A certified true copy sounds like a formality. Then a bank refuses a plain photocopy and asks for one by name.
What a certified true copy is, compared with the original
A certified true copy is a copy of a specific CAC document. CAC stamps it and confirms it matches what is on file. It is not a fresh document. It is verified proof that your copy matches the original.
This matters when an institution will not accept a photocopy you made yourself. It does not matter how accurate that photocopy looks. Only CAC's own stamp settles the question for them.
A scanned copy from your own printer carries no such weight, no matter how clear it is. The stamp is the point, not the paper it sits on.
The fee, per document
CAC charges ₦5,000 per document for a certified true copy. This applies per document, not per request. Three documents means three times the fee.
Two founders asking for the same three documents each pay separately, since the fee follows the document, not the company. Ask for exactly what you need in one sitting, rather than returning for a document you forgot.
Which documents you can request a CTC of
Common requests include the certificate of incorporation and the memorandum and articles of association. These are the same documents covered in what's in a CAC incorporation pack.
Decide which specific documents you actually need certified before you request them. Do not certify everything in the pack out of caution. Each extra document adds the same fee again.
Why banks and lenders often ask for one
Banks and lenders often prefer a certified true copy over a plain copy. This comes up most when opening a corporate account or assessing a loan. CAC's own stamp carries more weight than yours.
This is common practice rather than a fixed rule. Not every bank asks for the same document the same way. Confirm what your bank specifically wants before you pay for a CTC you did not need.
A quick call to the bank first can save a wasted fee. Ask which document they want certified, not just whether they want one at all. Some accept a status report instead, which is worth asking about too.
Requesting one on the portal
Certified true copies are requested through CAC's new Company Registration Portal (CRP), alongside your other post-incorporation filings. Specify exactly which document you want certified when you apply.
Once you have what your bank or lender asked for, you can start a CAC company registration if you have not yet registered, or see the CAC status report: what it is and its fee if what you actually need is a summary rather than a copy.