NYSC registration happens online at portal.nysc.org.ng. The window is usually just one week per batch, so preparation is everything.

Before the portal opens

Get these ready in advance:

  • NERD clearance — compulsory from 2026. See our NERD guide.
  • Your name on your school's Senate or Academic Board approved list — only graduates on this list can access the portal.
  • A functional email address you can access.
  • A Nigerian (GSM) phone number — this applies to foreign-trained graduates too.
  • Your National Identification Number (NIN).
  • Your correct matriculation number and academic details.
  • A recent passport photograph on a white or off-white background.

The registration process

  1. Create your account on the portal and verify your email and phone number.
  2. Fill in your personal and academic details carefully.
  3. Upload your passport photograph.
  4. Complete biometric capture (fingerprints).
  5. Review everything on your dashboard, then submit.
  6. Print your registration slip ("green card") and keep it safe.

Photo rules

NYSC rejects photos that don't meet its standard. Your photo should:

  • Show your full face, looking straight ahead, not tilted
  • Be centred and fill the frame
  • Have a white or off-white background with no shadows

Mistakes that cost people their batch

  • Registering through someone else. NYSC requires you to register personally. Proxy registration is not allowed.
  • Forgetting which fingers you used. Your fingerprints are checked again in camp. If they don't match, you will not be registered.
  • Using an email or number you can't access. All notifications go there.
  • Uploading fake or altered documents. NYSC has warned that anyone who does will be demobilised and handed over for prosecution.

After registration

Keep checking your dashboard and email for your call-up letter. When it's out, print it in colour, make copies and start preparing for camp.