The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has relaxed its long-standing restriction on changing candidates’ registered GSM numbers and email addresses, allowing those who have lost access to their credentials to update them through a controlled verification process.
The revised policy, which takes effect on Monday, September 21, 2026, covers candidates who have lost their registered SIM cards or are unable to recover their registered email accounts.
JAMB said the decision followed improvements in identity authentication and biometric verification systems, which it said now provide stronger safeguards against impersonation, fraud and unauthorised changes to candidates’ records.
The Board had previously prohibited SIM swapping and changes to registered email addresses because of the security risks associated with altering candidates’ core credentials.
In a statement issued by its Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB said the revised arrangement was intended to ensure that genuine candidates are not disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.
The new policy is expected to assist candidates who have lost access to their registered telephone numbers or email accounts and consequently faced difficulties using their profiles for subsequent Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, processes.
JAMB, however, stressed that the service would operate under strict authentication requirements. It also imposed a one-time limit, saying each candidate can access the SIM swap and/or email change service only once.
The service will be available exclusively at designated JAMB Computer-Based Test, CBT, PTC/PRC Centres, including JAMB State Offices where applicable.
Candidates seeking to update their details must provide the new GSM number and/or email address and submit a duly executed court affidavit, which must be scanned and ready for upload.
How To Change Registered SIM Or Email
JAMB outlined a seven-step process for candidates seeking to use the service.
- Candidates must first log into their e-Facility profile using their existing credentials, including their email address, registration number or profile code.
- They are then required to select “SIM Swap/eMail Change Payment” from the menu and pay the prescribed fee.
- After payment, the candidate must proceed to a designated JAMB CBT PTC/PRC Centre and access the SIM Swap/eMail Change Quicklink.
- The candidate will enter their profile code or existing GSM number and select “Fetch Details”.
- Biometric verification will then be conducted, after which the candidate will select the required service, whether a GSM number change, email address change, or both.
- The candidate will enter the new GSM number and/or email address, upload the scanned court affidavit and click “Update” to complete the process.
- A confirmation message will be displayed once the change has been successfully processed.
JAMB urged candidates to use the facility only for genuine cases and warned against patronising unauthorised outlets.
The Board said the revised policy was intended to balance stronger protection of candidates’ personal records with more accessible services, particularly for legitimate candidates who lose access to the credentials tied to their JAMB profiles.
