How a Foreign Wife Gets Pakistani Citizenship on Form F: Documents, Fee and Wait
How a foreign wife of a Pakistani applies for citizenship on Form F: the five-year stay, Rs 200 fee, document list, where to file and how long DGI&P takes.
Short answer: A foreign woman married to a Pakistani man applies for Pakistani citizenship on Form F, under Section 10(2) of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951. She needs five years of total stay in Pakistan, the marriage certificate, affidavits from both spouses and a fee of Rs 200. The file goes to the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) in Islamabad or one of its zonal offices.
A visa has to be renewed. A Pakistan Origin Card has to be renewed. Citizenship does not. For a foreign wife who plans to live in Pakistan for good, that is the difference between paperwork every few years and paperwork once.
We read the DGI&P citizenship page, its immigration FAQ and its forms list on 11 October 2026. The two DGI&P pages disagree on two points, and we flag both below.
Marriage to a Pakistani man is a ground for citizenship, but only for wives
Section 10(2) of the Pakistan Citizenship Act applies to a foreign woman married to a Pakistani national. DGI&P's FAQ states that a foreign man married to a Pakistani woman cannot get citizenship on marriage. He can apply under Section 9 or Section 20 of the same Act.
Section 20 is the route for Commonwealth citizens who transfer Rs 5 million of foreign exchange to Pakistan through the State Bank. DGI&P describes that as a separate application on Form R, through the Pakistan mission abroad. Section 9 is for holders of a naturalization certificate under the Naturalization Act, 1926, whom DGI&P tells to apply after acquiring that certificate.
| Applicant | Route listed by DGI&P | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign wife of a Pakistani man | Section 10(2), marriage | F |
| Foreign husband of a Pakistani woman | Section 9 or 20, not marriage | Depends on the route |
| Commonwealth citizen transferring Rs 5 million | Section 20 | R |
| Minor child of a Pakistani citizen, under 21 | Section 11 | M |
Five years of stay and a Rs 200 fee are the core conditions
DGI&P asks for an affidavit with documentary proof that the wife has stayed in Pakistan for five years in aggregate. "In aggregate" means the total of her stays, so the years do not need to be unbroken. The government fee is Rs 200, paid by bank challan.
The page also says a Commonwealth citizen does not take the oath of allegiance, while any other nationality takes it before a first class magistrate. Two certificates from two different first class government officers must confirm the husband's national status, along with his date and place of birth and income.
That second requirement trips people up. The certificates come from officers, so start early. Do not leave them for the last week before submission.
Gather the documents before you touch the form
The list is long, and a single missing paper stops the file. Prepare originals and photocopies, and have the notary or magistrate attest the copies, except the photographs, which are attested in a set way.
- Form F, filled in four copies (quadruplicate).
- An affidavit from the wife on Rs 20 non-judicial stamp paper, giving the facts of the case, attested by a notary public or magistrate.
- A matching affidavit from the husband on Rs 20 stamp paper.
- An affidavit with proof of five years' aggregate stay in Pakistan.
- Photocopies of the relevant pages of her foreign passport and her residence permit or visa.
- A photocopy of the marriage certificate and of her domicile certificate if she is not a Commonwealth citizen.
- The husband's citizenship certificate or other proof of citizenship, and a photocopy of his valid national identity card.
- A list of close relatives living abroad.
- Photographs with a light blue background, size 4 by 4.5 cm.
- The Rs 200 bank challan and, for non-Commonwealth applicants, the oath of allegiance.
Two points need care. The DGI&P citizenship page asks for 25 colour photographs, while its FAQ lists ten pictures. Bring the larger number or ask the office, since the page and the FAQ cannot both be right. The FAQ also lists a Nikah-nama among the documents, so keep the original with you.
Attested marriage papers can be a problem if the marriage was registered abroad. See how a NADRA marriage certificate is obtained and, for a Nikah that was never registered, how Nikah registration works.
Where to file and what to expect after
DGI&P's page says the form can go to its Islamabad headquarters, to its zonal offices in Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar and Quetta, or to the Interior Ministry. The FAQ names Islamabad, the provincial home departments, and the Regional Passport Offices in the four provincial capitals.
After submission, security clearance comes first. DGI&P says that once the relevant agencies have cleared a case, it normally takes less than two months. Cases can take longer because the clearance stage is outside the applicant's control.
For status, DGI&P tells applicants to write to immigration@dgip.gov.pk after three months from filing, with the case details. The citizenship certificate is the end of the process. After that, the wife can apply to NADRA for a CNIC as a citizen, and the fees are on NADRA's fee list for each document.
What to use while the case is pending
A pending application is not a status. The wife still needs a valid visa or a Pakistan Origin Card until the certificate arrives. Letting the visa lapse during the wait adds overstay charges, so keep it current.
NADRA's published POC fees run from USD 150 for a normal-track new card, and it lists seven years' validity for parent-based or ex-Pakistani cards and five years for spouse-based cards. The article on the NICOP and Pakistan Origin Card for overseas Pakistanis covers eligibility.
If you are also thinking of the family visit visa for a foreign spouse, that has its own rules and is written up in our family visit visa guide.
Common questions
Which form does a foreign wife use to get Pakistani citizenship?
She uses Form F, the application for citizenship by a woman on marriage to a Pakistani national, under Section 10(2) of the Pakistan Citizenship Act.
Can a foreign husband of a Pakistani woman get citizenship?
Not on marriage. DGI&P says he can apply under Section 9 or Section 20 of the Citizenship Act instead.
How many years of stay are required?
Five years in aggregate, proved by an affidavit with documentary evidence. The years need not be consecutive.
How much is the government fee?
DGI&P lists Rs 200 for Form F, paid by bank challan. Stamp paper and notary costs are extra.
How long does the case take?
DGI&P says less than two months after the relevant agencies clear it. The clearance itself has no fixed time.
Where do I check the status?
Email immigration@dgip.gov.pk after three months, with your name, the case details and the date you filed.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 11 October 2026. We read the DGI&P citizenship page, its immigration FAQ, its forms list and NADRA's fee structure. We did not file an application. The photo count differs between DGI&P's page and FAQ, so confirm with the office before you submit.
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.
