NADRA
Last Updated: August 2026
NADRA does not issue anything called an “Overseas Pakistani Card”. The phrase is what people reach for when they know they need a Pakistani identity document from abroad but not which one. Usually they mean NICOP. Sometimes they mean a Pakistan Origin Card, which is a completely different document with different rights and a fee nearly four times higher. Applying for the wrong one wastes months and is not refundable, so this page exists to get you to the right card before you pay for anything.
The documents people mean by “overseas Pakistani card”
| What it is called | What it actually is | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| NICOP | National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis, issued under Section 12 of the NADRA Ordinance 2000 | Pakistani citizens living abroad, including dual nationals |
| Smart NICOP | The chip version of NICOP, and what NADRA issues to new applicants | The same people. It is a format, not a separate document |
| POC | Pakistan Origin Card, issued under Section 11 | Foreign nationals of Pakistani origin who are not Pakistani citizens |
| CNIC | Computerised National Identity Card | Pakistanis living in Pakistan |
| PakID or Pak Identity | NADRA’s mobile app and online portal, not a card at all | Anyone applying for any of the above |
That last row causes more confusion than any of the others. People ask how to get “the Pak Identity card”. There is no such card. Pak Identity, now branded PakID, is the channel you apply through.
Which one you need
Your citizenship decides this, not your preference or your budget.
| Your situation | The card you need |
|---|---|
| You are a Pakistani citizen living or working abroad | NICOP |
| You hold Pakistani citizenship plus a second nationality | NICOP |
| You were born abroad to Pakistani parents and are registered as a citizen | NICOP |
| You gave up Pakistani citizenship when you naturalised elsewhere | POC |
| You never held Pakistani citizenship, but a parent or grandparent is or was Pakistani | POC |
| You are a foreign national married to a Pakistani | POC |
| You have moved back to Pakistan permanently | Your NICOP still works. A CNIC is optional unless something requires it |
That last row comes straight from NADRA’s own FAQ, which states that NICOP holders may continue using their NICOP within Pakistan and may also apply for a CNIC if required. Returning home does not invalidate the card you already hold.
The cost difference is large, so getting this right matters
| Card | Normal | Urgent | Executive | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICOP, Zone A (USA and Europe) | USD 39 | USD 57 | USD 75 | 10 years |
| NICOP, Zone B (Middle East and Africa) | USD 20 | USD 30 | USD 40 | 10 years |
| POC | USD 150 | USD 200 | USD 250 | 7 years, or 5 if spouse based |
A POC costs almost four times a Zone A NICOP and expires sooner. Fees are non-refundable, so an application filed under the wrong category is money gone. Full breakdowns are in our guides to NICOP fees and processing time and the Pakistan Origin Card.
What each card entitles you to
| Right | NICOP | POC |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry to Pakistan | Yes | Yes |
| Pakistani citizenship | Yes | No |
| Vote in elections | Yes | No |
| Hold a Pakistani passport | Yes | No |
| Own property | Yes | Yes, with conditions |
| Open a bank account | Yes | Yes |
Both cards get you through immigration without a visa, which is why they get conflated. The difference is everything else. A NICOP holder is a Pakistani citizen with a vote. A POC holder is a foreign national with residence and property privileges.
Where the naming goes wrong
- “Overseas Pakistani Card” is not a NADRA product name. Search it and you will land on NICOP pages, because that is what it means in practice.
- “NADRA card” is what most consulates title their pages. It covers NICOP and POC together, so a consulate fee page headed “NADRA card fees” may be quoting either.
- “SNICOP” appears on some consulate sites. It is Smart NICOP.
- “Pak Identity card” does not exist. PakID is the app and portal.
- “Teslin card” is the old NICOP format. NADRA no longer issues new ones.
Mistakes this confusion causes
- Applying for a POC while still a Pakistani citizen. You need a NICOP, at a fraction of the price.
- Applying for a NICOP after renouncing citizenship. The POC is the correct document, and a NICOP application will not succeed.
- Booking a consulate appointment for a POC. Manual POC booking has been stopped and consulates cannot serve walk-in POC applicants. Apply online first.
- Applying for a CNIC from abroad. A NICOP is the overseas document, and it is what gives you visa-free entry.
- Assuming a card must be renewed before travelling home. Check the expiry, but a NICOP runs ten years for adults.
Once you know which card you need, the step by step process is in our guide to applying for NICOP from overseas, and the differences between NICOP and CNIC are covered in NICOP versus CNIC.
Document definitions, eligibility, fees and validity are taken from NADRA’s NICOP page, its Pakistan Origin Card page and its official fee structure, all read on 27 August 2026, where the site reported version V3.1.2 last updated 07-07-2026. The rights comparison also draws on the FAFEN explainer of 14 February 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this topic.
Is there a card called the Overseas Pakistani Card?
No. NADRA does not issue a document by that name. The phrase is an informal way of referring to the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis, or NICOP. Some people using it actually need a Pakistan Origin Card instead, which is a different document with different rights and a much higher fee.
What is the difference between NICOP and the Pak Identity card?
There is no Pak Identity card. PakID, previously branded Pak Identity, is NADRA’s mobile app and online portal, and it is the channel you apply through. The card you receive is a NICOP.
I am a dual national. Which card do I need?
A NICOP. Holding a second nationality does not remove your Pakistani citizenship where Pakistan permits dual nationality, and NICOP is the document for Pakistani citizens residing abroad.
I gave up Pakistani citizenship. Can I still get a NICOP?
No. Once you are no longer a Pakistani citizen, the correct document is a Pakistan Origin Card. NADRA issues the POC to foreign nationals who were Pakistani citizens at any time in their life.
What is SNICOP?
It is Smart NICOP, the chip version of the card. Some Pakistani consulates use the abbreviation on their application pages. It is a card format rather than a separate document.
Do I need a CNIC if I move back to Pakistan?
Not automatically. NADRA states that NICOP holders may continue using their NICOP within Pakistan, and may also apply for a CNIC if required. In practice you may want one because banks, employers and universities often ask for it by default, but your NICOP remains valid.
Which is cheaper, NICOP or POC?
NICOP, by a wide margin. It is USD 39 in Zone A and USD 20 in Zone B, against USD 150 for a new POC. A NICOP also lasts ten years while a POC runs seven, or five if it is spouse based. The choice is decided by your citizenship, not by price.
Why do consulate pages call everything a NADRA card?
Because they handle several NADRA documents at one counter and group them under one heading. A consulate page titled NADRA card fees may be quoting NICOP rates, POC rates, or both, so check which document each row refers to before budgeting.
