Some Foreigners Don’t Need NIN For SIM Registration — NCC

Foreigners not staying in Nigeria for up to two years do not
need a National Identification number to register SIM cards, the
Nigerian Communications Commission has said.

The regulatory body said this in its Revised National Identity
Policy for SIM Card Registration.

A portion of the document said, “Foreigners validly transiting
through Nigeria or are employed in or reside in Nigeria for less
than 24 months are exempted from the mandatory use of NIN
requirement.

“Persons in this category need to provide justification that
they will be residing in Nigeria for less than two years.”

However, NIN is compulsory for foreigners who have legal
residency, or those who have lived in Nigeria for two years and
above.

“NIN is mandatory for foreigners with legal residency status or
those living in Nigeria for two years and above. For those who do
not already have a NIN, operators will capture the resident for NIN
as part of the enrolment process, upon presentation of resident
permit.

“Foreigners with visitor’s visas (with visa less than two years)
do not require a NIN. Operators will capture the following on their
records; – International passport bio-data page and visa page.

“Foreigners with diplomatic visas (including family diplomatic
visas) will also require a NIN for their personal telephone lines
if they are staying in Nigeria for two or more years.

“Those staying less than two years will require the following
for registration of their personal telephone lines: international
passport bio-data page and letter from embassy indicating that
their stay is for less than two years.

“For embassies and diplomatic missions: The data page containing
the passport number of the diplomatic passport of the Head of
Mission/Embassy along with a Letter of Request signed by the
ambassador or its equivalent for registration of the official
telephone lines of the embassy /mission in Nigeria shall be
submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for verification and
confirmation and registration of the SIMs; SIM cards of the
diplomatic missions are to be linked with a Corporate Diplomatic
Identification Number, which will be unique to each diplomatic
mission.

“Each mission will also be responsible for managing the lines
and allocating them internally.”

It added that the Head of Mission would serve as the Telecom
Master or Point of Contact for the Mission.

Foreigners not staying in Nigeria for up to two years do not
need a National Identification number to register SIM cards, the
Nigerian Communications Commission has said.

The regulatory body said this in its Revised National Identity
Policy for SIM Card Registration.

A portion of the document said, “Foreigners validly transiting
through Nigeria or are employed in or reside in Nigeria for less
than 24 months are exempted from the mandatory use of NIN
requirement.

“Persons in this category need to provide justification that
they will be residing in Nigeria for less than two years.”

However, NIN is compulsory for foreigners who have legal
residency, or those who have lived in Nigeria for two years and
above.

“NIN is mandatory for foreigners with legal residency status or
those living in Nigeria for two years and above. For those who do
not already have a NIN, operators will capture the resident for NIN
as part of the enrolment process, upon presentation of resident
permit.

“Foreigners with visitor’s visas (with visa less than two years)
do not require a NIN. Operators will capture the following on their
records; – International passport bio-data page and visa page.

“Foreigners with diplomatic visas (including family diplomatic
visas) will also require a NIN for their personal telephone lines
if they are staying in Nigeria for two or more years.

“Those staying less than two years will require the following
for registration of their personal telephone lines: international
passport bio-data page and letter from embassy indicating that
their stay is for less than two years.

“For embassies and diplomatic missions: The data page containing
the passport number of the diplomatic passport of the Head of
Mission/Embassy along with a Letter of Request signed by the
ambassador or its equivalent for registration of the official
telephone lines of the embassy /mission in Nigeria shall be
submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for verification and
confirmation and registration of the SIMs; SIM cards of the
diplomatic missions are to be linked with a Corporate Diplomatic
Identification Number, which will be unique to each diplomatic
mission.

“Each mission will also be responsible for managing the lines
and allocating them internally.”

It added that the Head of Mission would serve as the Telecom
Master or Point of Contact for the Mission.