How to Get a BVN in Nigeria: Enrolment, Documents and the 2026 Rules
A Bank Verification Number is enrolled in person at a Nigerian bank, with your fingerprints and photograph. What to bring, how long it takes, the 2026 age rule, and the options if you live abroad.
You get a BVN by enrolling in person at a Nigerian bank. The bank captures your fingerprints and photograph, and the Bank Verification Number is issued to you, usually within a day. Enrolment is free. Since 1 May 2026 it is open only to people aged 18 and over.
Ready to start investing in Nigerian stocks? Shares Saver registers your shares directly in your own name through SEC-regulated brokers.
What a BVN Is
The Bank Verification Number is an 11-digit number that links your identity to every account you hold at a Nigerian bank. It was introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2014 and is run by NIBSS. You keep the same BVN for life, whichever banks you use.
Check First: You May Already Have One
If you have ever opened a Nigerian bank account since 2014, you almost certainly have a BVN already. A person can only hold one, so check before you enrol.
Find the BVN you may already have.
How to Check Your BVNHow to Enrol for a BVN
- Go to any branch of a Nigerian bank. Most enrol people as part of opening an account.
- Fill in the BVN enrolment form, or let the officer complete it with you.
- Have your fingerprints and photograph taken.
- Your BVN is sent to the phone number you gave, usually within 24 hours.
What to Bring
- A valid photo ID: your NIN slip or card, international passport, driver's licence or voter's card.
- A phone number registered in your name that you intend to keep. Since 1 May 2026 the number on a BVN can be changed only once in your lifetime.
- Your NIN, which banks now ask for alongside the BVN.
Choose the phone number carefully. It receives your BVN, one-time passwords and alerts, and from May 2026 you can only change it once.
Can You Register for a BVN Online?
Not a full BVN. A full BVN needs your fingerprints, so it is enrolled in person. What people often mean by online BVN registration is the Non-Resident BVN (NRBVN), introduced in May 2025 for Nigerians abroad. It is applied for online, but for now it cannot be used to buy Nigerian shares in your own name.
Live abroad? See what the Non-Resident BVN can and cannot do.
How to Get a Non-Resident BVNThe 2026 Changes
A Central Bank of Nigeria circular of 13 March 2026, effective from 1 May 2026, made two changes that matter here: BVN enrolment is restricted to people aged 18 and above, and the phone number linked to a BVN can be updated only once in a lifetime.
Why Investors Need a Full BVN
Buying shares on the Nigerian Exchange in your own name means opening a CSCS account and a Clearing House Number, and the identity checks for that use your full BVN. Shares Saver needs a full Nigerian BVN and a Nigerian bank account in your name.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does BVN enrolment cost?
Nothing. Banks enrol customers for a BVN free of charge.
How long does it take to get a BVN?
Usually within 24 hours of enrolment, sent by SMS to the phone number you gave.
Can a child get a BVN?
Since 1 May 2026, BVN enrolment is restricted to people aged 18 and over.
Can I get a full BVN outside Nigeria?
A full BVN is enrolled in person with your fingerprints, usually at a branch in Nigeria. Nigerians abroad often do this on a visit home. The online option for people abroad is the Non-Resident BVN, which has different uses.
What if I enrol twice?
The system matches fingerprints, so a second enrolment is caught and you keep your original 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.
Own shares in your name
Start from ₦10,000 a month. Pause whenever you like.