Checking the authenticity of a Corporate Affairs Commission certificate no longer requires a trip to a CAC office. Individuals, businesses and organisations can confirm registration details online through the commission’s public search portal.
This can be useful when dealing with a new company, verifying a business before signing a contract, or checking the details on a certificate submitted for a bank account or other transaction.
A quick search can reveal whether the business exists on the CAC register and whether the information provided on its certificate matches the commission’s records.
What is a CAC certificate?
A CAC certificate is an official document issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission to confirm that a company or business has been registered in Nigeria.
The document contains important information such as the registered business name, registration number, type of entity and date of registration.
Business registration with CAC is important for companies and business owners who need to establish their legal identity, open corporate bank accounts, enter formal contracts or meet regulatory requirements.
The Corporate Affairs Commission is responsible for regulating and maintaining records of companies and other registered business entities in Nigeria. Its operations are governed by the Companies and Allied Matters Act, including the current CAMA 2020 framework.
What you need to verify a CAC certificate
A basic search on the CAC public portal does not require an account or payment.
Before starting, however, it is helpful to have the following:
- The exact registered business or company name
- The RC or BN number shown on the certificate
- A reliable internet connection
- A current web browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge
An RC number is generally used for registered companies, while business names may have a BN number.
You can search for a business by name if you do not have its registration number. However, the registration number provides a more precise way to identify the specific entity.
How to verify a CAC certificate online
The CAC public search portal can be accessed at search.cac.gov.ng.
There are two common ways to search for a registered entity: by its name or by its registration number.
Using the business name
If you only have the company or business name, enter the name into the search field on the CAC portal.
It is important to use the registered name rather than a brand name or informal trading name. After submitting the search, several businesses may appear if the name is similar to those of other registered entities.
Check the results carefully and select the record that corresponds with the business you are trying to verify.
The profile should provide information such as the entity’s registration type, registration date, registration number and status.
Compare those details with the information contained in the CAC certificate presented to you.
Using the RC or BN number
Searching with the registration number is usually the quickest way to locate a specific business.
Enter the RC or BN number exactly as it appears on the certificate and submit the search.
Once the result is displayed, compare the registered name, registration number, date of registration and status with the certificate.
Any significant difference between the information on the document and the information on the CAC database should be investigated before relying on the certificate.
How to confirm that a business is active
The CAC search result also provides an indication of the entity’s regulatory status.
A business that appears as “Registered” has been registered with the commission. However, businesses and companies also have ongoing compliance obligations after registration.
An “Inactive” or “Struck Off” status requires further attention because it indicates that the entity is not in the same active regulatory position as a business in good standing.
One important part of maintaining a company’s status is the filing of annual returns. Registered entities are required to meet their annual compliance obligations with CAC.
Failure to meet those requirements can affect a business’s status and, in some circumstances, may eventually lead to deregistration.
Can a CAC certificate expire?
A CAC certificate does not normally expire in the same way a driver’s licence or passport does.
However, registration alone does not remove a business’s continuing obligations to the Corporate Affairs Commission.
Companies and other registered entities are expected to meet applicable annual returns and other regulatory requirements. A failure to do so can affect their status on the CAC register.
This means that checking only the certificate is not always enough. It is also important to check the entity’s current status on the CAC database.
What if a newly registered business does not appear?
A newly approved business may not immediately appear on the public search database.
If the registration was completed only a short time ago, the information may require some time to become available on the public portal.
Where a business does not appear, check that the name or registration number was entered correctly. If the problem continues, the business owner may need to contact CAC for clarification.
How to keep proof of your verification
After finding the correct CAC record, you may want to keep evidence of the search, particularly when the verification is being carried out before entering a business agreement.
One option is to take a screenshot showing the relevant details.
You can also use the print function on your browser to save the search result as a PDF. On most computers, this can be done with Ctrl+P on Windows or Cmd+P on Mac.
Keep the saved record securely with other documents relating to the transaction.
Why checking a CAC certificate matters
A certificate may look genuine, but checking the information against the commission’s records provides an additional layer of protection.
For individuals and organisations entering contracts, making payments or dealing with unfamiliar businesses, confirming the registration number, business name and current status can help identify inconsistencies before a transaction is completed.
The safest approach is to rely on the CAC’s own database rather than accepting a certificate at face value.
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