Please note
Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with the CAC. This is general information, not legal or financial advice — register and manage your business only on the official CAC portals (pre.cac.gov.ng and post.cac.gov.ng) and pay through official channels. You can register a business name or a simple company yourself; for complex structures consider a professional. Beware clone sites and agents charging inflated fees.
Your proposed name(s)
A proposed name plus at least one alternative in case your first choice is taken — see name search.
Business details
- The nature of the business (what you do).
- The registered/business address.
- An active email and phone number.
Owner/director details
For each proprietor (business name) or director/shareholder (company): full name, date of birth, phone, email and residential address.
Valid ID & photo
Each person needs a valid government ID — NIN, international passport, driver’s licence or voter’s card — plus a recent passport photograph and a signature. In a partnership, every partner provides their own ID.
Extra for a company
A company also needs its share capital, the shareholders and their shareholding, at least the minimum directors, and the company’s objects (memorandum & articles).
Tips
- Have everything ready before you start — the biggest factor in speed.
- Make sure names/DOBs match your IDs.
- Each person supplies their own ID.
Requirements by entity type
What you need depends on the structure you're registering:
- Business name — an approved name, the proprietor's/partners' details and IDs, the nature of business, and an address.
- Limited company — an approved name, directors' and shareholders' details, share capital and its distribution, a MEMART, and officers' IDs/photos.
- Incorporated trustees (NGO) — an approved name, a constitution, trustees' details/IDs, minutes/resolutions appointing trustees, and evidence of the required public notice.
Confirm the exact, current checklist for your type on cac.gov.ng.
People, IDs and PSC
Across all types, CAC needs to know who is behind the entity. Expect to provide, for each relevant person, bio-data, address, email, phone, a valid ID and a passport photo. For companies, remember the Persons with Significant Control (PSC) rule: anyone owning or controlling more than 25% must be disclosed at registration. Having valid IDs and accurate personal details for every director, shareholder, partner or trustee ready in advance is one of the biggest things that keeps an application from stalling.
Documents to prepare
Beyond people and the name, prepare the governing documents your structure requires — a MEMART for a company, a constitution for incorporated trustees, and any sworn declaration or sector-specific approval that applies. Make sure names and details are consistent across every document and match the IDs. Since registration is online, have clear digital copies ready to upload. Getting the paperwork right the first time avoids queries that add days or weeks — and confirm the precise requirements for your entity on the official portal before you start.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to register with CAC?
A proposed name (plus an alternative), the nature and address of the business, and for each owner/director: full name, DOB, phone, email, address, a valid ID, a passport photo and a signature.
Do I need a NIN to register a business?
A valid government ID is required for each person — a NIN, international passport, driver’s licence or voter’s card is accepted.
Can one person’s ID cover a partnership?
No — in a partnership, every partner must provide their own valid ID.
What extra do I need to register a company?
Share capital, shareholders and their shareholding, at least the minimum directors, and the company’s objects (memorandum & articles).
What business details are required?
The nature of the business, the registered/business address, and an active email and phone number.
What are the requirements to register with CAC?
It depends on the structure: a business name needs an approved name, the proprietor's/partners' details and IDs, nature of business and address; a company adds directors/shareholders, share capital and distribution, a MEMART and officers' IDs/photos; incorporated trustees need a constitution, trustees' details, minutes and public notice. Confirm the current checklist on cac.gov.ng.
What personal details does CAC need?
For each relevant person (director, shareholder, partner or trustee): bio-data, address, email, phone, a valid ID and a passport photo. For companies, anyone owning or controlling more than 25% must also be disclosed under the Persons with Significant Control (PSC) rule.
What documents do I need for CAC registration?
The governing documents for your structure — a MEMART for a company, a constitution for incorporated trustees — plus any sworn declaration or sector-specific approval, valid IDs and photos for the people involved, and an approved name. Have clear digital copies ready to upload, with details consistent across documents.
What is the 25% PSC rule?
Persons with Significant Control — anyone owning or controlling more than 25% of a company must be disclosed at registration (mandatory from 2026). Have accurate details for such persons ready so the application isn't held up.
How do I avoid CAC application delays?
Have valid IDs and accurate personal details for every person ready in advance, prepare the correct governing documents, keep names and details consistent across everything, and upload clear digital copies. Getting the paperwork right the first time avoids queries that add days or weeks.