Check If NAVTTC Skills of Tomorrow Is Open: Free AI and Freelancing Courses for Ages 18 to 35 in Pakistan
NAVTTC Skills of Tomorrow offers 6 free courses in AI, SEO and freelancing for ages 18 to 35. Its page says intake closed 15 July. See who can apply and how.
NAVTTC's Skills of Tomorrow programme offers free 3 month courses in AI, Power BI, ecommerce, freelancing, graphic design and SEO to Pakistanis aged 18 to 35 with at least Matric. The programme's own page says applications closed on 15 July 2026 and the next intake is "to be announced". Other NAVTTC pages still label it open. Apply only through the NSIS portal at nsis.navttc.gov.pk.
That mismatch is the first thing to know. On 14 October 2026 we read three NAVTTC pages and they did not agree. This guide shows what each says, who can apply, the six courses and the steps, so you can act the day a real form opens.
NAVTTC's pages disagree on whether it is open
Treat Skills of Tomorrow as closed until the NSIS portal shows a live form. NAVTTC's programme page says applications closed on 15 July 2026. Its student page and programmes list still say "open". A closed form cannot be filled, so the portal is the final check.
The programme page carries a "Closed" banner and the line "Applications for this cycle are closed. The next intake will be announced here." The student page and the programmes list carry an "Open" tag and an "Apply Now" button. We cannot see inside the portal without an account, so we cannot tell you which is right.
A practical test costs nothing. Open the NSIS portal, sign in with your CNIC details and look for a Skills of Tomorrow form. If you cannot find one, ask NAVTTC on its helpline, 0800-88866, which it lists on its site.
You need to be 18 to 35 with Matric and a CNIC
NAVTTC lists six conditions. You must be 18 to 35 at the time of applying, hold Matric or equivalent, be a Pakistani with a valid CNIC, be free for full-time training, and be medically fit. Unemployed youth get preference in selection.
| Condition | What NAVTTC says |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 35 on the day you apply |
| Education | Matric (10th grade) or equivalent, at least |
| Citizenship | Pakistani with a valid CNIC |
| Work status | Unemployed youth preferred |
| Time | Full-time training, 3 to 6 months by course |
| Health | Medically fit for training |
| Reserved seats | 30 per cent for women, 5 per cent for persons with disabilities |
"Full-time" matters. If you hold a job, you must be able to leave it for the length of the course. NAVTTC does not say it offers evening batches for this programme.
Six free courses are listed
The programme page lists six courses, all free. Each runs about 3 months, which the page also writes as 13 weeks. They are AI for Everyone, AI-powered ecommerce, an AI financial analyst course on Power BI, AI-integrated digital marketing and SEO, freelancing, and graphic design.
- AI for Everyone: AI tools, prompt writing and automation for students, freelancers and professionals. 3 months.
- AI-Powered eCommerce Mastery: Shopify, Daraz, Etsy, eBay and WhatsApp selling. 13 weeks.
- Certified AI Financial Analyst with Power BI 2026: financial statements, dashboards and reports. 13 weeks.
- Digital Marketing and SEO (AI-Integrated): websites, content, ads and analytics for the Pakistani market. 13 weeks.
- Earning Money Through Freelancing: profiles, proposals, clients and international payments. 13 weeks.
- Graphic Design: Photoshop, Illustrator and UI/UX design. 3 months.
The student page counts "12 trades" for the programme, while the programme page counts six. We could not find a reason for the gap, so we list the six that the programme page names.
Applying has seven steps, and one is a test
NAVTTC shows a seven step path: check eligibility, choose a course, apply online, sit an NTS aptitude test, train for 3 to 6 months, get certified, then look for work on its NEXT job portal. The training is free. The aptitude test is part of selection.
- Check that you meet the age, education and CNIC conditions above.
- Pick one course that fits the work you want.
- Register on the NSIS portal and submit the application when a form is open.
- Sit the aptitude test run by NTS (the National Testing Service).
- Attend the full 3 to 6 month course.
- Pass the assessment to get the certificate. NAVTTC says it is NVQF recognised, with an international certificate as well.
- Create a profile on NEXT, NAVTTC's job portal, to look for work.
NAVTTC says it gives "guaranteed job placement support". Read that as help, not a job offer. Its own student FAQ says employment is subject to performance and market demand.
Other free courses are open to you while you wait
If the form is not open, other free routes exist. DigiSkills runs its own free online batches, and NAVTTC's Benazir Hunarmand programme targets ages 18 to 40 with free skills training. Each has its own rules and dates, so check them separately.
The steps to enrol in a free DigiSkills course show the next batch date. BISP's Benazir Hunarmand registration is the other route. Their rules differ from Skills of Tomorrow, so read each one.
Be careful with sites that charge for a "seat". NAVTTC says the training is free, and a fee asked by a stranger is a warning sign. See the signs in our note on fake online job offers.
Common questions about NAVTTC Skills of Tomorrow
Is Skills of Tomorrow open for applications right now?
Unclear. The programme page says it closed on 15 July 2026, while other NAVTTC pages say open. Check the NSIS portal for a live form before you spend time on documents.
Is the training really free?
Yes, according to NAVTTC. Its pages say the programme is 100 per cent free and that no fee is required. Do not pay anyone for a seat.
What age and education do I need?
You need to be 18 to 35 and hold at least Matric or an equivalent qualification. You also need a valid Pakistani CNIC.
Are there seats for women and disabled applicants?
Yes. NAVTTC reserves 30 per cent of seats for women and 5 per cent for persons with disabilities.
Where do I apply?
Apply through the NSIS portal at nsis.navttc.gov.pk, which NAVTTC links from its student page. Apply only from NAVTTC's own site.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 14 October 2026. Eligibility, courses, steps and the closing date come from NAVTTC's Skills of Tomorrow page, its student page and its programmes list. The pages disagree on whether intake is open, and we could not open the NSIS portal to settle it. The 795,275 youth target is NAVTTC's own figure for 2027 and we have not verified it. Check the portal before you apply.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
