You can either apply for a NICOP by visiting your nearest NRC or through NADRA web portal
There are two main ways to apply for a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis. You can either visit a NADRA Registration Centre (NRC) or Mega Centre in your city or apply online at NADRA’s web portal.
APPLYING THROUGH NADRA CENTRES
Here’s what you need to know when applying for a NICOP through a NADRA Registration Centre. The following is a summarised view of the procedure:
Upon visiting the NRC, get a token from the counter
Wait for your token number to be called out
They will click your pic at the booth
They will fill your form and enter the data in their system as per the information provided by you. Once done, you will be asked to review and verify the information
The next part is getting the form attested. Once you have it attested from a gazette government officer, you will be required to submit it to the NRC.
Note: You can ask a blood relative to accompany you while you are applying for NICOP since their biometrics can be used as verification instead of getting your form attested by a government officer.
In order to find your closest NADRA Registration Centre, you can always visit their website. However, if you reside in Karachi, then here are the addresses for the three Mega Centres located in the city that remain open 24 hours, seven days a week.
NADRA Mega Centre (DHA Karachi):
Address: UC Office, Old KDA Building, Phase 1, Defence Housing Authority
NADRA Mega Centre (North Nazimabad, Karachi)
Address: Block L, North Nazimabad Town
NADRA Mega Centre (SITE Industrial Area, Karachi)
Address: Estate Avenue, SITE Industrial Area, Karachi
APPLYING AT NADRA’S ONLINE PORTAL
For the convenience of locals as well as Pakistani citizens living abroad, the government of Pakistan has launched an online portal of NADRA. The online portal can be used to apply for a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) online.
Whether you are already an identity card holder or a new applicant, you can easily apply online at the portal. Here’s the step-by-step process to apply for a NICOP online:
First of all, have your photographs, supporting documents, and Debit/Credit Card ready.
Select the option of ‘Identity Holder’ if you are already an identity holder or ‘No Previous Identity’ if you are a new applicant
You will be asked to choose your country of stay and create a 4-digit smart card pin (the same thing we do for our ATM cards)
Submit the information as per the requirements along with a scanned copy of your recent passport sized photograph
After you have entered your Credit/Debit Card number, you will be redirected to a screen where the status of your payment will be confirmed. This is the final step of the process, after which your card will be delivered to you in a few days
Tracking of NADRA NICOP is also available. Moreover, you will also be notified via email and SMS about the status of your card
Note: The form on the website is also available in the Urdu language for better understanding.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
All applicants must thoroughly review all the submitted information. In case any error is found in the data, it can be corrected manually on the printed form. Capturing the fingerprints of their four fingers (as shown on screen) and submitting them is among key NICOP requirements to complete the application process.
TIME REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR NICOP ONLINE
It requires a lesser amount of time and effort to apply for a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis online as compared to going to the NRC. Please take a look at the chart below to get a better understanding of the time required for every step involved in the process of applying for a NICOP:
Steps Time Required
User Registration 2 min
Select application category 0.5 min
Give card delivery details 1 min
Pay fee 2 min
Give personal details 10 min
Upload photograph 1 min
Upload supporting documents 1 min
Print,scan and upload urdu form 5 min
Submit application 0.5 min
Total Time Required 23 min
NICOP FEE DETAILS:
Whether you are a new applicant or want to modify or edit data, payment at the beginning of the process is one of the important NICOP requirements. One more thing to bear in mind here is that countries around the world are divided into two zones by the government of Pakistan (please refer to NADRA’s official website to fetch complete details regarding the zonal division of countries). The fee structure when applying for NICOP may also vary for the two zones.
NICOP FEE FOR ‘ZONE A’ COUNTRIES
Application Categories Normal Fee (PKR) Urgent Fee (PKR) Executive Fee (PKR)
NICOP Reprint/Lost 5,400 8,100 10,800
NICOP Cancellation N/A N/A 2,250
New Smart NICOP 5,850 8,550 11,250
Smart NICOP Modification 5,850 8,550 11,250
Smart NICOP Reprint/Lost 5,850 8,550 11,250
Smart NICOP Renewal 5,850 8,550 11,250
NICOP FEE FOR ‘ZONE B’ COUNTRIES
Application Categories Normal Fee (PKR) Urgent Fee (PKR) Executive Fee (PKR)
NICOP Reprint/Lost 2,550 4,050 5,550
NICOP Cancellation N/A N/A 2,250
New Smart NICOP 3,000 4,500 6,000
Smart NICOP Modification 3,000 4,500 6,000
Smart NICOP Renewal 3,000 4,500 6,000
Smart NICOP Reprint/Lost 3,000 4,500 6,000
FEE FOR MODIFICATION IN AGE
Type of Modification in Age Fees (PKR)
Difference in Age is less than or equal to 1 year 1,000
Difference in Age is greater than 1 BUT less than or equal to 2 years 2,000
Difference in Age is greater than 2 BUT less than or equal to 3 years 3,000
Difference in Age is greater than 3 years 5,000
Request for modification in Age for a 2nd Time 10,000
FEE FOR DELIVERY TO APPLICANT’S ADDRESS
Location Fees (PKR)
Pakistan 100
Overseas 1,000
NICOP DELIVERY TIME (PHYSICAL AND ONLINE APPLICATION)
The delivery time for a NADRA NICOP varies based on how you applied for it. Please have a look below to get an idea about when you can expect your NICOP to be delivered:
Through NRC
Normal – 30 days
Urgent – 15 days
Fast Track – 7 Days (Priority at NRCs for immediate processing with executive fee charges)
Through Online Application
Processing – 7 days
Local Shipping in Pakistan – 2 days
International Shipping – 5 Days
You now know all the necessary details to apply for a NICOP and the finances involved in the entire process. The application processes for CNIC and NICOP have been now simplified than before,
