How to Reserve a Business or Company Name on the New CAC iCRP Portal in Nigeria
Reserve a business or company name on the CAC iCRP portal in Nigeria. Learn the name reservation process, real-time name checks, business name suggestions, prohibited and restricted names, the reservation fee, and how the AV Code leads to business name registration.
Reserving a name is the first formal step in business name registration and company incorporation with the Corporate Affairs Commission. On the current CAC iCRP portal, name search and reservation is largely automated. Once payment succeeds for a standard application, approval is instant and an Approval Validation (AV) Code is issued. That code is what you later use when you register a business or proceed with CAC company registration.
This guide explains the name reservation process, how real-time name checks work, how business classification affects your filing, and how prohibited and restricted names are handled.
Why CAC Name Reservation Comes Before Registration
A CAC name reservation does not create a legal entity. It only holds a proposed business or company name so another applicant cannot take the same name while you prepare the rest of the filing. Most reservations are valid for 60 days from approval. If you do not complete registration within that window, the name can return to the available pool and you may need a new name reservation.
Choose the name carefully before you pay. Classification and type selections shape the registration path that follows, and a poor name choice is a common reason applications fail even when the portal initially shows the name as free.
Create Your iCRP Portal Profile
All filings start on the official portal at icrp.cac.gov.ng.
- Create a public-user account if you do not already have one.
- Complete the details the portal requests, including any identity verification shown during signup.
- Log in with your username, email, phone number, or accreditation number.
- Complete two-factor authentication with the code sent to your registered email.
If you no longer have access to the linked email, the Commission directs users to contact [email protected] or [email protected] with account details. Keep your iCRP portal profile details accurate, because later notices and the AV Code workflow depend on that account.
Name Reservation Process on the CAC iCRP Portal
The Corporate Affairs Commission states that standard name reservation is now automated. You receive instant approval once payment is successful.
Follow these steps for a new name reservation:
- From your dashboard, open Name Reservation.
- Select the business classification: Company, LP, LLP, or Business Name.
- Choose the business type, such as sole proprietorship or private company limited by shares.
- Enter your proposed name.
- Select the nature of business and the specific nature of business.
- Run Check Availability.
- If the name is available, continue to payment.
- If it is not available, update the name or use the suggestion tool.
- Pay through the integrated Remita flow.
- After successful payment, collect your AV Code from the dashboard or notification.
These steps match the current Frequently Asked Questions published on the iCRP support pages and the portal user guide. [1] [2]
Business Classification and Name Options
Business classification is not a cosmetic label. It decides whether you are reserving a business name, a company name, a limited partnership, or a limited liability partnership. Business type then narrows that choice further.
Prepare more than one name option before you start. Strong name options are:
- Distinct from existing registered names
- Easy to spell and pronounce
- Consistent with the actual activities you will carry on
- Free of words that imply government, professional, or regulated status you do not have
If your first choice fails the availability check, do not force a near-identical spelling. Small changes such as adding “Nigeria,” “Global,” or an extra letter often still conflict with an existing record.
Real-Time Name Checks and Business Name Suggestions
The portal’s availability check is the practical name search and reservation tool. Click Check Availability after you enter the proposed name and business details.
- Available: continue to payment.
- Unavailable: click Update Business Name, or click Get Name Suggestions for AI-generated alternatives.
These real-time name checks reduce the chance of paying for a name that is already taken. They do not replace your own judgment. A name can still be queried later if it is misleading, undesirable, or falls under a consent rule. Treat business name suggestions as a starting point, then re-check each suggestion before you pay.
Prohibited and Restricted Names
Nigerian company law, particularly section 852 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, separates names that cannot be used from names that need prior consent.
Prohibited names are generally refused. Typical problems include names that are identical or deceptively similar to an existing name, names that mislead the public about the nature of the business, offensive or undesirable names, and names that falsely suggest a connection the entity does not have.
Restricted names are not automatic approvals. Words and ideas that suggest government patronage or a special status—such as Federal, National, Regional, State, Government, Municipal, Chartered, Cooperative, or Building Society—usually require a separate consent process. On the new iCRP, consent requests are no longer mixed into ordinary name reservation. That process is still reviewed manually by an approving officer. [1]
If your proposed name needs consent, select the correct classification and business type, choose the reason for the consent request, enter the proposed name or names, complete the entity information, review the preview, and pay. You will receive an email when the application is approved or queried.
Reservation Fee and Payment
Published reports of the revised CAC schedule in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette put the standard name reservation fee at ₦1,000 and the fee for names with restricted words at ₦5,000.
From 1 April 2026, the Commission also applies an Artificial Intelligence service charge of ₦200 on each name reservation. That charge is separate from the statutory fee. [6]
Payment is made through Remita. Card and internet-banking options are available, and a generated bill can be paid at a bank if needed. Gateway charges may appear on top of the statutory amount. Always confirm the figure displayed on the CAC iCRP portal before you pay, because the live checkout is the amount that will be collected.
Payment for a standard reservation triggers instant approval and the AV Code. Payment does not override a prohibited name, and it does not replace manual review where consent is required.
Use the AV Code to Register a Business
The AV Code is the bridge between name reservation and full registration.
For business name registration, the current iCRP flow is:
- Open Registration and choose Register New Business.
- Enter the AV Code from the name reservation.
- Add the business email, address, and date of commencement.
- Enter proprietor details.
- Upload identification, a passport photograph, and a signature in image format.
- Review the preview and pay via Remita.
Business name registrations on the new portal are described as AI-approved and processed quickly. Company, incorporated trustees, LLP, and LP filings still follow manual review after submission. [1]
After approval, download the certificate and status report from the dashboard. A reserved name alone does not let you open a corporate bank account or present the entity as registered. Complete CAC company registration or business name registration within the reservation window.
Practical Checks Before You Submit
- Search variations of the name, not only the exact spelling.
- Avoid restricted words unless you are ready for the consent route.
- Match the nature of business to what the entity will actually do.
- Keep copies of the Remita receipt and the AV Code.
- Start the full filing soon after approval so the 60-day hold is not wasted.
- If an application is queried, use the dashboard query history and resubmit only the corrected information.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I reserve a name on the new CAC iCRP portal?
Log in, open Name Reservation, select the business classification and business type, enter the proposed name, choose the nature of business, and run Check Availability. If the name is free, pay the reservation fee. For a standard application, approval is instant after successful payment and you receive an AV Code. [1]
What is the CAC name reservation fee?
The standard reservation fee reported from the revised CAC schedule is ₦1,000, and reservation involving restricted words is ₦5,000. An additional AI service charge of ₦200 applies to name reservation from 1 April 2026. Remita charges may also apply, so confirm the total on the portal before payment.
How long does a business or company name reservation last?
A successful CAC name reservation generally holds the name for 60 days from approval. You should complete business name registration or company registration within that period. If the reservation lapses, the name can become available to someone else and a fresh name reservation may be required.