> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fastcac.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CAC rules at a glance

> The Business Name rules your users hit, on one page.

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

## Names

[Name availability](https://docs.fastcac.com/guides/name-checks.md) 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](https://docs.fastcac.com/guides/registrations.md).

| 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](https://docs.fastcac.com/guides/documents.md).

| `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](https://docs.fastcac.com/guides/lifecycle.md).

| 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](https://docs.fastcac.com/test-mode.md#moving-a-registration-on).


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