How to Obtain a Certified True Copy of CAC Documents in Nigeria
Obtain a certified true copy of CAC documents in Nigeria. See the certified true copy fee, per document charges, CAC portal steps, QR code checks, and how CTC from the Corporate Affairs Commission replaces a lost certificate of registration.
A certified true copy is the official replica the Corporate Affairs Commission issues when a business needs a true and accurate copy of a record held on the public register. In Nigeria, banks, courts, procurement offices, and foreign partners often refuse a plain photocopy of a CAC certificate. They ask instead for document certification that carries the Commission’s own confirmation. This guide explains what a CTC from CAC is, which CAC documents can be certified, the certified true copy fee, and how to obtain a certified true copy through post-incorporation services on the CAC portal.
What a Certified True Copy Means
Official Replica of a Company Record
A certified true copy is not a new incorporation. It is a copy of a specific filing already on the Corporate Affairs Commission register, issued so that third parties can rely on it as a true and accurate copy of the original. The Companies and Allied Matters framework treats Commission records as the authoritative source of company registration data. A CTC from CAC therefore functions as an official replica for transactions that require more than a self-made scan.
Modern CAC certificates and related certified copies are commonly issued in a digital form that can be checked against the register. Where a QR code appears on the document, scanning it is a practical way to confirm that the file matches the record held by Nigeria CAC systems. A photocopy made in an office has no such link to the register, which is why institutions reject it even when the text looks identical.
Legal Standing of Certified Copies
Certified copies are used where the law or a counterparty requires proof that the document matches what the Commission has on file. Typical settings include opening a corporate bank account, supporting a loan application, bidding for contracts, completing due diligence, and producing evidence in court. A CTC does not amend the underlying filing. If the memorandum, directors, or name later change, the older certified true copy reflects the record as it stood when it was certified, not the updated position.
Why Businesses Request CTC from CAC
Loss or damage of the original certificate of registration is the most common reason to obtain a certified true copy. Directors also request certified copies when several institutions each want an official set, or when a foreign party will not accept an unsigned printout. Investors and lenders use CTC from CAC during due diligence because the Commission, not the company, attests that the copy matches the file.
A status report or public search can answer a narrow question about whether an entity exists. It is not a substitute when the counterparty has named a particular document, such as the certificate or the memorandum and articles. Confirm the exact CAC documents required before you pay, so the certified true copy fee is not spent on the wrong item.
CAC Documents You Can Certify
Certificate of Registration and Incorporation
The certificate of registration, often called the CAC certificate or certificate of incorporation, is the document most often requested. It applies across entity types that the Commission registers, including limited companies, business names, and incorporated trustees. A CTC of that certificate is the usual replacement when the original cannot be produced.
Other Filings Available as Certified Copies
Other CAC documents commonly requested for document certification include:
- Memorandum and articles of association for companies
- Constitution of an incorporated trustee
- Particulars of directors, shareholders, or proprietors
- Partnership or limited liability partnership filings, where applicable
- Selected historical extracts from the company file
Each item is a separate document. Selecting three filings means three certifications, not one bundled pack. Decide the minimum set the bank, court, or agency has asked for before you start the application form.
Certified True Copy Fee and Per Document Charges
Current Per Document Fee
The certified true copy fee is charged per document, not per company and not per sitting. Under the Commission’s gazetted schedule of fees that took effect on 1 October 2025, certified true copies of documents and extracts are priced at ₦5,000 each across entity categories. Three documents therefore attract three times the per document fee. Payment gateway charges, such as Remita costs, sit on top of that official amount.
Professional agents may add a service charge. That charge is not the Nigeria CAC fee. Always separate the two when you budget. Fees are set by the Commission and can be revised by gazette. The figure displayed on the CAC portal at the point of payment is the amount that applies to your application.
What the Fee Does Not Cover
The certified true copy fee does not update annual returns, change directors, or reissue a certificate because the company name has changed. Those are different post-incorporation services with their own charges. If the register is not up to date, the Commission may query or refuse the CTC until the outstanding filing is cleared.
