The announcement was contained in a photostatement signed by the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and posted on the Board’s official X handle on Tuesday night.
JAMB invited suitably qualified candidates seeking admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to apply for the 2026/27 academic session.
The Board said eligibility is age-based, stressing that only candidates who will be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, are generally qualified to apply and be considered for admission.
It, however, made special provision for underage candidates, subject to strict conditions.
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According to the statement, candidates below 16 years by the stipulated date must undergo an intensive assessment to qualify for a waiver, adding that such candidates must score a minimum of 80 per cent in UTME or A-Level, Post-UTME, Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), and the exceptional candidate assessment.
UTME/X
JAMB added that the UTME results of underage candidates would only be released after the completion of the entire evaluation process.
On registration timelines, the Board announced that registration for UTME candidates, including those from foreign countries, will run from Monday, January 26, 2026, to Saturday, February 28, 2026.
It also disclosed that e-PIN vending for UTME will commence on Monday, January 19, 2026, and close on Thursday, February 26, 2026, while registration will end on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
For Direct Entry candidates, JAMB said the sale of 2026 DE application documents and e-PIN vending will begin on Monday, March 2, 2026, and close on Saturday, April 25, 2026, adding that the exercise will only take place at the Board’s state and zonal offices.
The Board announced three categories of e-PINs for the exercise.
It listed the categories as Direct Entry at N5,700; UTME only without Mock at N7,200; and UTME with Mock at N8,700.
JAMB explained that the charges cover an application fee of N3,500, reading text at N1,000, CBT centre registration service charge of N700, CBT centre UTME service charge of N1,500, bank charges of N500, and Mock-UTME centre charge of N1,500.
The Board also released the examination schedule.
It said the 2026 UTME will hold from Thursday, April 16, 2026, to Saturday, April 25, 2026, while the optional Mock-UTME is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2026.
