM?
Recover the same phone number from the mobile operator where possible. Otherwise, visit NIMC for identity verification and help updating or retrieving the record.
Should I enrol again if I forgot my NIN?
No. Do not create a duplicate identity record. Retrieve the existing number through *346# or an authorised NIMC centre.
Does the code print a NIN slip?
No. It displays or returns the 11-digit number. Use an official NIMC slip service or visit an authorised centre when a printable document is required.
Official Sources and Verification Note
This guide was checked on 20 August 2026 against:
NIMC SMS Services — official phone-service page.
NIMC National Identification Number guide — the 11-digit format, identity purpose and uniqueness of the NIN.
NIMC mobile digital identity information — official mobile identity services.
NIMC enrolment-centre finder — official physical-support locations.
NIMC contact page — customer-service channels.
NIMC fraud alert — warnings about unauthorised apps, websites and requests for identity data.
The USSD option number and fee can change. Follow the live menu shown after dialling *346# and rely on NIMC or your mobile operator for the latest charge.
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