NADRA issues guidelines for first-time CNIC applicants
ISLAMABAD: NADRA has issued detailed guidelines for first-time CNIC applicants, with a special procedure for those whose parents or siblings are unavailable or unregistered.
Applicants aged 18 and above whose parents or siblings cannot be present, or are not in NADRA’s records, must bring a verified computerised birth certificate along with a citizenship certificate or naturalisation certificate.
They will also need two biometric witnesses who hold valid CNICs or NICOPs, with relatives preferred, and must complete Declaration B along with a form attested under Rule 9 before visiting the nearest NADRA registration centre.
The guidelines aim to close a gap that has left many young adults, particularly those from families with incomplete records, stuck in the application process.
Who the new CNIC applicants procedure covers
The standard CNIC process leans on the biometric verification of parents or siblings. When those family members are deceased, untraceable or simply never registered, applicants have historically faced repeated visits and rejections.
The new instructions spell out an alternative path: documentary proof of birth and citizenship, plus two independent biometric witnesses, substitutes for the missing family verification.
What to carry to the centre
First-time applicants in this category should assemble their file before visiting: the verified computerised birth certificate, the citizenship or naturalisation certificate, the completed Declaration B, and the Rule 9 attested form. The two witnesses must accompany the applicant for biometric verification.
NADRA has advised applicants to visit the nearest registration centre once the paperwork is complete, rather than making repeated trips with partial documents.
Why the CNIC matters for young applicants
The CNIC is the single most important identity document in Pakistan. It is required to vote, open a bank account, register a mobile SIM, apply for a passport and access a host of government services. For young adults turning 18, getting the card on time determines whether they can enter the voters’ list, sit examinations that require identity verification, or take up formal employment.
Delays in issuance have historically pushed applicants toward agents and middlemen. By spelling out the requirements in advance, NADRA says it wants applicants to arrive prepared and reduce the back-and-forth that clogs up registration centres.
FAQ
Who needs to follow the new NADRA guidelines?
First-time CNIC applicants aged 18 or above whose parents or siblings are unavailable or unregistered with NADRA.
What documents are required?
A verified computerised birth certificate, a citizenship or naturalisation certificate, Declaration B, and a Rule 9 attested form.
Who can be a witness?
Two biometric witnesses holding valid CNICs or NICOPs; relatives are preferred.
