CAC rules at a glance

A quick reference for building your forms. Each section links to the guide with the detail.

Names

Name availability applies these. In test mode only the first three run (no CAC call); in live mode CAC’s registry and its own checks add the rest.

Rule	`reason.code`
At least two words	`single_word`
No restricted words (list below)	`restricted_word`
Ends in a qualifier such as VENTURES, ENTERPRISES, HUB, CONCEPTS, FASHION, SERVICES, BEAUTY or BIZ	`qualifier_missing`
The qualifier is the last word, and there’s only one	`qualifier_not_last`, `multiple_qualifiers`
Not already registered, and less than 90% similar to a registered name	`name_exists`, `name_too_similar`
No offensive language, religious references or special characters	`offensive_language`, `religious_reference`, `special_characters`
The category has no restricted word	`restricted_category`
CAC’s compliance score is 80% or more	`low_compliance`

Some names are available but need a professional certificate (requires_certificate: true); upload it as a supporting_document.

Restricted words FastCAC checks

WEALTH, COMPANY, EMPIRE, INVESTMENT, FINANCE, FORCE, STATE, NATIONAL, FEDERAL, COOPERATIVE, LIMITED, BETTING, SPORT, CONSTRUCTION, MINING, QUARRY, EXPLORATION, MOSQUE, CHURCH, INSTITUTE, CASH, MONIE, MONEY, FOUNDATION, BANK, CENTER, CENTRE, LMT, LTD, INC, HOLDING, GROUP, CONSORTIUM, FUNDS, EXCHANGE, MONI, INCORPORATED, ACADEMY, SCHOOL, APOSTOLIC, COMMUNITY. Whole words only.

What a registration needs

Detail in Registrations.

Field	Rule
`proposed_names`	One or two, at most 100 characters each. Stored in capitals. Only the first is filed with CAC for now.
`category`	Exactly one value from `GET /v1/businesses/categories`.
`business.email`	Required, a valid email address.
`business.address`	`street_number`, `street`, `city`, `state` required; `lga`, `postcode` optional.
`proprietors`	One to 20. Live registrations take one proprietor for now.
`proprietors[].first_name`, `last_name`	Required. `other_names` optional.
`proprietors[].gender`	`male` or `female`.
`proprietors[].date_of_birth`	`YYYY-MM-DD`, 18 or older.
`proprietors[].nationality`	Nigerian (the default).
`proprietors[].nin`	11 digits. CAC checks it against the name and date of birth.
`proprietors[].email`	A valid email address.
`proprietors[].phone`	Digits, optional leading `+`, 10 to 15 of them.
`proprietors[].address`	`street_number`, `street`, `city`, `lga`, `state` and a 6-digit `postcode`, all required.
`external_id`	Optional, up to 255 characters.

Documents

Each proprietor needs the first three before you can submit. Detail in Documents.

`kind`	What it is	File types
`means_of_id`	The proprietor’s paper NIN slip. No other ID, and not the digital NIN slip.	JPEG, PNG, WebP
`passport`	A clear, recent passport photograph.	JPEG, PNG, WebP
`signature`	The proprietor’s signature on plain paper.	JPEG, PNG, WebP
`supporting_document`	Optional: the professional certificate, when the name check asks for one.	JPEG, PNG, WebP, PDF

Every file is at most 5 MB (a PDF at most 2 MB) and must open. FastCAC doesn’t verify what a document shows; CAC does.

Timelines

Detail in Registration lifecycle.

Status	Typical wait
`submitted`	CAC usually decides within 24 hours.
`final_review`	An officer confirms the record, usually within 48 working hours. CAC doesn’t review on weekends.
`queried`	Waits for you: fix the queried fields and submit again.

In test mode a submitted registration is decided after about 60 seconds, or straight away with the test helper.

Get started

Registering a business

Webhooks

API basics

Resources

Going live

Names

What a registration needs

Documents

Timelines

​Names

​What a registration needs

​Documents

​Timelines

Names

What a registration needs

Documents

Timelines