Check How a Foreign Husband of a Pakistani Woman Can Get Pakistan Citizenship: Not by Marriage, Only Under Section 9 or 20

Short answer: A foreign man who marries a Pakistani woman cannot get Pakistan citizenship on the basis of marriage. The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI&P) says he may apply under Section 9 or Section 20 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 instead. Section 9 needs a naturalisation certificate and Form E. Section 20 is for Commonwealth citizens who transfer Rs 5 million.

A couple marries, the husband has a foreign passport, and a friend says "he gets a CNIC after the nikah". That is wrong. The marriage route in Pakistan law is written for a foreign wife of a Pakistani man. A foreign husband has to use other doors, and each has its own paperwork.

We read the DGI&P citizenship, process and FAQ pages on 13 October 2026. The pages show last-modified dates in October 2023, so check the fee and form with DGI&P before you pay or file anything.

The marriage route is written for foreign wives

DGI&P's own FAQ asks whether a foreign man married to a Pakistani woman can get citizenship. The answer is that he cannot get it on a marriage basis. Section 10(2) of the 1951 Act, read with the Citizenship Rules, 1952, covers foreign ladies married to Pakistani nationals.

That difference is one of the most misunderstood points in family immigration. A foreign wife of a Pakistani husband applies on Form F. Her route is explained in the guide to how a foreign wife gets Pakistani citizenship on Form F.

A foreign husband does not get a shorter wait or a lower fee because of the marriage. He is treated as any other foreigner who applies under the remaining sections.

Two sections remain open: Section 9 and Section 20

DGI&P names two options for the foreign husband. Section 9 applies to people who hold a naturalisation certificate issued under the Naturalization Act, 1926. Section 20 applies to Commonwealth citizens who transfer foreign exchange worth Rs 5 million to Pakistan through normal banking channels.

These are the fees DGI&P lists on its citizenship page, which carries a 2023 date. Confirm them at the office.

What the Section 9 route asks for

DGI&P lists Form E, attested by a notary public or magistrate, in quadruplicate. It also lists the naturalisation certificate, proof of the oath of allegiance taken within the period set by Section 6 of the 1926 Act, and a Rs 400 fee.

Further papers are an affidavit on Rs 20 stamp paper, 10 colour photographs with a light blue background (4 x 4.5 cm, one attested on the front and one on the back), and photocopies of the passport with a statement showing five years of stay in Pakistan.

The DGI&P pages we read do not explain how a person first obtains the naturalisation certificate. That step needs a direct question to DGI&P, and we are not able to describe it.

What the Section 20 route asks for

A Commonwealth citizen applies on Form R, attested by the mission, in quadruplicate. DGI&P lists ten photographs, the original bank proceeds certificate for the Rs 5 million transfer, a passport photocopy, and the fee. The full steps are in the guide to getting Pakistan citizenship as a Commonwealth citizen with Rs 5 million.

After the State Bank of Pakistan confirms the foreign exchange, an immigrant visa is issued. The citizenship certificate is issued after arrival in Pakistan, subject to security clearance and completion of formalities.

Waiting time, status and how to reach DGI&P

DGI&P's FAQ says a case for grant of nationality takes less than two months after clearance by the relevant security agencies. It adds that applicants should contact the office by email after three months of filing to ask about the status.

The email address on its FAQ is immigration@dgip.gov.pk. The DGI&P helpline is 051-111-344-777, Monday to Friday. While the case is pending, its process page advises applicants to keep the foreign passport and visa or extension valid until the citizenship certificate arrives. For stay options, see the guide to the family visit visa for foreign spouses.

1. Decide which route fits: Section 9 or Section 20.
2. Download the form from the DGI&P immigration downloads page.
3. Collect the attested documents, photographs and stamp-paper affidavit.
4. Submit the application and keep the receipt.
5. Keep the passport and visa valid until the certificate is issued.

Common questions

Can my foreign husband get a Pakistani CNIC after marriage?

Not on the basis of marriage alone. DGI&P says a foreign man married to a Pakistani woman cannot get citizenship on a marriage basis. He needs another route.

Why can a foreign wife apply but a foreign husband cannot?

The 1951 Act's marriage provision, Section 10(2), is written for foreign ladies married to Pakistani nationals. DGI&P's FAQ confirms that a foreign male cannot use it.

Which sections can my husband use?

Section 9, with a naturalisation certificate and Form E, or Section 20, for a Commonwealth citizen transferring Rs 5 million on Form R.

How long does a case take?

DGI&P says less than two months after clearance by the relevant security agencies. Ask for status by email after three months.

Does a Pakistani wife's CNIC help the application?

The pages we read do not list it as a requirement for these two routes. Ask DGI&P what supporting papers it wants.

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 DGI&P's Grant of Pakistan Citizenship page (last modified 4 October 2023), its immigration FAQs (last modified 18 October 2023) and its application process page. We did not read the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 text itself for this page, and we could not confirm current fees. We also could not confirm how a naturalisation certificate is first issued.