Most people treat CAC name reservation as a formality. Something to tick off quickly before the “real” registration begins. That mindset is where things go wrong.
Name reservation is the foundation of every CAC registration in Nigeria. Get it right and the rest of the process moves quickly. Miss a detail, pick a restricted name without consent, or let the window expire before you complete registration, and you are back at the start.
This article covers how name reservation works, what the 60-day window actually means, and what you need to know before you apply.
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What Is CAC Name Reservation?
Name reservation is the process of securing exclusive rights to a business name with the Corporate Affairs Commission before you complete full registration. It confirms that your proposed name is available, compliant with CAC guidelines, and protected from being registered by anyone else while you finalise your documents.
In Nigeria, a name reservation with the CAC lasts for 60 days from the date of approval. During this period, the reserved name cannot be registered by any other person or business entity. You must complete the business registration process within this timeframe to avoid losing the reservation.
The reservation does not give your business any legal status on its own. Your company or business name becomes a legal entity only after full incorporation or registration is completed.
Why 60 Days and What Happens When It Expires
Sixty days sounds like plenty of time. For most straightforward business name registrations, it is. But for limited liability companies, incorporated trustees, or any entity that requires third-party consent, the clock can feel tighter than expected.
If you fail to register your business within the 60-day reservation period, the reserved name is released back into the pool of available names. Another person or entity can then reserve or register it. The CAC does not provide an automatic extension for name reservations. You can reapply to reserve the same name, but this is subject to availability and may involve additional fees.
The practical lesson is straightforward. Reserve your name when your documents are already close to ready, not when you are still deciding on directors, share capital, or company structure. Using the reservation window as motivation to finally start gathering documents is a good way to lose a name you spent time choosing.
How to Reserve a Name With CAC in 2025
The process is now fully online through CAC’s integrated Company Registration Portal. In May 2025, the Corporate Affairs Commission launched the AI-powered Integrated Company Registration Portal. This upgrade made business name reservation faster and more efficient. For most entity types, including Business Names, Companies, Limited Partnerships, and Limited Liability Partnerships, the process is now fully automated. Applicants typically receive instant approval once payment is confirmed.
The basic steps are as follows.
Create an account on the CAC portal at cac.gov.ng using a valid email address. If you plan to use an accredited CAC agent, they will handle the portal access on your behalf. Search for your preferred name using the public search tool to check availability before paying anything. If the name is available, proceed to reservation and pay the applicable fee.
CAC’s current official fee schedule published in 2025 shows that name reservation for business names is ₦1,000, while name reservation for restricted words is ₦5,000. Payment is done through the online payment flow.
Once payment is confirmed, the system issues an approval code. If your preferred name is unavailable, the system can provide AI-generated name suggestions to help you choose a compliant alternative quickly.
Names CAC Will Reject
Not every name gets approved. CAC screens all proposed names before granting a reservation, and certain categories are consistently flagged or rejected outright.
Names that are identical or too similar to an existing registered name will not pass. Generic or descriptive terms used alone, such as “Nigeria Trading” or “Abuja Services,” are also unlikely to be approved because they fail the distinctiveness test.
Names that suggest government affiliation are treated differently. You should avoid names that imply government affiliation or include words like “National,” “Federal,” or “Cooperative” without special approval. If your proposed name includes restricted words like “Holdings,” “Foundation,” “Group,” or similar terms, you will need prior consent from CAC before the name can be approved.
A Company Limited by Guarantee, for instance, requires three name options for consent reservation, and name approval for this entity type can take between 3 and 14 days rather than being instant.
Names that are misleading, offensive, or imply a connection to a foreign government or international organisation also face rejection.
Restricted Words and the Consent Route
Some names are not automatically blocked but require an additional layer of approval before reservation. This is called the Name Requiring Consent route.
If your proposed name contains a word that implies size, prestige, or a particular status, such as “International,” “Group,” “Ventures,” “Consulting,” or words that overlap with regulated sectors like banking or insurance, CAC may require you to obtain written consent from a relevant regulator before the name can be reserved. Applications under the Name Requiring Consent route take longer due to additional scrutiny and approval from CAC officials.
