Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is letting first-time applicants get a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) without a birth certificate until December 31, 2026, as NADRA confirms on its website. The facility was announced in February 2026, and Dawn’s report on the NADRA statement sets out the full conditions.
It is aimed at the roughly 1.7 percent of adult Pakistanis still without a CNIC, most of whom are held back by a missing local government computerized birth certificate, Dawn reports. The gap is largest among women and in districts with weaker civil records.
Who Qualifies
You qualify if this is your first CNIC, you have no local government computerized birth certificate, and you are one of the following:
- A married woman aged 18 or above
- An unmarried woman aged 18 or above
- A man above 24 years of age
Documents You Need
Each group needs a close family member who already has a valid CNIC or NICOP (the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis), plus biometric verification, The Nation reports.
Married Women
- A valid local government Nikah Nama (marriage certificate)
- A valid CNIC or NICOP of either parent
- Your husband’s valid CNIC or NICOP
- Biometric verification of one parent and your husband
Unmarried Women
- A valid CNIC or NICOP of either parent
- Biometric verification of one parent
Men
- A valid CNIC or NICOP of either parent
- A valid CNIC or NICOP of at least one sibling
- Biometric verification of one parent
If both parents or the husband have died but their records are in NADRA’s database, an authorized officer can waive the biometric check after verifying the records.
If neither parent was ever registered with NADRA, this facility does not cover you. In that case, NADRA’s general rule is to establish your identity through a registered sibling or, if there is none, through the biometric witness of two people, preferably close relatives, after field verification.
Where to Apply, Fees and What to Check
- Apply at your nearest NADRA registration center before December 31, 2026.
- A new standard (non-smart) CNIC is free in the normal category and takes 15 days. Urgent costs PKR 1,150 (12 days) and executive PKR 2,150 (6 days), according to NADRA’s fee structure.
- A new smart CNIC, which has a microchip, costs PKR 750 (normal), PKR 1,500 (urgent) or PKR 2,500 (executive). Processing time starts once the fee is paid.
- Check your parentage, date of birth and place of birth carefully, because they cannot be changed once recorded.
You need a valid CNIC or NICOP to apply for a Pakistani passport, according to the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, so this card is your first step before traveling abroad. You can also search for flights to Pakistan on Wego.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a CNIC without a birth certificate in Pakistan?
Yes, until December 31, 2026, if it is your first CNIC and you are a woman aged 18 or above or a man above 24. Normally, NADRA asks first-time applicants for a verified computerized birth certificate from the Union Council, Municipal Committee or Cantonment, or a citizenship certificate, according to NADRA.
Where do I get a computerized birth certificate instead?
You get a computerized birth certificate from your local Union Council, Municipal Committee or Cantonment. In Punjab, registering a birth is free and the certificate costs PKR 100, paid to the Union Council Secretary, according to the Punjab Local Government and Community Development Department.
Can men aged 18 to 24 use this facility?
No, this facility covers men only if they are above 24 years of age. The announcement sets no separate route for younger men, so the standard documents, including a computerized birth certificate, still apply.
What happens after December 31, 2026?
The facility ends on December 31, 2026, and no extension had been announced by late September 2026. After that date, first-time applicants go back to the standard documents, including a computerized birth certificate.
Can overseas Pakistanis apply online or at an embassy?
The announcement only names NADRA registration centers, and it does not say whether the Pak-ID app or Pakistani missions abroad accept these applications. Check with NADRA on its helpline, 1777 or +92 51 111 786 100, before you apply from outside Pakistan.
Sources
- Dawn, Nadra to issue CNICs for first-time registrants without birth certificate
- Dawn, First-time registrants to get CNICs sans birth certificates
- The Nation, NADRA announces conditional ID cards without birth certificates
- WE News English, Pakistan Allows Temporary Identity Cards Issuance Without Birth Certificate
- Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, General Requirements for Passport
- NADRA, Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC)
- NADRA, Fee Structure
- Punjab Local Government and Community Development Department, FAQs
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