How to Apply for or Renew a NICOP Online on the NADRA PakID App
Overseas Pakistanis can apply for, renew or reprint a NICOP on the NADRA PakID app. See documents, USD 39 or 20 fees, the 31 day timeline and the renewal rule.
An overseas Pakistani can apply for a new NICOP, renew one or reprint a lost one on NADRA's PakID app. Pick "New NICOP", "Renew NICOP" or "Reprint NICOP", upload your documents and pay online. NADRA's fee page lists USD 39 in Zone A and USD 20 in Zone B for the normal 31 day track.
Most overseas Pakistanis still think a NICOP means a trip to the embassy counter. NADRA's own pages now send you to the PakID app first. A visit to a NADRA registration centre is needed only if the app asks for it.
We read NADRA's NICOP pages, its overseas services page and its fee structure on 7 October 2026. Every fee and document below comes from those pages. We did not submit an application ourselves, so we describe the steps as NADRA lists them.
You apply for a NICOP in the PakID app
NADRA lists the same flow for all three services. Download the PakID app, create an account, choose your service, fill in your details and upload your documents. Biometric checks and your photograph may need a visit to a NADRA registration centre. You track the application in the app.
- Download PakID from Google Play or the App Store. The listing name is Pak Identity, and the publisher should read NADRA.
- Create your account or sign in.
- Select "New NICOP", "Renew NICOP" or "Reprint NICOP".
- Fill in your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport or residence document.
- Upload the required documents.
- Visit a NADRA registration centre only if the app says so.
- Pay the fee and keep the tracking number the app gives you.
NADRA says the app also takes payment by JazzCash, EasyPaisa, e-Sahulat, credit or debit card and Raast. Fees are charged in rupees after currency conversion, and the timeline starts only after you pay.
Who can get a NICOP
NADRA issues the NICOP to Pakistani citizens who live abroad. That includes dual nationals of a country Pakistan recognises, people who plan to stay abroad for a long time, and children of Pakistani citizens who were born abroad and can be registered as Pakistani.
A NICOP is not for a foreigner of Pakistani origin. That person needs a Pakistan Origin Card, which we explain in our guide on NICOP and POC for overseas Pakistanis.
Documents for a new NICOP, a renewal and a reprint
A new NICOP needs the most paper. A renewal or a reprint needs only your NICOP number and one proof of where you live. NADRA lets you use a passport, a residence permit, a travel document or a signed "Undertaking A" attested by a Pakistani embassy or mission.
| Service | What NADRA asks for |
|---|---|
| New NICOP | Parent's or blood relative's ID card number, a birth certificate or citizenship certificate, a passport or residence permit, and a verification of your form by an ID holder if you apply from abroad |
| Renew NICOP | Your NICOP number, and a passport, residence permit, travel document or attested Undertaking A |
| Reprint NICOP | The same two items as a renewal. NADRA says it is for a card that is lost, stolen or damaged |
If you are born abroad, NADRA accepts a foreign birth certificate or the S1 form issued by a Pakistani embassy. Someone with no blood relative on record can use a biometric witness and an "Undertaking B" instead. Both forms are on NADRA's NICOP page.
NICOP fees in Zone A and Zone B
NADRA prices a NICOP in US dollars by zone. Zone A is the USA and Europe. Zone B is the Middle East and Africa. New, renewal, modification and duplicate cards cost the same within each zone, and the fee rises as you ask for a faster track.
| Track | Zone A (USA, Europe) | Zone B (Middle East, Africa) | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | USD 39 | USD 20 | 31 |
| Urgent | USD 57 | USD 30 | 23 |
| Executive | USD 75 | USD 40 | 9 |
One line on NADRA's page looks like a typing mistake. A Zone B duplicate on the executive track shows USD 40 in one table and USD 140 in the next. Every other Zone B executive fee is USD 40, so check the amount in the app before you pay.
NADRA's page names only these two zones. If your country is somewhere else, such as Australia or Canada, the app shows your zone and fee. Delivery by post abroad is charged separately and varies by country.
Renew before the card expires
NADRA's NICOP page points to Rule 12 of the NADRA (NIC) Rules, 2002. It says a card holder must apply for renewal no later than one month after the card expires. An adult NICOP is valid for 10 years. A child's card is valid for 10 years, or until age 18 for a child under 14.
The normal track takes 31 days after payment, so do not wait until the month of your flight. A lapsed card can stop you boarding a flight to Pakistan, as we explain in expired NICOP and boarding. Use the executive track at 9 days only if your date is close.
How to track your NICOP and get it delivered
Open the app and look at the status of your application. NADRA lists tracking as part of the PakID service. Our guide to NADRA application tracking covers the SMS route. A lost card follows the same steps, and we cover them in reprinting a lost CNIC on PakID.
Updating a non-printable detail on a NICOP from the app costs USD 5 and takes 2 days, according to NADRA's fee page. NADRA also lists a grievance link for overseas Pakistanis on the ombudsman's website. Use it if your application stalls with no answer.
Common questions
Can I apply for a NICOP online from abroad?
Yes. NADRA's NICOP page lists the PakID app for new, renewal and reprint applications. Biometrics or a photo may still need a visit to a NADRA centre.
How much does a NICOP cost?
USD 39 in Zone A and USD 20 in Zone B on the normal 31 day track. Urgent is USD 57 or USD 30 and executive is USD 75 or USD 40.
What documents do I need to renew a NICOP?
Your NICOP number, and a passport, residence permit, travel document or an attested Undertaking A.
How long is a NICOP valid?
NADRA lists 10 years for an adult. A child under 14 gets 10 years or until age 18, whichever comes first.
How late can I renew an expired NICOP?
NADRA's page says no later than one month after expiry, citing Rule 12. The page says nothing about the rules after that, so ask NADRA before you assume you can still renew.
Is a NICOP the same as a Pakistan Origin Card?
No. The NICOP is for Pakistani citizens abroad. The POC is for foreign nationals of Pakistani origin.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 7 October 2026. We read NADRA's NICOP pages for new, renewal and reprint, its fee structure and its overseas services page. We did not file an application, and the app screens were not available to us, so the steps follow NADRA's description.
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.
