NIN slip reissue and NIN modification sound alike and do different jobs. One prints what NIMC already holds. The other changes what NIMC holds. Confusing the two can waste money.
The short answer
| Slip reissue | Modification | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Prints your existing details again | Changes a detail on your NIN record |
| Use it when | The slip is lost or worn | A name, phone, address or date of birth is wrong or has changed |
| Cost | ₦600, NIMC's naira fee | Depends on the field |
| Free option | Download the slip in the NINAuth app | A date of birth fee is free if NIMC made the original error |
NIN slip reissue needs no office visit. NIN modification needs none either, unless you change your photo.
Slip reissue, and a free option to try first
NIMC lets NINAuth users download the NIN slip in the app for free. In the app, go to Do More with NINAuth, then NIN Slip, then download. The app is on Google Play and the Apple App Store, and the service sits at ninauth.nimc.gov.ng.
The improved slip prints on plain A4 paper, front and back. No special paper is needed. If you reissue instead, NIMC's naira fee is ₦600.
NIMC's diaspora slip reissue fee is reported inconsistently, so check the current amount before you pay. How to reprint a lost NIN slip covers the steps.
Modification: what it changes and what it costs abroad
Modification changes a detail on your record. NIMC has directed data changes to its self-service portal since 2 Oct 2024.
NIMC's May 2025 diaspora schedule lists $10 for other fields, the same in all international locations. A date of birth correction is $55 in Africa and $60 outside Africa, in places such as the UK, the US, Europe and Asia.
News reports say a date of birth change is allowed only once, and that it asks for an NPC birth certificate or attestation. NIMC's own site does not list documents by field, so confirm on the portal. NIN modification fees for Nigerians abroad sets out the schedule in full.
After a marriage, you need a modification
A change of surname is a modification, not a reissue. A reissued slip would only print the old name again. Changing your surname on NIN after marriage covers the steps. The order to change your name after marriage shows where the NIN sits in the chain.
A vetted partner firm can file a NIN modification for you. Start a NIN modification.
If you need both, or a passport next
Modify first, then print. A slip printed before the change shows the old details. Print the new slip once the record has updated.
If a passport is next, the order matters too. NIS takes your personal details from your NIMC (NIN) record, so finish the modification before you apply. Why passport renewal needs your NIN to match explains the check.
Common mistakes
- Paying for a reissue when the free NINAuth download would do.
- Reissuing a slip to fix a wrong detail. It only prints what is already there.
- Assuming the diaspora fee for a date of birth is the same in Africa and elsewhere.
- Treating a date of birth change as routine when news reports say it is allowed only once.
For related chains, see the diaspora and life events hub.