Changing your surname on your NIN after marriage goes through the same modification service as any other name update, but NIMC expects a legal document behind it before it will touch the record.
Here is the process, from gathering the certificate to what happens after you submit.
Before you start: get the legal document ready
Have your marriage certificate ready before you log in. Since this is a genuine change rather than a spelling fix, NIMC is unlikely to act on a request with no evidence that the change actually happened.
Some requests are supported with a sworn affidavit alongside the certificate. Check what the self-service portal itself asks you to upload once you select a name change, rather than assuming the full list in advance.
Submitting the change on the self-service portal
Log in using the same device and browser you registered your account with. NIMC's rule is the same device and browser used to create the account, and switching midway is a common reason people get locked out partway through a request.
Select the name modification option, enter your new surname exactly as your certificate spells it, and upload a clear scan of the document. Double-check the order of your names before you send it, since NIMC records what you submit and a mistake at this stage is yours to fix, not NIMC's. A vetted partner firm can handle this submission for you if you would rather do the paperwork from your phone.
Paying and what happens after
The fee for this change is ₦2,000, separate from the date of birth correction fee. You pay it on the same portal once your documents are attached.
NIMC then reviews the request against your uploaded evidence before it updates the record.
Keeping your other records consistent
Once your NIN shows your new surname, update the accounts and documents that check against it, starting with your bank and your SIM registration, since these are the two that most often flag a mismatch first.
If you also need your date of birth or another field corrected, treat that as a separate request. See what NIN date of birth correction costs if that applies to you, or the wider NIN name correction vs name change comparison if you are not sure which category your update falls into.
Common mistakes
- Submitting a certificate with a name that does not exactly match your NIN record or your new name. Check the spelling on the certificate itself first.
- Assuming the update shows up everywhere else on its own. Your bank, telco and other services only see the change once you update them yourself.
- Switching devices halfway through. Stick to the device and browser you first registered on the self-service portal.
For the full process and every other change, see the step-by-step NIN modification guide or the NIN and NIMC hub.