JAMB extends the deadline to accept or reject pending admissions from 2021 to 2026 to September 30. Learn how to update CAPS status and secure admission letters.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially extended the deadline for candidates with unconfirmed tertiary admission offers from 2021 to date to accept or reject such placements on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to September 30.
The adjustment extends the earlier cut-off date of August 31, providing a final window for candidates across both domestic regular tracks and Centralised University International Admission (CUIIA) channels to regularize their tertiary education records.
JAMB Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, confirmed the directive in a statement released in Abuja, cautioning that unconfirmed admissions remaining on the portal after the new deadline will be permanently revoked.
Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) Status and Letter Printing
Candidates who log in to their profile and formally accept their pending admission offers will immediately become eligible to print their official JAMB admission letters.
For candidates who reject unutilized offers, the central portal will automatically revert their admission profile to “Not Admitted,” allowing tertiary institutions to reallocate unfilled quotas and update official national matriculation records.
The board emphasized that leaving an admission offer in an unconfirmed state creates institutional reporting discrepancies and blocks accurate data transmission across regulatory bodies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC).
| Action Category |
Target Candidate Group |
Required Portal Action |
System Outcome After Deadline |
| Offer Acceptance |
Candidates actively enrolled in the allocated program |
Select “Accept” on JAMB CAPS |
Unlocks official JAMB admission letter printing |
| Offer Rejection |
Candidates who declined the placement or changed tracks |
Select “Reject” on JAMB CAPS |
Status resets to “Not Admitted” on the national database |
| Institution / Course Correction |
Candidates who transferred or switched disciplines |
Accept offer, then file correction/deletion request |
Reconciles academic profile with current department |
| Second-Degree / Active Students |
Candidates currently studying another degree |
Reject historical pending offer |
Preserves current study status without conflict |
| 2026 Fresh Admitted Candidates |
2026 batch candidates with lingering historical offers |
Reject older offer on profile |
Zero negative impact on newly secured 2026 admission |
Directives for Current Undergraduates, Transferred Students, and 2026 Candidates
Specific guidelines apply to individuals who accepted alternate academic paths, transferred between academic departments, or gained admission into new institutions without formally closing out earlier JAMB entries.
Candidates who left the institutions that offered them previous admissions can accept the pending offer on the portal and immediately apply for a formal correction or deletion of the admission history.
Undergraduates pursuing a second degree while holding an unaccepted historical admission must formally reject the pending offer to keep their primary university profile clear of regulatory conflicts.
The board clarified that candidates participating in the current 2026 admission exercise who hold lingering pre-2026 offers can reject the older placements without jeopardizing their 2026 academic status.
Dr. Benjamin stated that rejecting outdated offers allows the board to maintain an audit-ready national database while protecting candidates from administrative bottlenecks during graduation clearance and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization.
Consequence of Inaction Past the September 30 Cut-Off
Candidates who fail to take action on their pending offers before the expiration of the September 30 deadline will forfeit those placements entirely.
Once the system closes, all unconfirmed offers from the 2021 session upward will automatically revert to “Not Admitted” status on the board’s permanent central server.
JAMB advised all affected candidates to access their central portal profiles immediately to complete the verification process rather than delaying until the final hours of the registration window.
