Who Can Borrow Airtime on MTN? Eligibility, Fees and Repayment
How to Borrow Airtime on MTN Nigeria: Dial *303# in 4 Steps
XtraTime is back after a pause, with the code, fee and eligibility explained.
There is a twist worth knowing. XtraTime was switched off in April after new rules from the FCCPC required digital lenders to follow a licensing framework. MTN brought it back in July and told customers by SMS that the loan was available again. Some older guides still show *606#, but *303# is the code to use now.
How to borrow airtime in 4 steps
What you pay
A service fee applies. Guides report 15%, taken when you borrow. If the fee is 15%, borrowing ₦200 costs ₦30 and you repay ₦200 plus the fee from your next recharge. The prompt shows the amount and fee before you confirm, so read it.
Who can borrow
The service is for prepaid customers with a recharge and usage history that MTN considers good enough. Reports list a line that is a few months old, regular recharges of ₦200 or more and no unpaid loan. MTN’s own SMS in July quoted a limit of up to ₦1,295 for one customer, so your limit will differ.
5 things to know before you borrow
- The limit differs from person to person and grows when you repay on time.
- You repay automatically from your next recharge, so you will see a smaller balance after topping up.
- Pay back before borrowing again. An unpaid loan can block a new one.
- Borrowed airtime works for calls, SMS and data like normal airtime.
- Use only *303#. Fake links and agents that ask for money to “unlock” a loan are scams.
Why does it say I am not eligible?
Your recharge history may be too short or too small, or you may have an unpaid loan.
Is *606# still valid?
Older guides use it. MTN’s restoration notice points to *303#.
Can I borrow data too?
Yes, through the same service, called XtraByte. See our guide on borrowing data.