How to Apply for NICOP (Overseas Pakistan Card)

NICOP — National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis — is issued to Pakistani nationals living abroad. It serves as both an identity document and a travel facilitation card that allows visa-free or simplified entry to Pakistan. NICOP holders can also exercise voting rights, open bank accounts, and access government services in Pakistan without needing a local CNIC.

You need a NICOP if you're a Pakistani national residing abroad with a valid foreign immigration status (work visa, permanent residency, or citizenship of another country while retaining Pakistani nationality). If you're temporarily abroad on a visit visa, your regular CNIC is sufficient.

NICOP applications from abroad are submitted through id.nadra.gov.pk — NADRA's online identity services portal. Create an account, select "NICOP Application," and fill in your personal details, Pakistani CNIC number, foreign address, and passport information. Upload scanned copies of your Pakistani CNIC, foreign passport/residency document, and two passport-size photos.

NICOP applications from within Pakistan (for someone about to relocate abroad) are handled at any NADRA Facilitation Centre — same documents, in-person biometric capture.

NICOP fees are higher than CNIC as the card is produced to international standards with additional security features. As of 2026:

• Normal (30 days): approx. US$35–50 or equivalent PKR
• Urgent (15 days): approx. US$65–75

Verify current fees at nadra.gov.pk as they're periodically revised. Payment from abroad is accepted via international credit/debit card on the portal. NICOP can be delivered to a foreign address via courier, or collected at the nearest Pakistan Embassy/High Commission.

Once received, your NICOP allows you to enter Pakistan without a visa (for Pakistani nationals — NICOP isn't a foreign passport). It's accepted at immigration as a travel document alongside your foreign passport. In Pakistan, use the NICOP number for all identity purposes where your CNIC would otherwise be required — bank accounts, property registration, voting, and government scheme applications.

If you also hold a current CNIC and a NICOP, both remain valid — they have the same 13-digit base number. Use whichever is more convenient for the specific transaction.