How a Transgender Person Registers for a CNIC With NADRA in Pakistan

Short answer: A transgender person in Pakistan registers with NADRA like any other adult, at a NADRA Registration Centre or on the PakID app. NADRA says first-time registration is free, that it follows the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, and that it has a special policy for those with unknown parentage. Helpline: 1777.

Many transgender people in Pakistan reach adulthood without any papers. No papers means no bank account, no SIM in their own name, no school record and no way to claim welfare help. A CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card) is the first step to all of that.

We read NADRA's Inclusive Registration page and its CNIC page on 14 October 2026. This article repeats what those pages say. NADRA does not publish a separate step by step page for transgender applicants, so where the pages are silent we say so.

NADRA registers transgender persons under the 2018 Act

NADRA's Inclusive Registration page lists transgender persons among the groups it wants to bring into the national identity system. It says registration is performed under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, and that the first registration carries no fee.

The same page names women, persons with disabilities, religious minorities and orphans as other groups. The aim, in NADRA's words, is that no citizen is left out of services such as healthcare, education, financial services and social protection.

This matters because a card in your own name is also your route to government help. Once you hold a CNIC you can apply for schemes that need one, such as Bait-ul-Mal general financial assistance, subject to each scheme's own rules.

Three situations decide which documents you bring

Your documents depend on your family situation. If a parent or blood relative holds a CNIC, they can verify you. If you have no blood relative, a guru registered with the social welfare department can help. If your parents are unknown, NADRA says a special policy applies.

NADRA's CNIC page gives the general rule for a first adult card. You need the identity card number of a parent or blood relative, a verified computerised birth certificate from the Union Council, municipal committee or cantonment, and biometric verification of that parent or relative.

We could not find the full text of the unknown parentage policy on NADRA's public pages. Ask for it by name at the centre, and quote the Inclusive Registration page if staff are unsure.

Follow these steps to apply for the first card

Gather your papers, then apply at a NADRA Registration Centre or start on the PakID app. The app lets you fill in details and upload documents, but NADRA says biometrics and the photograph may still need a visit to a centre.

1. Find out who can vouch for you: a parent, a blood relative, or a registered guru's record.
2. Get your birth certificate from your Union Council or municipal office. If you do not have one, ask the centre what NADRA accepts instead.
3. Download the PakID app, create an account and choose "New CNIC", or go straight to your nearest centre.
4. Bring the person who will give biometric verification. Book a slot if you want to avoid a long wait, using NADRA's online appointment booking.
5. Give your fingerprints and photograph, and ask for your tracking number.

If staff treat you badly, you can complain to NADRA through its helpline and portal.

If you cannot travel or feel unsafe, ask about other routes

NADRA runs mobile registration vans and a help line for people who cannot reach a centre. The Inclusive Registration page does not promise a van for every community, so call 1777 first and ask if a van or a special arrangement is available in your area.

We covered how the vans work in our note on NADRA mobile registration vans. NADRA's own page says the standard NADRA fee is charged on vans, with no extra service charge.

If you are an orphan or were raised in a shelter, the orphan route may also apply to you. NADRA registers orphans living in orphanages without a fee, and our guide to registering an orphan with NADRA explains the paper trail.

Common questions

Is the first CNIC really free for a transgender person?

NADRA's Inclusive Registration page says first-time registration is without fee and ID documents are issued free of cost the first time. Later reprints and changes carry the normal fee.

Which law does NADRA follow?

NADRA says transgender registration is performed under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018.

What if I have no parents or relatives?

NADRA says it has a special policy for transgender persons with unknown parentage. It also keeps a guru database from social welfare departments. Call 1777 to ask which route fits you.

Can I apply on my phone?

You can start on the PakID app and upload documents. NADRA says biometric verification and the photograph may still need a visit to a registration centre.

Whom do I call if my application is stuck?

Call NADRA's helpline 1777. You can also write to the complaints address listed on NADRA's website.

How we verified this

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

Last checked on 14 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read NADRA's Inclusive Registration page and NADRA's CNIC page. We did not visit a centre, so we cannot say how long a transgender application takes in practice, which gender entry the card shows, or the exact steps of the unknown parentage policy. Check those with NADRA before you travel.