The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has maintained its policy requiring candidates to be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, but introduced a special waiver for exceptional underage candidates.

Only candidates who will not be less than 16 years old by the cutoff date are generally eligible for 2026 UTME.

"However, candidates less than 16 years old by 30th September, 2026 will have to undergo an intensive evaluation to determine their eligibility for a waiver," JAMB stated.

The waiver comes with stringent requirements. Underage candidates must score not less than 80% in each of UTME, A-Level or PUTME, SSCE, and in an exceptional candidate assessment.

The 80% threshold is exceptionally high. In UTME's 400 marks, 80% means 320 marks. For SSCE, it means predominantly A grades. This applies across multiple examinations, not just one.

"The UTME results of the underage candidates will be released only at the conclusion of the complete evaluation process," JAMB stated.

This means underage candidates may receive results significantly later than peers while intensive evaluation is conducted.

Underage candidates can register normally during the January 27 to February 28 period and write the examination in April alongside other candidates. However, their results are withheld pending evaluation.

There is no separate application for the waiver, evaluation is triggered automatically when a candidate's date of birth indicates they're under 16.

JAMB uses the National Identification Number's date of birth to determine age eligibility. The Board emphasised candidates should ensure their NIN details are accurate before registration.

For candidates with errors in NIN date of birth, JAMB advises making corrections with NIMC before attempting JAMB registration, as biodata changes will not be effected by JAMB after registration.

The waiver system acknowledges that exceptional cases exist where younger students may be ready for tertiary education.

While a pathway exists for exceptional underage candidates, the standard expectation is 16 years old by September 30.

Parents should realistically assess whether their child can meet the 80% threshold across multiple examinations before attempting registration.