Get an FBISE Exam Fee Refund: 90 Per Cent in Listed Cases, Claim Within One Year
FBISE exam fee refund rules: which cases get 90 per cent back, when a death or board error gets 100 per cent, the Rs 500 minimum and how to claim in a year.
Short answer: FBISE does not refund an exam fee in most cases. The rules allow a refund of 90 per cent in a few cases, such as an admission form rejected for ineligibility. Death of a candidate gets 100 per cent. A claim must be made within one year of paying, and amounts under Rs 500 are not refunded.
A parent in Islamabad paid the HSSC exam fee for a son who then fell ill and missed the whole examination. Can the money come back? The Federal Board says no in the general case. But its rules list the exceptions in writing, and a few of them cover common mistakes such as paying twice or paying for a form that was never sent.
We read rule 1.6 of the FBISE General Rules for Examination on 13 October 2026, and the board's fee challan page for the current fee amounts. This guide explains which cases qualify and how much comes back. It covers the Federal Board only. Other boards have their own refund rules.
The general rule is that no exam fee is refunded
Rule 1.6 says an examination fee, once paid, is not refunded and cannot be moved to a later exam, even if the candidate does not turn up. The refund cases that follow are exceptions, each with its own percentage.
Exam fees on the challan page are Rs 2,700 for SSC and Rs 3,000 for HSSC in Pakistan, and 120 and 130 US dollars abroad. A refund of 90 per cent of Rs 3,000 is Rs 2,700. Always compare with the amount you paid.
| Case | Refund |
|---|---|
| Name sent, attendance short, name withdrawn 30 days before the exam | 90 per cent |
| Candidate declared ineligible, form rejected | 90 per cent |
| Fee paid but admission form never sent, exam not taken | 90 per cent |
| Declared pass on recounting or a result correction | 90 per cent |
| Candidate died before the exam | 100 per cent, to the legal heirs |
| Fee paid in excess of the amount due | The extra amount |
Short attendance and rejected forms get 90 per cent back
If a school sent a student's name but later the attendance was found short, the name can be withdrawn at least 30 days before the exam starts. The fee is then refunded at 90 per cent. A rejected admission form for an ineligible candidate gets the same.
The 30 day condition is the one most families miss. A school that tells the board on day 20 before the exam has missed the window. Ask the school office to confirm the date in writing, not on the phone.
A private candidate who pays the fee but does not submit the admission form, and so does not sit the exam, is also entitled to 90 per cent. For private candidates the refund goes to the parent, guardian or candidate, as the case may be.
Some mistakes are refunded in full or at cost
A candidate who dies before the exam gets a 100 per cent refund, paid to the legal heirs right away. An amount paid in excess of the fee and late fee due is refunded. So is money paid by mistake into the board's account.
Two further rules protect candidates when the board is at fault. If the board is responsible for a discrepancy, the fee is refunded with no service charge deducted. And if no roll number slip is issued, the admission fee can be refunded after the exam starts.
The rule also covers service fees. A fee can be refunded when the service the depositor paid for was never used. The refund is usually reduced by a 10 per cent service charge, except in the death case and the board's own error.
Claim within one year and expect a 10 per cent deduction
A claim must be made within one year after the fee is deposited. No claim is entertained after that. The fee is refunded after the concerned section and the accounts branch check it, and the Secretary of FBISE is the sanctioning authority.
- Find the paid challan and the receipt.
- Write an application to the Secretary, FBISE, stating the rule 1.6 case that applies.
- Attach the challan copy and any proof, such as the school letter or the rejection notice.
- Submit it to the board office in Islamabad and keep a stamped copy.
- Follow up in office hours on 111 032473.
A deduction of 10 per cent is made on refund cases, except for a death and a board error. An amount below Rs 500 is not refunded at all. Wait for the board to reply in writing. If you want to see a school's wider rules on fees, read the page on how to complain about a private school fee in Islamabad.
Recounting turning a fail into a pass gives a refund
If a recounting or a result correction turns a student into a pass, 90 per cent of the exam fee is refunded. The recounting fee itself is refunded for any paper where the marks change. These are two different refunds.
Check the rules for the recount in the page on rechecking an HSSC result in Punjab, and use it only as a comparison, because the Federal Board has its own form. For dates of the next exam, see FBISE second annual exam 2026. A student who wants a second chance can also look at the FBISE class 11 registration page for the fee list.
Common questions
Does FBISE refund the exam fee if my child misses the exam?
No, not in the general case. Rule 1.6 says the fee is not refunded or moved to a later exam, except in the listed cases such as ineligibility or a form never sent.
How much of the fee comes back?
Usually 90 per cent, because a 10 per cent service charge is deducted. A death before the exam gets 100 per cent, and so does a board error.
How long do I have to claim?
You have one year from the day the fee was deposited. After that, no claim is entertained.
Is a very small amount refunded?
No. An amount under Rs 500 is not refunded.
Who approves a refund?
The Secretary of FBISE sanctions all refund cases, after the concerned section and the accounts branch verify them.
Can I get a refund if I paid twice?
Yes. An amount paid in excess of the amount due, or paid into the board's account by mistake, is refunded.
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 rule 1.6 of the FBISE General Rules for Examination, the board's fee challan page and the board's home page for the helpline. We did not file a refund claim, and we do not know how long the board takes to pay one.
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.
