Apply for a Pakistan Origin Card (POC): Who Qualifies and the USD 150 NADRA Fee
A NADRA Pakistan Origin Card costs USD 150 at 31 days, USD 200 at 23 and USD 250 at 9. See who qualifies, validity of 5 or 7 years and how to apply on PakID.
Short answer: The Pakistan Origin Card (POC) is a NADRA card for foreign nationals of Pakistani origin. You qualify if you once held Pakistani citizenship, if a parent or grandparent was Pakistani, or if you are married to a Pakistani or a person of Pakistani origin. A new POC costs USD 150 at the normal 31 day timeline, USD 200 at 23 days and USD 250 at 9 days. Apply on the PakID app.
A British or Canadian national with a Pakistani grandfather is not a Pakistani citizen. They still have a claim on Pakistan's records. The POC is the document that turns that claim into a card.
We read NADRA's POC page and its fee structure page on 12 October 2026. NADRA's page points to its registration policy for the exact document list, and we could not open that policy chapter. So we give you the eligibility and fees as NADRA states them, and flag what you must confirm.
Five groups of people can apply for a POC
NADRA lists who is eligible. Each group is described in its own words, which we put in plain terms.
| Who you are | What NADRA lists |
|---|---|
| Former citizen | Not a Pakistani citizen now, but was a citizen at any time in life |
| Descendant | A foreign national whose parent or grandparent is or was Pakistani, alive or deceased |
| Early foreign national | Acquired foreign nationality before the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 began |
| Spouse | A foreigner married to a Pakistani citizen or origin person |
| Dependent child | A dependent child of a foreign spouse of a Pakistani citizen or origin person |
The spouse group has exclusions. A married applicant cannot be a citizen or national of India or Bangladesh, a state Pakistan does not recognise, or an enemy country.
A new POC costs USD 150 at the normal timeline
NADRA prices POC services in US dollars and lists three speeds. The timeline starts after you pay. NADRA's PakID notice says the fee is charged in rupees after currency conversion.
| Service | Normal, 31 days | Urgent, 23 days | Executive, 9 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| New POC | USD 150 | USD 200 | USD 250 |
| Renewal | USD 150 | USD 200 | USD 250 |
| Modification | USD 200 | USD 250 | USD 300 |
| Duplicate | USD 200 | USD 250 | USD 300 |
A POC cancellation costs USD 25 if it is due to death or divorce, and USD 15 if it is due to surrender of nationality, both at the 2 day executive timeline. Check the fee page again before you pay, because NADRA can revise it.
A POC lasts five or seven years
The validity depends on the basis of your card. NADRA lists seven years for a Smart POC based on ex-Pakistani status, parents or the family of a Foreign Principal Officer. It lists five years for a spouse-based Smart POC.
That difference matters for planning. A spouse-based card needs renewal sooner, and renewal costs the same as a new card at each speed.
How to apply on the PakID app
NADRA's page lists the PakID app steps, and a visit to a registration centre if biometrics or a photograph are needed. You need a smartphone, an email and scans of your documents.
- Download the PakID mobile app and create your account.
- Choose "New POC" and fill in your personal details.
- Upload the required documents, including your proof of Pakistani origin or your marriage.
- Pay the fee for the speed you choose. The timeline starts after payment.
- Visit a NADRA Registration Centre if the app asks for biometrics or a photograph.
- Track the application in the app.
NADRA says the exact documents are in the "Fresh / New Registration" chapter of the POC section of its registration policy. We could not read that chapter. Ask NADRA on 1777 for the list for your group before you scan anything.
What a POC does and does not do
A POC is not citizenship. What it allows in practice, such as visa free entry and stay, is set out in NICOP and POC for overseas Pakistanis. That page also explains why a POC and a NICOP are not the same card.
If you are a foreign spouse who wants to stay for good, Pakistani citizenship for a foreign wife on Form F is the longer route. If you only need to visit family, the family visit visa for foreign spouses and Pakistan-origin relatives is cheaper.
If you are a Pakistani citizen living abroad, you want a NICOP, not a POC. How to apply for or renew a NICOP on the PakID app sets out that card.
Common questions
Is a POC the same as Pakistani citizenship?
No. It is an identity card for foreign nationals of Pakistani origin, issued under Section 11 of the NADRA Ordinance, 2000. Citizenship is a separate process.
Can my foreign husband get a POC?
NADRA lists a foreigner married to a Pakistani citizen or origin person as eligible, with exclusions for India, Bangladesh, unrecognised states and enemy countries.
How much does a POC cost?
USD 150 at the normal 31 day timeline for a new or renewed card, as NADRA's fee page listed on 12 October 2026.
How long is a POC valid?
Seven years for ex-Pakistani, parents-based and Foreign Principal Officer family-based cards. Five years for a spouse-based card.
Can I apply from outside Pakistan?
NADRA's page describes the PakID app route for POC and lists overseas services separately. Confirm with NADRA on 1777 what you need to do in person.
What if my grandparents are no longer alive?
NADRA's eligibility says a parent or grandparent who is Pakistani or ex-Pakistani counts, alive or deceased. You will still need documents to show the link.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
We read NADRA's POC page and fee structure on 12 October 2026. We could not read the registration policy chapter that lists documents. NADRA's helpline is 1777. Confirm fees and documents before you pay.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
