Landing Permit for an Expired NICOP or POC in Pakistan: FIA Says Free, 72 Hours

FIA's Immigration page says an overseas Pakistani whose NICOP or POC has expired, or is lost, can travel to Pakistan and get a landing permit free of cost. The permit is valid for 72 hours only. You show the expired card, or a B-form, to FIA Immigration staff. The page is undated, and airlines abroad may not let you board without a valid card, so ask before you buy a ticket.

We read the FIA Immigration Wing page at fia.gov.pk on 14 October 2026. The wording is short, so this article sets out exactly what it says, what it leaves out, and how it sits next to the airline check that began in July.

FIA says a landing permit is free and lasts 72 hours

The FIA page says overseas Pakistanis with an expired or lost NICOP or POC can still travel. They can get a renewal slip from NADRA, or fly and get a landing permit free of cost. The permit covers 72 hours only.

NICOP is the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis. POC is the Pakistan Origin Card, for foreign nationals of Pakistani origin. If you are not sure which one you hold, the guide on NICOP and POC for overseas Pakistanis explains the difference.

The page names two routes. The first is a renewal slip from a NADRA office, which you carry in place of the new card. The second is the landing permit, which FIA Immigration staff give you on arrival. The page says you show the expired NICOP or POC, or a "B" form, to the immigration staff.

The page lists what you show and what you pay

You show the expired NICOP or POC, or a B-form, to FIA Immigration staff. The page says the permit costs nothing. It does not list any other fee, form or office, so the table below shows only what the page states.

The page does not say where in the airport the permit is issued, how long it takes, or what happens when the 72 hours end. It also does not say whether a lost card needs a police report. We did not find those details on any official page, so we do not state them.

Airlines abroad now check your NICOP before boarding

Since 17 July 2026, reports say airlines have been told to check that a NICOP is valid before they board a flight to Pakistan. An expired card can therefore stop you at the check-in desk abroad, long before you reach FIA staff in Pakistan.

We covered that rule in the report on expired NICOPs and boarding. A government spokesperson later said that holders of a valid NICOP can still travel on their foreign passport. Neither statement mentions the landing permit.

That leaves a gap we cannot close. The FIA page offers a permit for an expired card. The airline check, as reported, refuses an expired card at the gate. We found no official note that joins the two. So the permit may be useful only if the airline lets you on the plane. Do not rely on it until someone in authority tells you so in writing.

Ask three people before you buy a ticket

Before you pay for a flight with an expired card, ask your airline, the Pakistani mission in your country, and NADRA. Get each answer in writing. A reply by email is enough. It costs you nothing, and a refused boarding costs you the fare.

1. Write to the airline and ask if it will board you to Pakistan with an expired NICOP or POC and a foreign passport.
2. Write to the Pakistani embassy or consulate and ask if the FIA landing permit is still given at the airport you will land in.
3. Check the expiry date printed on your card, and compare it to your travel dates.
4. If the card has expired, ask NADRA about a renewal slip, or start the renewal online.
5. Keep every reply with you, printed, when you fly.

Renewal is the safer route. The steps to apply for or renew a NICOP online on the PakID app are in a separate guide. Do it before you book, because a new card takes time to arrive.

Know what 72 hours means for your plans

A 72 hour permit is a short bridge, not a stay. The page does not say you can extend it, so treat three days as the limit and plan your NADRA visit for the first day after you land.

Three days is enough to reach a NADRA centre and start a renewal. It is not enough for a long family visit. If your card is lost rather than expired, expect the replacement to take longer. We did not find a processing time for either case on an official page, so we do not give one.

If something goes wrong at the airport, FIA runs a desk for grievances. For other airport trouble, such as a verbal offload order, the report on the FIA standing order on offloading lists what you can ask for in writing.

Common questions about the landing permit

Is the landing permit free?

Yes, according to the FIA Immigration page. It says overseas Pakistanis can get a landing permit free of cost.

How long does the landing permit last?

The page says 72 hours only. It does not mention an extension, so plan on three days.

Does it work for a POC holder as well as a NICOP holder?

The page names both the NICOP and the POC. It says the expired card or a B-form is shown to FIA Immigration staff.

Will my airline let me board with an expired NICOP?

We cannot say. Reports say airlines were told to check NICOP validity from 17 July 2026. Ask your airline in writing before you pay.

What if I only have a B-form?

The page lists a B-form among the papers you can show to FIA Immigration staff. It does not explain who qualifies, so ask the Pakistani mission first.

Where is the permit issued?

The page names FIA Immigration staff but gives no airport or counter. Ask at the immigration desk when you land.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked 14 October 2026. The landing permit wording comes from the FIA Immigration Wing page at fia.gov.pk, which carries no date. The airline check is reported, not read in an official order, and we did not find the order itself. NADRA's own services are listed at id.nadra.gov.pk. We did not test the permit in person. Check with FIA or your mission before you travel.