Can I Use a Non-Resident BVN to Buy Nigerian Shares?
Not for now. To buy NGX shares in your own name you need a full BVN. What the Non-Resident BVN is, why it is not enough, and how to find the BVN you may already have.
Not for now. A Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN) cannot be used to buy Nigerian shares in your own name. To open the CSCS account that holds shares in your name, you need a full BVN. If you have ever held a Nigerian bank account you almost certainly have one already, and that bank can confirm it.
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What the Non-Resident BVN Is
The Non-Resident BVN was launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria and NIBSS in 2025 so that Nigerians living abroad could get a Bank Verification Number online, without travelling home. It is applied for on the NIBSS portal with a Nigerian passport and proof of an address abroad. It was introduced alongside non-resident bank accounts, and it is useful for banking and sending money home.
Why It Is Not Enough to Buy Shares
Buying shares in your own name means opening a CSCS account and a Clearing House Number (CHN) registered to you, and your identity checks for that need a full BVN. For now a Non-Resident BVN cannot be used for this, so an application that relies on one cannot go ahead. This may change, and we will update this page when it does.
Planning to apply for a Non-Resident BVN just to buy shares? Wait. Check first whether you already have a full BVN from an old Nigerian bank account.
Finding the Full BVN You May Already Have
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A BVN is issued once and does not expire, even if the bank account it was enrolled with has been dormant for years. If you opened a Nigerian bank account at any point since BVN enrolment began in 2014, you will have one.
- Ask the bank where you held the account. Most can confirm your BVN by email or phone once they have verified who you are.
- If you still use the account, your BVN is usually shown in the bank's app or online banking.
- If the phone number linked to your BVN is still active, the BVN retrieval code *565*0# returns it by SMS. International numbers are not supported.
If You Have Never Had a Full BVN
A full BVN is enrolled in person with your fingerprints and photograph at a Nigerian bank, usually at a branch in Nigeria. Nigerians abroad often do this on a visit home, at the same time as opening or reactivating a Nigerian bank account.
Everything Else You Need
- A Nigerian bank account in your name.
- A Nigerian passport or your National Identification Number (NIN).
- Proof of your address, which can be an address abroad.
Need a NIN and live outside Nigeria? You can enrol abroad.
How to Get a NIN from AbroadFrequently Asked Questions
Does a BVN expire?
No. A BVN is issued once and stays with you, even if the bank account you enrolled with is closed or dormant.
Can I use a Non-Resident BVN for a new share offer, such as an IPO?
No. The same rule applies to new offers as to shares already listed: for now you need a full BVN.
Can I use my foreign passport instead?
Not on its own. Shares Saver serves Nigerian nationals, and the identity checks need a Nigerian passport or a NIN alongside a full BVN.
Important disclaimer. This article is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment advice, or any recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. The value of investments can fall as well as rise. You should seek independent regulated financial advice before making any investment decision. Shares Saver does not provide financial advice.
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