NADRA
Last Updated: October 2026
NADRA does not issue divorce certificates. The Union Council or Municipal Committee where the marriage was registered does, and NADRA then uses that certificate to update your CNIC and your family record. In Punjab the e-Khidmat Markaz lists the certificate at PKR 200 and 7 working days. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the certificate costs PKR 100.
This page covers getting the certificate, and what to do with it at NADRA. It does not cover how to divorce, which is a legal matter for the Union Council, the Arbitration Council or a court.
Who issues the divorce certificate
NADRA’s role is technical. Its civil registration system, CRMS, is described on NADRA’s own site as handling the registration of births, deaths, marriages and divorces, with NADRA supplying the technology under agreements with provincial and local governments. The certificate itself comes from local government:
- Punjab. The Local Government and Community Development Department’s FAQ answers “Which department shall issue the divorce certificate?” with “Concerned Union Council or Municipal Committee, where the marriage/Nikkah Nama was registered.”
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Rule 40 of the 2021 Births, Deaths, Marriages and Divorce Rules gives the same answer: “The concerned council, where the marriage was registered”. Rule 39(6) adds that a council’s divorce records are entered on computer “using the NADRAs software” and delivered to NADRA.
- Islamabad. The ICT Administration lists a Divorce Registration Certificate from the Local Government office at the Agriculture Complex, G-11/4, signed by the Chairman of the Arbitration Council.
- For use abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ attestation checklist says divorce certificates “are required to be issued by” the Chairman of the Arbitration Council or the Secretary of the Union Council.
Our marriage certificate guide explains the same split: NADRA supplies the system and the provinces run the registration.
Important: NADRA cannot issue, replace or verify a divorce certificate for you. It comes from the council that registered the divorce, and that council is the office to ask about verifying it or getting a duplicate.
What has to happen before the certificate
The divorce has to be registered first. For Muslims, section 7 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961 says a man who pronounces talaq must “give the Chairman notice in writing of his having done so” and give the wife a copy. It says the talaq is not effective until ninety days after the notice reaches the Chairman, unless it is revoked earlier, and that the Chairman must form an Arbitration Council within thirty days to try to reconcile the parties. Failing to give notice is punishable by simple imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to PKR 5,000, or both. Section 8 applies the same procedure where the right to divorce was delegated to the wife or the marriage is dissolved otherwise than by talaq. A 2021 amendment adds separate provisions for parties who follow Fiqah-e-Jafria.
Court orders also count. Punjab’s FAQ says the applicant provides “written statements and other documentary evidence including divorce order issued by the Court of Law, Nambardar, Chairman, Union Council etc.” to the council. Punjab’s e-Khidmat lists the requirement as “Registration from UC & Arbitration Council/Court Order”. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s rules say the divorce must be registered within thirty days, on Form-Q, with the divorce deed, talaqnama or the order of the court or the Arbitration Council. NADRA’s June 2026 guides give the same thirty days for Sindh and Islamabad.
Fee and time
| Where | Fee | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab, e-Khidmat Markaz | PKR 200 | 7 working days for the original | e-Khidmat service page. Only for marriages registered since 2001 |
| Islamabad, Agriculture Complex G-11/4 | PKR 250 on the ICT Administration page, PKR 200 in NADRA’s June 2026 guidebook | Not stated | ICT Administration; NADRA’s Islamabad guidebook, citing letters of 18 March and 3 June 2026 |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Registration nil, certificate PKR 100, duplicate PKR 150, correction PKR 200 | Not stated for divorce | 2021 Rules, Model Schedule of Fee |
Punjab’s FAQ names the issuing office and the evidence but gives no fee for a divorce certificate. Islamabad’s two sources differ by PKR 50, so ask the counter which schedule it is using. NADRA’s June 2026 Sindh guide says a divorce must be registered at the local council within 30 days, but gives no fee. We found nothing published on divorce certificates for Balochistan, Azad Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan, and NADRA’s Balochistan guide says its bye-laws cover only births and deaths, with Muslim divorces there registered under the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961. Websites quoting a single national fee are not citing a source.
