The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has lifted its previous restriction on changing candidates’ registered telephone numbers and email addresses, giving affected candidates a new route to recover access to their profiles.
The revised policy took effect on Monday, September 21, 2026, according to a statement by JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Under the new arrangement, candidates who have lost their registered SIM cards or can no longer access their registered email accounts may request a change of details through a controlled verification process.
JAMB had previously prohibited SIM swaps and email changes because of the risk that criminals could use changes to registered credentials to take over candidates’ profiles or alter their admission records.
The Board said improvements in identity authentication and biometric verification had now made it possible to relax the restriction while maintaining safeguards around candidates’ records.
JAMB limits service to genuine cases
The new facility is not an unrestricted change-of-details option.
JAMB said each candidate can use the SIM swap and/or email change service only once. Candidates must also complete the process through designated JAMB Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, including applicable State Offices.
Applicants are required to provide the new GSM number and/or email address they want linked to their profile.
They must also obtain a duly executed court affidavit, which is required to be scanned and uploaded during the application process.
JAMB warned candidates to use the facility only where they genuinely need to recover access to their registered credentials and to avoid unauthorised agents or outlets.
How candidates can change their JAMB phone number or email
Candidates seeking to use the service are required to begin from their JAMB e-Facility profile.
The process outlined by JAMB is as follows:
- Log into the JAMB e-Facility using the existing email address, registration number or profile code.
- Select “SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment” from the available options.
- Pay the prescribed fee.
- Visit a designated JAMB CBT (PTC/PRC) Centre and select the SIM Swap/eMail Change Quicklink.
- Enter the profile code or existing GSM number and select “Fetch Details.”
- Complete the required biometric verification and select whether the change is for the GSM number, email address, or both.
- Enter the new details, upload the scanned court affidavit and select “Update.”
A confirmation message should appear when the change has been successfully processed.
Why the policy matters for UTME candidates
The previous restriction could leave candidates unable to access their JAMB profiles when the phone number linked to their records was lost or when they could no longer recover the registered email account.
That can create problems for candidates who need to use their profiles for subsequent UTME or admission-related processes.
JAMB said the revised policy is intended to prevent genuine candidates from being disadvantaged by circumstances outside their control while retaining controls against impersonation, fraud and unauthorised changes to candidate records.
The requirement for biometric verification, a court affidavit and processing through designated centres means the new policy is designed as a controlled exception rather than a general opening for candidates to repeatedly alter their registered credentials.
