Check When Your CNIC, Juvenile Card or CRC Expires: NADRA's Validity Table
A CNIC lasts 10 years, a Juvenile Card ends at 10 and 18, a CRC at 3, 10 or 18. See NADRA's full validity table and renewal fees, then plan your renewal early.
An adult CNIC is valid for 10 years. A child's Juvenile Card is valid until the child turns 10 and then 18, and a CRC runs out at age 3, 10 or 18. NADRA publishes the full validity table, and a Pakistan Origin Card lasts 5 or 7 years.
That table matters on the day a bank, a school or a passport office says "your card has expired". If you already know the date, you can renew early and skip a rushed trip.
We read NADRA's fee structure page at nadra.gov.pk on 8 October 2026. The validity periods and renewal fees below come from that page.
Adult cards are valid for 10 years
NADRA lists the validity of a CNIC, Smart CNIC or NICOP for adults as 10 years. A Smart NICOP for minors is also 10 years. If your card shows an issue date, add 10 years to find the end date.
| Card | Validity listed by NADRA |
|---|---|
| CNIC, Smart CNIC or NICOP for adults | 10 years |
| Smart NICOP for minors | 10 years |
| Smart NICOP for minors above 14 | 10 years |
| Smart NICOP for minors below 14 | 10 years or 18 years, whichever comes first |
| Juvenile Card | Until the child reaches 10 and 18 |
| CRC | Until the child reaches 3, 10 or 18 |
| Smart POC (ex-Pakistani, parents or FPO family based) | 7 years |
| Smart POC (spouse based) | 5 years |
Check the printed expiry date on your own card as well. This table gives the rule. The card in your hand is the final word.
Children's cards expire on birthdays, not dates
A Juvenile Card does not run for a fixed number of years. It lapses when the child reaches age 10 and again at 18. A CRC lapses at 3, 10 or 18. Which one applies depends on the age band the child was registered in.
So a card issued when a child was 7 does not give 10 years. It ends at the child's tenth birthday. Do not assume a child's card gives the 10 years an adult card does.
Mark the birthday in your calendar. Our guide to applying for a NADRA Juvenile Card shows the application. The first adult CNIC comes at 18, and that step starts with a B-form, covered in NADRA B-Form requirements.
Renewal fees by speed
A normal CNIC renewal is Rs 400 in 15 days. Urgent is Rs 1,150 in 12 days. Executive is Rs 2,150 in 6 days. A Smart NIC renewal is Rs 750 in 31 days, Rs 1,500 in 23 days or Rs 2,500 in 9 days.
| Renewal | Normal | Urgent | Executive |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNIC | Rs 400, 15 days | Rs 1,150, 12 days | Rs 2,150, 6 days |
| Smart NIC | Rs 750, 31 days | Rs 1,500, 23 days | Rs 2,500, 9 days |
For children, the fee table lists a CRC at Rs 50 in 7 days normal and Rs 500 in 1 day executive. The Family Registration Certificate is listed at Rs 1,000 for one family type and Rs 2,000 for both, on the executive tier only.
The clock starts after the fee is paid. Our guide to NADRA fees for every document lists the rest, and the full renewal process is in renewing an expired CNIC.
Renew before the card lapses
NADRA's page does not tell you how early you may renew. We would not wait for the last week. A Smart NIC at the normal tier takes 31 days, so a card that expires in three weeks will lapse before the new one arrives.
- Read the expiry date on your card, or add 10 years to the issue date.
- For a child, note the 3rd, 10th or 18th birthday that applies to the card type.
- Count back the processing time of the tier you plan to use.
- Apply on the PakID app or at a registration centre with that margin.
- Pay the fee, keep the receipt and follow the tracking ID.
The consequences of an expired card show up fast with banks. Our guide to unblocking a bank account blocked for an expired CNIC shows how that goes.
Overseas cards run on different fees
NICOP and POC fees are in US dollars, in two zones. Zone A (USA and Europe) charges USD 39 for a normal Smart NICOP renewal and Zone B (Middle East and Africa) charges USD 20. A normal Smart POC renewal is USD 150.
NADRA says fees are charged in rupees after currency conversion. Overseas normal timelines are 31 days. Our guide to NICOP and POC for overseas Pakistanis explains which card you hold.
Common questions
How long is a CNIC valid in Pakistan?
10 years for adults, according to NADRA's validity table.
When does a Juvenile Card expire?
When the child reaches age 10 and again at 18, according to the same table.
When does a CRC expire?
When the child reaches 3, 10 or 18, depending on the CRC.
How long does a Pakistan Origin Card last?
7 years for ex-Pakistani, parents based and FPO family based cards, and 5 years for spouse based cards.
How much does a CNIC renewal cost?
Rs 400 normal, Rs 1,150 urgent and Rs 2,150 executive, according to NADRA's fee page.
Can I renew before the expiry date?
NADRA's page does not state a limit. Ask at the centre or on the PakID app.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 8 October 2026. The validity periods and renewal fees are on the fee structure page of the National Database and Registration Authority, nadra.gov.pk/feeStructure. We did not find how early renewal is allowed, or what happens on the day a child's card lapses, on that page. Check the printed expiry date on the card in your hand, and confirm any fee on the NADRA page before you pay.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
