Retrieve, Reprint or Collect Your NIN Slip (2026 Guide)

Lost your NIN or slip? Here is how to retrieve, reprint or collect it

Losing your NIN slip does not mean you have lost your NIN. Once you have enrolled, your National Identification Number is permanently tied to your biometrics in NIMC’s database — the slip is just a printout. So if you have misplaced it, forgotten the number, or never collected your card, the job is retrieval and reprint, not starting over. This guide covers every route, including the quick USSD check and when to get a fresh slip or the improved national ID card.

Honest note: RenewPapers is not NIMC. We help you recover and reprint — we do not hold the database. If you simply want to see your number, the free/low-cost official routes below may be all you need; we are here if you want it handled for you or you run into trouble.

Forgot your NIN? Check it in minutes

USSD on your registered line: dial *346# from the phone number you enrolled with and follow the prompts. A small telecom charge applies. This returns your NIN quickly if your line matches your record.
NIMC app / self-service: NIMC’s official digital channels let you view and generate a digital version of your NIN once your identity is confirmed.
At a NIMC office: with a valid ID and your enrolment details, staff can look up your record.

If *346# does not work, it usually means the phone number you are dialling from is not the one linked to your NIN record. That is common if you have changed numbers — in that case retrieval is done through NIMC with identity verification instead.

Which retrieval route is yours?

Answer two questions and we will point you to the fastest way to recover your NIN.

What exactly have you lost? Do you still use the phone number you registered with?

Getting a fresh NIN slip or the national ID card

There are a few things people mean by “collecting” their NIN:

Standard NIN slip — the basic printout confirming your number.
Premium / improved NIN slip — a sturdier, often laminated card-style slip many people prefer to carry; a fee applies.
National ID card — NIMC has been rolling out an upgraded national ID card; availability and the exact process can change, so confirm the current option when you apply.

On fees: retrieval of your number is designed to be cheap or free through official channels; a reprint or premium slip carries a set fee. We quote our handling charge separately and clearly so you always know what is the official cost and what is our assistance.

Keep it safe this time

Once you have your NIN back, save it somewhere secure (a password manager or a note only you can access), keep a photo of the slip, and make sure the line linked to it is one you still use — that keeps *346# working next time.

Want your NIN recovered without the queue?

Tell us what you have lost and we will recover your number and arrange a fresh slip or card — and let you know exactly what is official cost versus our help.

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