The POSSAP form asks for one clear thing before anything else: proof of who you are. Here is exactly what counts.
The three accepted ID types
Reported guidance on the POSSAP form lists a NIN, BVN or international passport as the accepted identification. Pick whichever of the three you hold and can supply confidently.
A NIN is the most common choice for a Nigerian applicant already enrolled with NIMC. A BVN works too, since it is tied to a bank-verified identity. An international passport covers both citizens and the foreign residents described in who can apply for a police character certificate.
What else the form collects
ID is only part of the picture. The form also asks for:
- Your full name, exactly as it reads on the ID you choose.
- Phone number and email address.
- Gender, state and LGA.
- Your residential address.
Guides describing the process also mention a recent passport photograph and a stated purpose for the request, such as the visa or job it supports.
Why the ID field matters more than it looks
A character certificate is only useful once the police can match it to a record. If your name on the form does not read the same way as your name on the ID you supply, or on the travel or job document the certificate is for, that mismatch is a realistic point of friction.
Nothing published says the application is rejected outright for a small spelling difference, but matching your details closely is the safer approach.
Choosing between the three, in practice
If you already have a NIN and it is current, it is usually the simplest choice, since it is already tied to your biometric record. A BVN is a reasonable second option if your NIN details are unclear or being corrected elsewhere. A foreign resident without either would use an international passport instead.
Whichever you pick, stick with it for the whole application. Switching ID type halfway through, after you have already stated a name and details tied to the first one, is a good way to create the exact mismatch this section warns about.
If your ID details need correcting first
A NIN with a wrong date of birth, or a BVN under a different spelling of your name, is worth fixing before you apply, not after. Submitting a character certificate request against an ID you know is inaccurate only delays the records check later.
Common ID mistakes
- Offering an ID that is not on the accepted list. Confirm your choice is a NIN, BVN or international passport before you start.
- Typing a name that does not match your ID. Copy it exactly, including any middle names shown.
- Using an expired or already-flagged document. An ID under dispute elsewhere is not the moment to lean on it here.
Once your ID is sorted, applying for a police character certificate on POSSAP walks through the rest of the form, and our full guide to cost and process covers what happens after you submit it. You can start a police character certificate request once you have your ID ready.