NADRA
Last Updated: October 2026
A B-Form and an FRC are different documents, and neither replaces the other. The B-Form, officially the Child Registration Certificate (CRC), is one child’s identity document, issued to under-18s, and NADRA says a child’s passport application needs a valid one with a picture, or a Juvenile Card. The Family Registration Certificate (FRC) lists a person’s family as NADRA records it, in four types: Alpha for parents and siblings, Beta for spouse and children, Gama for a guardian and adopted family, or Both. A third document, the Union Council birth certificate, is what NADRA needs before it will issue a B-Form at all.
This guide sets the three side by side, says what each is for, and ends with a way to tell which one a form or an officer is really asking for.
The documents side by side
| Birth certificate | B-Form (CRC) | FRC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issued by | A Union Council, Municipal Committee, Cantonment Board or CDA | NADRA | NADRA |
| About | One birth | One child under 18 | A person’s family |
| Fee and time | Set by the province, as our birth certificate guide shows | PKR 50 on Normal in 7 days, or PKR 500 on Executive in 1 day | PKR 1,000 for one type, PKR 2,000 for Both, Executive only, 1 day |
| Expiry | None stated | Expires when the child reaches 3, 10 and 18 | No expiry, but a new one is needed after any change in a family member’s record |
| Where NADRA asks for it | As a mandatory prerequisite for a CRC | For a child’s passport: a valid CRC with a picture, or a Juvenile Card | Wherever a record of family composition is wanted, for example Punjab’s succession certificate applications |
| Where to apply | The Union Council, or the Pak ID app where a province has joined it | Home, Family, then CRC or B-form in the Pak ID app, or a NADRA centre | The Family section, then FRC or Family Composition, in the Pak ID app, or a NADRA centre |
NADRA also issues a Juvenile Card to under-18s. It is an alternative to the CRC, and a child can apply for one without ever having held a CRC. Our Juvenile Card guide covers it.
Why the two get mixed up
Both come from NADRA, both sit in the Family section of the Pak ID app, and both can be asked for by an authority that wants proof about a child. They answer different questions. The B-Form answers “is this child registered with NADRA?” The FRC answers “who does NADRA record as this person’s family?” NADRA’s own FAQ is firm that the FRC only reflects family data in NADRA’s record and does not prove Pakistani nationality.
Which one is being asked for?
| If the form wants | Bring |
|---|---|
| A child’s passport application | A B-Form with a picture, or a Juvenile Card |
| Proof of a person’s parents and siblings | An FRC Alpha, called By Birth in the app |
| Proof of a spouse and children | An FRC Beta, called By Marriage |
| A succession certificate application in Punjab | FRC Alpha and Beta, per the Punjab office |
| Proof that a birth was registered | The Union Council birth certificate |
| Proof of Pakistani nationality | Not an FRC. NADRA says it does not prove Pakistani nationality |
Important: an FRC only prints what is in NADRA’s record. For a child born abroad, NADRA’s FAQ says the child must first obtain a CRC, a Juvenile Card or a NICOP before appearing on the parents’ FRC, and it says an FRC does not list stepchildren. If someone is missing from an FRC, the fix is the family record or the person’s own registration, and the certificate itself cannot be edited.
The order for a newborn
- The birth certificate. The Union Council, Municipal Committee, Cantonment Board or CDA issues it, and NADRA treats it as mandatory. Our birth certificate guide covers each province.
- The parents’ marriage on NADRA’s record. NADRA’s answer for a CRC is that an unrecorded marriage has to be updated first.
- The B-Form. The application is made with the birth certificate. Our B-Form guide has the rules, and our B-Form download guide explains how to get the PDF.
- The FRC, if you need one. Once the child holds a CRC, the child can appear on the parents’ FRC. Our FRC guide sets out the types and what to do when someone is missing.
Who can apply for which
For a B-Form at least one parent or the legal guardian must be present, and NADRA’s app guideline has the applicant’s spouse verify biometrics to attest the application. An FRC can be applied for by any blood relative, spouse or guardian, and NADRA’s policy says the applicant does not have to be the person the certificate is about. The FRC also carries photographs: if a family member’s photograph is not in NADRA’s database the app asks you to upload or capture it before the application goes through.
Common mistakes
- Offering an FRC where a B-Form is wanted. A passport office wants the child’s CRC with a picture, or a Juvenile Card.
- Ordering Both when one type will do. That costs PKR 2,000 where one type costs PKR 1,000, and NADRA has no cheaper tier.
- Expecting a child born abroad on the FRC before the child has a CRC. NADRA’s FAQ says the child must hold a CRC, a Juvenile Card or a NICOP first.
- Treating an FRC as proof of nationality. NADRA says it is not.
- Sending an expired B-Form. It expires at 3, 10 and 18, and a family certificate does not stand in for it.
- Mixing up the B-Form with a Union Council Form B. Some provinces use a Form B to report a death, and it has nothing to do with a child’s certificate.
Sources: the CRC rules, expiry, fees, birth certificate prerequisite and passport requirement from NADRA’s FAQ on its certificates pages and its Child Registration Certificate and Juvenile Card page; the FRC types, nationality answer, child answer and fees from the same FAQ and NADRA’s fee structure, version V3.1.3; the app steps from NADRA’s New CRC and FRC guidelines; the applicant rule from Registration Policy RP-6.0.2; and the succession requirement from our guide to the succession certificate. All read on 2 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this topic.
Are a B-Form and an FRC the same document?
No. The B-Form is the Child Registration Certificate (CRC), one child’s identity document issued to under-18s. The FRC is a Family Registration Certificate that lists a person’s family as NADRA records it. They have different fees, different expiry rules and different uses, and neither replaces the other.
Which do I need for a child’s passport?
NADRA’s FAQ says a valid CRC with a picture, which is the B-Form, or a Juvenile Card is required when applying for a Pakistani passport for a child under 18. An FRC is not on that requirement.
Does an FRC replace a B-Form?
No. The FRC shows family composition and does not serve as a child’s identity document. NADRA also says it does not prove Pakistani nationality.
How much does each cost?
A B-Form costs PKR 50 on Normal, taking seven days, or PKR 500 on Executive, taking one day. An FRC costs PKR 1,000 for one family type and PKR 2,000 for Both, on Executive only, taking one day. The Union Council’s birth certificate fee is set by the province.
Can my child appear on my FRC without a B-Form?
For a child born abroad, NADRA’s FAQ says the child must first obtain a CRC, a Juvenile Card or a NICOP. NADRA also says the FRC reflects family data in its record, and that unregistered members can be included in certain scenarios. If a child is missing, check the child’s registration and your family record.
Do a B-Form and an FRC expire?
A B-Form does. NADRA says it expires when the child reaches three, ten and eighteen. An FRC does not technically expire, but NADRA says a new one must be processed after any change in a family member’s record, so a marriage, birth, death or divorce makes your copy out of date.
Is an FRC proof of nationality?
No. NADRA answers this directly: the FRC only reflects family data in NADRA’s record and does not serve as proof of Pakistani nationality.
Where do I apply for each one in the Pak ID app?
For a B-Form, go to Home, then Family, and choose CRC or B-form. For an FRC, go to the Family section and choose FRC or Family Composition, pick the type, and apply. NADRA’s FRC guideline says the certificate then appears in the Applications section of the app.
Is a B-Form the same as a birth certificate?
No. The Union Council, Municipal Committee, Cantonment Board or CDA issues the birth certificate, and NADRA issues the B-Form. NADRA treats the birth certificate as a mandatory prerequisite for a CRC, so the certificate comes first.
