NADRA
Last Updated: August 2026
NADRA calls the same four things by two different sets of names, and that is where the money goes. Its fee schedule lists Alpha, Beta, Gama and Both. Its FRC page lists By Birth, By Marriage, By Adoption and By All. Nobody joins the two up, so people order the wrong one, pay again, and wait another day. Below is the mapping, in NADRA’s own words.
Alpha, Beta and Gama, translated
NADRA confirms the mapping itself. Its FRC page describes the “By All” type as containing “both alpha and beta family members”, which is the one place the two vocabularies touch.
| On the fee schedule | On the FRC page | Who appears on it |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | By Birth | Your parents and siblings |
| Beta | By Marriage | Your spouse and children |
| Gama | By Adoption | Your guardian and adopted family members |
| Both | By All | Alpha plus beta together |
Work out which one the receiving authority actually wants before you pay. A visa application asking you to prove your parentage needs the birth type. One asking you to prove a marriage and children needs the marriage type. You can hold more than one: NADRA confirms an individual may obtain multiple FRCs under different categories depending on the purpose of the request.
What it costs, and why there is no cheap option
| Type | Fee | Tier | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha, Beta or Gama (one family type) | PKR 1,000 | Executive only | 1 day |
| Both | PKR 2,000 | Executive only | 1 day |
The FRC is one of the few NADRA services with no Normal or Urgent tier at all. Executive is the only option, which cuts both ways: there is no slower cheaper route, and equally no waiting. One day is the published time. Our guide to NADRA fees covers the wider schedule.
You do not have to apply for yourself
Widely missed, and useful if the person the certificate concerns cannot get to a centre. NADRA’s Registration Policy states the applicant may be any blood relative, spouse or guardian. The applicant does not have to be the subject of the certificate.
The requirement on NADRA’s FRC page is a single line: the 13-digit ID number of the applicant. No document list, no attestation.
- A minor’s presence is needed if the minor holds a CRC without a photo.
- A CRC or Juvenile card holder cannot apply for an FRC, according to the Registration Policy. NADRA’s FRC page separately lists CRC and Juvenile card among acceptable 13-digit ID types, so the two statements sit awkwardly together. If the applicant is a child, ask at the centre rather than assuming.
- A proclaimed offender does not block the certificate. An FRC can be issued including a family member who is digitally impounded.
- Unregistered family members are added through the OneApp or mobile app option, and NADRA states that unregistered individuals, deceased or living, can be included in certain scenarios on the applicant’s information.
An FRC is not proof of nationality
Asked directly, NADRA answers no: “The FRC only reflects family data available in NADRA’s record and does not serve as proof of Pakistani nationality.”
This matters if an embassy or a lawyer has asked you for proof of citizenship and you assumed the FRC would do it. It proves who NADRA records as your family. It does not prove that any of you are Pakistani.
You cannot fix an FRC. You fix the record behind it
The single most common frustration with this document, and NADRA is unambiguous about it: “FRC data cannot be modified independently. Any correction must be made in the underlying record in NADRA’s database.” The certificate is a printout of your family record at a moment in time. Arguing with the printout achieves nothing.
| What is wrong | What NADRA says to fix |
|---|---|
| Your spouse does not appear | Update your marital status on your CNIC record and ensure the spouse’s record is properly linked |
| An ex-spouse still appears | Marital status has not been updated. Submit divorce documentation and request a CNIC record modification |
| A foreign spouse does not appear | They appear only if they hold a valid POC and the record is updated |
| A child born abroad does not appear | The child must first obtain a CRC, Juvenile card or NICOP |
| Stepchildren do not appear | Not a fault. NADRA states all real children from all spouses appear, and stepchildren are not included |
| A deceased family member | May still appear if their record exists and is updated |
Each of those is a separate NADRA service with its own requirements. See adding a spouse to your record, updating your family record and registering a child. Budget the time for the underlying correction, not just the one day the FRC itself takes.
It does not expire, but it does go stale
NADRA’s position is precise and worth quoting: the FRC “does not technically expire. However, a new FRC must be processed if there is any change in the record of a family member.” Nor can it be cancelled. A changed record simply means the old certificate no longer matches, and a new one has to be issued.
In practice, treat any life event in your family as invalidating an FRC you are holding: a marriage, a divorce, a birth, a death, a name change. Many receiving authorities also set their own recency limit, often a few months, which NADRA has no part in and does not publish.
How it reaches you
There is no card to be couriered. NADRA’s Registration Policy states that for PakID, cards are delivered by courier and certificates are sent to applicants through email. The FRC is a certificate, so an online application produces a PDF in your inbox rather than a delivery you have to be at home for.
That combination, Executive only, one day, and emailed, makes the FRC the most practical NADRA service to arrange from overseas. Our guide to dealing with NADRA from abroad covers the rest.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the wrong family type. Alpha is parents and siblings, Beta is spouse and children. Check which one the receiving authority wants.
- Paying for Both when you need one. That is PKR 2,000 instead of PKR 1,000.
- Expecting a cheaper tier. There is no Normal or Urgent option for an FRC.
- Using it as proof of nationality. NADRA states it is not.
- Trying to correct the certificate. Correct the underlying record instead.
- Expecting a foreign spouse to appear. They need a valid POC first.
- Reusing an old FRC after a family change. A change in any member’s record requires a new one.
The type definitions, eligibility, requirement and the answers on nationality, modification, expiry, stepchildren, foreign spouses and children born abroad are from NADRA’s Family Registration Certificate page, which cites Rule 19 of the NADRA (NIC) Rules, 2002. Fees and processing time are from the official fee structure. The applicant rules, the minor presence rule and the email delivery of certificates are from NADRA’s Registration Policy, version RP-6.0.1, issued 15 October 2025. All read on 29 August 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this topic.
What is the difference between Alpha, Beta and Gama FRC?
They are NADRA’s fee-schedule names for the family types its FRC page calls By Birth, By Marriage and By Adoption. Alpha shows your parents and siblings, Beta your spouse and children, Gama your guardian and adopted family members. “Both”, or By All, combines alpha and beta.
How much does an FRC cost?
PKR 1,000 for a single family type and PKR 2,000 for both. There is no Normal or Urgent tier, only Executive, and the published processing time is one day.
Can someone else apply for my FRC?
Yes. NADRA’s Registration Policy states that any blood relative, spouse or guardian may apply, and the applicant does not have to be the person the certificate is about. The stated requirement is the applicant’s 13-digit ID number.
Is an FRC proof of Pakistani nationality?
No. NADRA answers this directly: the FRC only reflects family data held in its record and does not serve as proof of Pakistani nationality. It proves family composition, not citizenship.
My spouse is missing from the FRC. How do I fix it?
Not on the certificate. NADRA states FRC data cannot be modified independently and any correction has to be made in the underlying record. Update your marital status on your CNIC and make sure the spouse’s record is linked, then order a new FRC.
Will my foreign spouse appear on the FRC?
Only if they hold a valid POC and that record is updated in NADRA’s database. A foreign national with no POC will not appear.
Does an FRC expire?
NADRA says it does not technically expire, but that a new one must be processed if there is any change in a family member’s record. Treat any marriage, divorce, birth, death or name change as making your copy out of date. Receiving authorities often set their own recency limit as well.
Why is my child born abroad not on the FRC?
Because the child has no NADRA identity document yet. NADRA states the child must first obtain a CRC, Juvenile card or NICOP before appearing on the parents’ Family Registration Certificate.
