NCC Phone Approval Check: How to Use *315# and Understand Your Result
Before buying a phone in Nigeria, check its approval status as carefully as its price and condition. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) provides a Device Checker through *315# and its official website.
How to check your phone
- Dial *315# and follow the displayed prompts.
- Alternatively, use the NCC Device Checker.
- If requested, find your IMEI by dialling *#06#.
- Read both the model's Type Approval status and the device's verification result. For help, call 315.
Does the 30-day rule affect everyone?
According to NCC's guidance, phones connected before 7 October 2026 were automatically verified. A phone brought from abroad, never previously used in Nigeria, can use a Nigerian SIM for 30 cumulative days within a year without verification. International roaming with a foreign SIM is unaffected.
What an unsuccessful check means
An unverified result does not automatically mean a phone is counterfeit. Ask the seller or network provider for assistance. Enter any verification code only in the official process; never disclose it to a caller or seller.
A successful check does not certify the phone's condition, repair history or every component.
A practical checklist before paying
Device verification is one part of a sensible purchase. Give yourself time to inspect the actual handset, especially when buying a used phone.
- Confirm the exact model. Match the information in Settings to the phone being advertised. A brand name alone does not identify a particular model or variant.
- Inspect the basics. Test the screen, charging port, cameras, speaker and microphone. Check that the phone can make a call with your SIM.
- Ask about previous repairs. Find out whether the screen, battery or other parts have been replaced, and ask what warranty covers them.
- Get a receipt. Keep the seller's business details, the purchase date and the written return terms.
- Resolve unclear results first. Do not let a time-limited discount pressure you into paying before your questions are answered.
If you already own the phone
Suppose you bought a handset from a dealer in Yola and later received a verification warning. Keep the message and purchase receipt, note the exact wording of the result, and explain the issue to the dealer. This makes the problem easier to investigate than a general complaint that the phone “is not working”.
Avoid paying an unknown person who promises an instant fix. Keep your IMEI and any verification details out of public comments or social media posts.
If the USSD request fails, record the error and try the official website. An unsuccessful request by itself does not tell you whether the handset has passed or failed verification.
Official information
Consult the NCC Device Checker FAQ for the current procedure and the approved handsets register for model information.
Updated 12 October 2026. Device-checking guidance is based on NCC's published information. The buying checklist is Bagale Pulse's practical editorial guidance; we have not tested the service on every network.