The smartest approach is to check whether your proposed name contains any of these terms before you start the reservation process. Discovering the consent requirement after you have already paid the reservation fee costs time rather than just money.
What You Cannot Change After Submitting
This is one detail that catches many first-time applicants. Once submitted, entered details cannot be edited until after incorporation. If you spot a typo in your name, a wrong character, or an incorrect word after submission, you cannot go back in and fix it. The name goes through as submitted.
This makes accurate spelling and formatting critical at the point of entry, not something to verify after payment is confirmed.
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From Reservation to Full Registration
Once your name is reserved, you have 60 days to complete the full registration. For a business name registration, online applications are typically processed within 2 to 7 working days, while offline applications may take 2 to 4 weeks.
For a business name, total costs including name reservation and registration fees are currently around ₦11,000 at minimum, covering ₦1,000 for name reservation and ₦10,000 for registration. For a limited liability company with up to ₦1 million share capital, the statutory incorporation fee is ₦10,000, but portal and processing fees may bring the total to ₦40,000 or more.
Documents you will need for the full registration depend on your entity type, but for a business name the standard requirements include a valid government-issued ID for each proprietor, a passport photograph, details of the business address and nature of business, and the signed application form. For a limited company, you will also need a memorandum and articles of association.
Name Reservation at a Glance
| Detail | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Reservation window | 60 days from approval date |
| Exclusivity | No other entity can register the name during this period |
| What happens if it expires | Name is released; reapplication subject to availability |
| CAC extensions | Not offered automatically |
| Fee for business name reservation | ₦1,000 |
| Fee for restricted word reservation | ₦5,000 |
| Approval speed (most entities) | Instant once payment is confirmed |
| Approval speed (LTD/GTE) | 3 to 14 days |
| Can details be edited after submission | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reserve a CAC name without completing registration immediately?
Yes. You can reserve a name and wait up to 60 days before completing the full registration. The reservation holds your chosen name exclusively during this period. What you cannot do is use the reserved name as a legally recognised business or open a corporate bank account until full registration is completed.
What happens if my CAC name reservation expires?
The name is released back into the pool of available names, and anyone else can reserve or register it. There is no automatic renewal. You can reapply to reserve the same name, but if another applicant has already taken it in the meantime, you will need a different name.
Can I reserve more than one name at a time?
CAC’s standard process allows you to search multiple names and reserve one at a time. A Company Limited by Guarantee is required to submit three proposed names in order of preference as part of the consent reservation process, but most other entity types proceed with a single name reservation.
How do I know if my proposed name will be rejected?
Before paying the reservation fee, use CAC’s public name search tool to check whether an identical or very similar name already exists. If your name contains restricted words, research the consent requirements for those terms before submitting. Preparing two or three backup name options before starting the process means a rejection does not send you back to the drawing board.
Is it possible to complete CAC name reservation and registration without a lawyer or agent?
Yes. The CAC portal is designed to allow individuals to complete name reservation and registration without professional help. In practice, many business owners still use an accredited CAC agent to avoid errors, particularly for limited companies where the documentation requirements are more detailed and errors in submitted documents cannot be corrected until after incorporation.
Does reserving a name with CAC protect it as a trademark?
No. CAC registration and trademark registration are entirely separate. A registered business name protects you within the CAC framework but does not give trademark rights. For stronger intellectual property protection, you would need to file separately with the Trademarks, Patents and Designs Registry under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
Conclusion: The 60 Days Start the Moment You Pay
The reservation window does not wait for you to feel ready. It runs from the date of approval, regardless of how much you still have left to sort out. Treat name reservation as the point at which your registration clock starts, not as a preliminary step before you begin preparing your documents.
Check your name for restricted words before applying. Have your documents close to ready before you pay the reservation fee. And if you are dealing with an entity type that requires consent, factor in the additional approval time before you start counting down the 60 days.
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Let our team handle your CAC registration and help you obtain your certificate without stress. From business name registration to company incorporation.
