If you search nicop apply online, the official route is NADRA’s PakID mobile app, listed as Pak Identity on Google Play and the App Store. NICOP is the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis. This guide covers who needs it, the documents, the official fees by region, and how delivery and tracking work, as of September 2026.
NICOP apply online in 3 steps
- Install PakID from the store links on nadra.gov.pk, create your account, and verify it with your fingerprints or face.
- Choose NICOP and the type of application: new, renewal, modification or reprint. Fill in each section and upload your documents.
- Submit and pay by debit or credit card once NADRA approves the application. Your card comes to your address by courier.
What NICOP is and who needs it
NADRA’s NICOP page says NICOP is issued under Section 12 of the NADRA Ordinance, 2000 to Pakistani citizens residing abroad. It is proof of your identity and nationality, and it allows visa-free entry into Pakistan.
According to NADRA, you can get a NICOP if you are:
- a Pakistani citizen living or working outside Pakistan
- a Pakistani citizen with dual nationality of a country Pakistan recognises
- a Pakistani citizen planning a long stay abroad
- a child of Pakistani citizens, born abroad, who can be registered as a Pakistani citizen
NADRA now issues the Smart NICOP, which has a chip. Its page also describes a newer NICOP with a QR code. It says new Teslin-based (older, non-chip) NICOPs are no longer issued. We found no official announcement that NICOP and CNIC are being merged into one card. NICOP remains a separate document on nadra.gov.pk.
What you can do in the PakID app
NADRA’s PakID FAQ lists these NICOP services in the app:
| Service | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Fresh (new) | You have never had a NICOP |
| Renewal | Your NICOP has expired |
| Modification | You need to change a detail, such as your address, marital status or name |
| Reprint | Your card is lost, stolen, damaged or unusable |
| Update of non-printable field | You need to update a record field that is not printed on the card |
For a Smart NICOP modification, the FAQ lists name, parents’ names, marital status, address, date of birth, place of birth, photograph, signature, country of stay, country of birth, mother language, adding a relative, qualification and contact details. Proof is needed for many of these.
NICOP documents required
For a new NICOP, NADRA asks for:
- the ID card numbers of your parents or blood relatives
- a birth certificate: a verified computerised one from a Union Council, municipal committee or cantonment, or for people born abroad a foreign detailed birth certificate or an S1 form from a Pakistani mission
- a Pakistani or foreign passport, residence permit or travel document
- biometric verification by a parent or blood relative, or, if you apply from abroad, verification of the form by any ID card holder
For renewal or reprint, you need your NICOP number and a passport, residence permit or travel document. If you already hold a B-Form (CRC), CNIC or old NICOP, enter that number. NADRA says an application without it is closed and you must apply again.
NADRA also says a NICOP can be processed with an expired Pakistani passport.
If you are renewing your passport too, our passport fee guide lists DGIP’s official fees and our passport tracking guide explains how DGIP sends status updates.
Step by step in the app
- Create your account with your own email and mobile number. NADRA allows one account per email address.
- Turn on location on your phone. The app needs it to log in.
- Verify your account with fingerprints through the phone camera. If they fail, the app offers a face check.
- Pick NICOP and fill in each section: application, personal, relative and address details, and card delivery information. You can give a foreign address in only one of the present or permanent address fields. The other must be in Pakistan.
- Upload documents and capture your photo. Children aged 10 or older also give fingerprints and a signature.
- Get attestation. A blood relative or spouse can verify your application on your phone, or in their own PakID account with your tracking ID and PIN.
- Pay after NADRA reviews the application. The processing time starts only after payment.
NICOP fee by zone
As of September 2026, NADRA’s fee structure page lists these Smart NICOP fees. They are the same for new, renewal, modification and reprint (duplicate).
| Zone | Normal (31 days) | Urgent (23 days) | Executive (9 days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone A (USA and Europe) | USD 39 | USD 57 | USD 75 |
| Zone B (Middle East and Africa) | USD 20 | USD 30 | USD 40 |
Points to note from the same page:
- The fee is charged in Pakistani rupees after currency conversion.
- Delivery abroad costs extra and varies from country to country.
- Updating a non-printable field costs USD 5 in the app.
- An adult’s Smart NICOP is valid for 10 years.
- Cancelling a NICOP after the holder’s death is free.
Fees can change, so check the fee page before you pay.
How to pay
NADRA’s FAQ says you pay for NICOP applications by Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card. Easypaisa, JazzCash and e-Sahulat are listed for Smart NIC and FRC applications, not NICOP. There is no cash on delivery.
Delivery and tracking
NADRA sends your card by courier. For overseas applicants, the courier contacts you before delivery. If it cannot reach you, the card goes to the nearest Pakistani embassy or mission after a set period.
Overseas applicants get updates by email at four stages: account registration, approval or rejection, fee payment and card dispatch. To track yourself, open the app, tap Tracking, and enter your tracking ID and PIN. You can find both under Applications.
If your NICOP is delayed, our NADRA tracking ID check guide explains each stage and the fixes.
Renewal, reprint and where else to apply
NADRA says you should renew no later than one month after expiry. If you lose your NICOP abroad, apply for a reprint in the app, at a NADRA center abroad, or at a Pakistani mission. The same three routes work for a child born abroad, using an S1 form or detailed birth certificate.
If you return to Pakistan for good, NADRA says you can keep using your NICOP, or apply for a CNIC if needed.
NICOP vs CNIC vs POC
| Card | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| CNIC | Pakistani citizens living in Pakistan. See our NADRA CNIC online guide. |
| NICOP | Pakistani citizens living abroad, including dual nationals |
| POC | Foreign nationals of Pakistani origin, and some foreign spouses, who are not Pakistani citizens |
Help from family in Pakistan
NADRA says blood relatives (father, mother, brother, sister, children over 18) or a spouse who hold a NADRA ID card can process applications for linked relatives in their own PakID account. A minor’s NICOP can be processed through a parent’s or sibling’s account.
Beware of fake agents and websites
In May 2026, NADRA said it has no authorised consultants, agents or dealers, ProPakistani reported. It warned about UK-based websites calling themselves “NADRA Card Center”. NADRA says any website outside nadra.gov.pk is not official.
- Apply only in the PakID app, at a NADRA center, or at a Pakistani mission.
- Pay only the listed fee, and never share your OTP or password.
- Report problems at complaints.nadra.gov.pk or on 1777 (Pakistan mobiles) and +92 51 111 786 100.
GoPunjab is an independent website. We are not NADRA, and we cannot issue a NICOP or see your records.
Related guides
To get a family record for a visa or immigration file, see NADRA FRC online. To check SIMs registered on your ID, read our CNIC SIM check guide. For a birth certificate in Punjab, see birth certificate online in Punjab.