How to Complete Business Name Registration on the New CAC iCRP Portal in Nigeria
Complete business name registration on the new CAC iCRP portal in Nigeria: create CAC account, run a name availability check, reserve a name, complete the pre-registration form, upload registration documents, register new business, download your certificate, and manage annual returns filing for business names registered with CAC.
Business name registration gives sole proprietors and partnerships a legal identity under the Companies and Allied Matters Act. The Corporate Affairs Commission now handles this process entirely online through the new CAC iCRP (also called the CAC CRP portal) at icrp.cac.gov.ng. The system supports instant name approval after payment and AI-assisted review of business name applications, so most straightforward filings move faster than the older manual workflow.
This guide explains how to create a CAC account, run a name availability check, reserve a name, complete the pre-registration form, upload registration documents, pay, and download your certificate and status report. It also covers what happens after business names are registered, including annual returns filing.
Create CAC Account on the CAC iCRP Portal
You cannot reserve a name or register a new business without an active portal profile.
Visit the official CAC iCRP portal and choose the option to create an account. Provide a working email address and phone number, then set a secure password. First-time login requires two-factor authentication. The system sends a verification code to your email; enter that code to reach your dashboard. If the portal flags a duplicate username or phone number, update the conflicting detail before you continue. Keep the login email active, because status updates and download links are sent there.
Accredited agents use a separate registration path for their accreditation numbers. Ordinary proprietors and partners can file directly as public users.
Business Name Availability and How to Reserve a Name
A successful business name registration starts with a clean name availability check. Names that are identical or too similar to existing registrations are rejected.
Run a Name Availability Check
From your dashboard, open Name Reservation. Select Business Name as the business classification, then choose the business type (Sole Proprietorship or Partnership). Enter your proposed name, select the nature of business and the specific nature of business, and click Check Availability.
- If the name is available, continue to payment.
- If it is unavailable, update the proposed name or use the portal’s name-suggestion option and check again.
Prepare one or two alternative names before you start. Restricted words attract a higher reservation fee and extra review.
Reserve a Name and Obtain Your AV Code
Name reservation is automated. After a successful payment through Remita, the name is approved instantly and an Approval Validation (AV) Code appears on your dashboard and in your email. Keep this code; you will enter it when you register the new business.
The amount due is generated on the portal. It includes the statutory name-reservation fee, any AI service charge notified by the Commission, and the Remita transaction charge. A public notice issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission effective 1 April 2026 states that name reservation attracts an AI service charge of ₦200, which does not replace the statutory fee. Confirm the exact figure shown on your payment page before you pay, because fee schedules are set by official gazette and can be updated.
Complete Pre-Registration Form and Upload Registration Documents
Once you have an AV Code, start the registration itself.
Register New Business
On the dashboard, click Registration, then Register New Business. Enter the AV Code in the pop-up and continue. This opens the pre-registration form used for business name registration (commonly referenced as CAC-BN01 in CAC materials).
Complete the Pre-Registration Form
Fill in the business email address, the principal place of business (a Nigerian address), and the date of commencement. Save and continue. Next, enter the proprietor’s or partners’ personal details exactly as they appear on official identification. Accuracy here reduces the chance of a query.
Upload Registration Documents
For each proprietor or partner, upload the following in image format only:
- Means of identification (for example, National Identification Number slip, international passport, or driver’s licence)
- Passport photograph
- Signature
After each set of files, use the control that adds the proprietor documents, then save and continue. Blurry images, mismatched names, or wrong file types are common reasons applications are queried.
Review every field on the preview page before you proceed. Errors discovered after submission usually require a modification and re-submission.
Payment, Submission, and Tracking Status
When the preview is correct, proceed to payment and complete it via Remita. The portal displays the business name registration filing fee, any applicable AI service charge, and gateway charges. A Commission public notice effective 1 April 2026 adds an AI service charge of ₦500 on business name registration applications; this charge sits alongside, and does not replace, the statutory filing fee. Recent compilations of the gazetted fee schedule commonly reference a business name registration fee in the region of ₦20,000 (covering registration documents and certified copies in the published schedule) plus the separate name-reservation amount. Always rely on the figure generated inside your own application rather than third-party quotes.
After submission, monitor the application on your dashboard:
- Pending — the AI review is still running. Wait briefly and refresh.
- Queried — open the query history, correct the stated issue, and modify the application for re-submission.
- Approved — download the certificate and the status report.
Company registration (private companies limited by shares and similar entities) still follows a manual approval path and uses a different set of forms. When a company application is approved, applicants download the incorporation pack that contains the certificate and related incorporation documents. For a business name, the equivalent downloads are the e-certificate and the e-status report, which replace the older paper BN forms.
After Registration: Documents and Annual Returns Filing
Approval does not end your obligations. Download and store the certificate and status report as soon as they appear. These are the core registration documents you will present to banks, clients, and regulators when you register a business name in Nigeria and begin trading under that name.
Filing of annual returns is a continuing duty for business names registered with the Commission. The CAC iCRP portal currently makes annual returns filing available for business names registered before July 2025. Because the Commission is upgrading the business-name system with additional AI features, a newer automated annual-returns process is expected to cover both older registrations and those created after July 2025. Check your entity dashboard for the filing option that applies to your registration date, and file on time to avoid penalties.
Post-registration changes (change of address, addition of a partner, cessation, and similar filings) are also handled through the same portal once your entity is live. Accredited agents can reach post-incorporation services through single sign-on from the pre-registration side of the CAC CRP portal.
Practical Points That Reduce Delays
- Use identification details that match the National Identity Management Commission records exactly.
- Choose a business address you can evidence if asked.
- Avoid names that merely add “Nigeria,” “Global,” or “Enterprises” to a common phrase; similarity checks still reject them.
- Pay only through the Remita flow generated inside the portal.
- If you are unsure about the nature-of-business category, review the options carefully before payment, because a wrong classification can trigger a query.
- Individuals may file themselves. Accredited agents are optional, not mandatory, for ordinary business name registration.
Anyone planning full company registration rather than a business name should expect additional requirements (directors, shareholders, share capital, and memorandum documents) and a manual review cycle. The name-reservation steps are similar, but the later forms and the incorporation pack differ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check business name availability on the new CAC iCRP?
Log in to the CAC iCRP portal, open Name Reservation, select Business Name and the correct business type, enter the proposed name and nature of business, then run the availability check. An available name can be reserved immediately by completing payment, after which you receive an AV Code.
What registration documents must I upload for a business name?
You must upload, in image format, a means of identification, a passport photograph, and a signature for every proprietor or partner. These files are attached while you complete the pre-registration form after entering your AV Code.
When can I start filing of annual returns for a newly registered business name?
Annual returns filing is already available on the portal for business names registered before July 2025. Newer registrations are expected to use an updated AI-supported annual-returns process once the Commission finishes the current system upgrade. Use the filing option shown on your entity dashboard and follow the due dates that apply to your registration.