How to Obtain a Certified True Copy on the CAC Portal
Start from Post-Incorporation Services
Applications are made through the Company Registration Portal used for company registration and later filings. Accredited agents and authorised officers of the entity are the usual applicants. The practical sequence is:
- Sign in to the CAC portal with a verified profile.
- Search the entity by name or by its registration number (RC, BN, or the equivalent for the entity type).
- Open post-incorporation services and select the certified true copy option.
- Choose only the CAC documents you need, such as the certificate of registration or the memorandum and articles.
- Complete the online application form, including the name and capacity of the person authorising the request.
- Upload identification or a signature specimen if the portal asks for it.
- Pay the per document fee through the payment channel on the portal.
- Monitor the application until it is approved, then download the certified copies from the dashboard.
Menu labels on the CAC portal change from time to time. Follow the current certified true copy prompt rather than an outdated screenshot. Do not send fees to unofficial accounts or messaging contacts who claim to bypass the portal.
Processing Time
The Commission’s published service timelines list certified true copy of certificates at 12 working hours once a complete application has been received and any query has been cleared. [4] In practice, incomplete uploads, unpaid annual returns, or a high volume of filings can push delivery beyond that published window. Practitioner reports often describe a turnaround of a few working days. Treat the portal status, not a third-party promise of same-day collection, as the record of progress.
QR Code and Register Checks
After download, open the file and confirm the entity name, registration number, and document type. Where a QR code is printed on the CAC certificate or the certified true copy, scan it and compare the result with the details on the face of the document. You can also cross-check the entity on the public search service. A mismatch is a reason to stop using the file and raise a query, not a reason to “correct” the PDF yourself.
Requirements Before You Apply
Official guidance on CTC of certificates has long required more than a payment receipt. For a certificate, the Commission’s company procedures list an affidavit supporting the application, an application signed by the chairman or two directors, payment of the filing fee, and annual returns that are up to date. [5] Where the original CAC certificate is lost, an affidavit of loss deposed by a director, proprietor, or trustee is the document most often queried if it is missing. Keep the affidavit factual: state the document, the circumstances of the loss, and that a certified true copy is required.
Have these items ready before you open the application form:
- Correct entity name and registration number
- A clear list of the CAC documents to be certified
- Valid identification of the applicant or authorised officer
- Evidence that annual returns are current, or a plan to file them first
- Affidavit and any board or trustee authority the portal or a query demands
- Means to pay the certified true copy fee online
If a query is raised, answer it on the same application. Starting a second request usually creates a second per document fee and a second review queue.
Using the CTC After It Is Issued
Present the certified true copy in the form the recipient asked for. Many Nigerian banks now accept the digital file that can be checked by QR code or against the register. Some still ask for a printed set. Ask before you print multiple copies at your own cost. For use abroad, a CTC from CAC may still need further authentication, such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation or an apostille-style process where that route applies. The Commission’s certification does not replace those extra steps.
Store the downloaded file with the payment receipt and the application reference. If the company later changes its name, directors, or constitution, obtain a fresh certified true copy of the updated document rather than relying on an old official replica.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the certified true copy fee at the Corporate Affairs Commission?
The gazetted certified true copy fee is ₦5,000 per document. It is a per document fee, so each CAC certificate, memorandum, or other filing you select is charged separately. Confirm the amount on the CAC portal before you pay, because schedules can be revised.
How do I obtain a certified true copy if the original CAC certificate is lost?
You can still obtain a certified true copy. Search the entity on the CAC portal, select CTC under post-incorporation services, and be ready to upload an affidavit of loss together with identification of a director, proprietor, or trustee. Annual returns should be up to date before the application is approved.
How can I confirm that a CTC from CAC is genuine?
Check the registration number and entity name against the public search, and scan any QR code on the document so the result matches the file. A certified true copy should come from the Commission’s process, not from an edited scan of an old certificate. If the details do not match, do not rely on the document.
A certified true copy remains the practical route whenever a counterparty will accept only an official replica of CAC documents. Use the CAC portal, pay the per document fee for the exact filings required, clear annual returns and any affidavit first, and verify the finished file before you submit it to a bank, court, or contracting authority.