CDA Transfer Fee Rates in Islamabad: Rs 250 Per Square Yard and Same-Day Letter

Short answer: CDA lists its residential transfer fee at Rs 250 per square yard and Rs 150 per square yard in model villages. A family transfer costs Rs 5,000 for residential and Rs 10,000 for commercial property. A same-day transfer letter costs an extra Rs 10,000 and needs your file in before 10 am.

Most buyers in Islamabad ask the same question first: how much will CDA charge to put the plot in my name? For years the answer was a guess. CDA's own procedures page now lists the rates.

We read that page on 13 October 2026. It is undated, so treat every figure as "as listed by CDA" and confirm it at the One Window Operation counter before you buy a bank draft. The Rs 250 rate is for the transfer fee only. Other charges, such as property tax clearance and capital value tax, are separate.

CDA lists four transfer fee rates

The rate depends on the type of transfer. A normal residential sale is charged by area at Rs 250 per square yard. Model villages pay Rs 150 per square yard. A family transfer is a flat fee, Rs 5,000 for residential and Rs 10,000 for commercial.

CDA's frequently asked questions page adds a small difference. For a gift to a family member it says a bank draft of Rs 3,000 or Rs 5,000, "as applicable". The procedures page gives Rs 5,000. We could not tell which case gets Rs 3,000, so ask the counter which one covers you.

The area rate is easy to work out yourself

Multiply your plot area in square yards by Rs 250. A 200 square yard residential plot comes to Rs 50,000. A 500 square yard plot comes to Rs 125,000. This is our own arithmetic on CDA's listed rate, not a figure CDA states.

Both numbers assume the plot is not in a model village and is not a family transfer. If it is, switch to the Rs 150 rate or the flat family fee. CDA does not say if the fee is rounded, so the counter's demand slip is the final number.

CDA says the file goes to accounts for the bank draft after the parties appear. Ask the counter when to buy the draft, so you do not buy it too early. The full document list for a sale is in the page on transferring a CDA plot or house.

The admitting officer sees both parties in person

Before the transfer, you hand in the completed transfer form and get a due date. On that date the buyer and seller both appear with original CNICs. The officer photographs them and takes signatures and thumb impressions. The deputy director is told at least two days ahead.

1. Submit the completed transfer application form at One Window Operation.
2. Get a due date from the admitting officer.
3. Both parties appear on that date with original CNICs.
4. The officer takes photographs, signatures and thumb impressions.
5. The file goes to accounts, and you pay the fee by draft.

Plan the date with both parties first. The page says both must appear, so one person alone cannot complete this step.

A same-day transfer letter costs Rs 10,000 more

For a same-day letter, CDA wants the full file at the counter before 10 am and an extra Rs 10,000. If the papers are acceptable, the case is admitted before noon. The letter is ready at the One Window counter between 2 pm and 3 pm.

A special messenger carries the file to the right Estate Management directorate, where the deputy director approves it. If you do not collect the letter that afternoon, CDA dispatches it the next day. CDA says "conditions apply" and does not list them, so call first.

The same-day option helps most when a seller is flying out or a bank is waiting on the title. It does not skip any required document. If your property tax clearance or Building Control NOC is missing, the extra fee cannot fix that. The steps in the guide on checking CDA dues before a sale are worth finishing first.

Co-owners and delivery follow separate rules

When a plot has several owners, each can ask for a separate transfer letter. If one co-owner sells a share, all the others must surrender their original letters so CDA can issue revised ones. Letters go out by registered post or are handed over after identification.

CDA also dispatches documents by courier on request, with charges. It does not state the courier charge. Title documents include the allotment letter, transfer letter, sub-division letter and certified copy.

If your allotment letter is lost, fix that before you apply. The steps are in the page on replacing a lost CDA allotment letter. And if the owner has died, the route is different and is covered under transfer to legal heirs.

Common questions

How much is the CDA transfer fee for a residential plot?

CDA lists Rs 250 per square yard for residential plots and Rs 150 per square yard in model villages.

What is the family transfer fee at CDA?

CDA lists Rs 5,000 for residential and Rs 10,000 for commercial family transfers. Its FAQ page mentions Rs 3,000 or Rs 5,000 for a gift, as applicable.

How much extra is a same-day transfer letter?

CDA charges an extra Rs 10,000 on top of the standard charges.

What is the cut-off time for a same-day transfer?

You must submit the full application before 10 am. The letter is ready at the counter between 2 pm and 3 pm.

Do both buyer and seller need to appear?

Yes. Both appear with original CNICs on the due date, and the officer takes photographs, signatures and thumb impressions.

Is the transfer fee all I pay?

No. Property tax clearance, other NOCs and capital value tax can apply, and CDA lists those separately.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the CDA procedures page and frequently asked questions page. Both are undated. We did not call CDA or test a same-day transfer, and the "conditions apply" note is not explained there.