Documents
- Punjab e-Khidmat: the application form, the registration from the Union Council and Arbitration Council or the court order, the fee, your CNIC, and the CNICs of both spouses. Originals go in with photocopies attested by an officer of grade 17 or above. The case is processed in the district where it was registered, and a Cantonment Board case at that board.
- Islamabad: the divorce form, the original divorce paper and a copy, copies of both spouses’ CNICs and of each spouse’s father’s CNIC. The steps are to appear before the Arbitration Council in person, record checking, data entry, proofreading, final print and the Chairman’s signature.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Form-Q with the date of the divorce and the reason, an affidavit, written statements, and the divorce deed, talaqnama or order.
Applying through the Pak ID app. NADRA’s Pak ID app also takes divorce registration at the Union Council, so you can apply from home. NADRA’s video guide says that once the divorce process is complete a divorce certificate from the Union Council is mandatory, and shows how to apply for it through the app. It says the facility is available in all districts of Punjab, in selected districts of Sindh (including Karachi East, Karachi Central, Naushahro Feroze, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar and Tando Muhammad Khan) and in Quetta district, and that it is being extended. Islamabad’s union councils were reported in June 2026 to take divorces in the app as well. The certificate is the same Union Council certificate, so the rules above about when a divorce can be registered still apply. We found no published list of the in-app charges, so check the payment screen before you confirm.
Can you check a divorce certificate online?
We found no official online check. NADRA’s site offers none, and the Pak ID release notes that added QR verification name CRC and cancellation certificates, not divorce certificates. The official route is to ask the issuing council. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s rule 41 says a divorce deed “shall be verified from the concerned council from where it was issued or by the successor council”. Pages promising a NADRA divorce certificate check by CNIC cite no source.
Updating your CNIC after a divorce
The certificate is what lets NADRA change your marital status. NADRA’s Registration Policy (RP-6.0.2, issued 18 September 2026) lists for a divorce:
- An application by or on behalf of the applicant, “Through Mobile App”.
- A divorce certificate from the Union Council, Municipal Committee or Cantonment, or a foreign divorce certificate (a final court order), or an affidavit or undertaking for non-Muslims.
Two remarks in the policy matter. If you are moving from unmarried to divorced, or registering fresh as divorced, “only Divorce certificate shall be required”. And no document is required if you have “already been updated by spouse / shown in spouse’ family tree”. On cost, a marital status change is a modification on NADRA’s fee schedule, with no separate rate: PKR 400, 1,150 and 2,150 for the ordinary card and PKR 750, 1,500 and 2,500 for the Smart card. Our guide to adding a spouse and updating marital status covers the full process and the fees.
When an ex-spouse still shows on your FRC
NADRA’s FAQ answers this directly. An ex-spouse still appears in the Family Registration Certificate of a divorced person “when the marital status has not been updated in NADRA’s database”, and the applicant “must submit divorce documentation and request modification of the CNIC record”. Update the CNIC first, then order the FRC again. See our FRC guide.
If the former spouse is a foreign national
A foreign spouse of a Pakistani citizen holds a Pakistan Origin Card (POC) only while the marriage lasts, under Rule 4(5) of the NADRA (POC) Rules, 2002. NADRA’s policy makes the Pakistani spouse responsible for reporting the divorce, after which the POC is cancelled. The document NADRA asks for is the divorce papers. If the former spouse later marries another Pakistani, the policy says a POC is issued with the same number after re-activation. Our POC guide covers the card.
Using it abroad
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sets three rules in its attestation checklist (revised 11 June 2024). A divorce deed needs a computerised divorce certificate. Divorce papers can be attested only by the spouses themselves, not by a relative or friend, unless the person lives abroad and sends a power of attorney signed by an authorised officer of the Pakistani embassy or consulate. And proceeding papers and notices must be attested by the Arbitration Council concerned, while court proceedings go through the court.
Common mistakes
- Going to NADRA for the certificate. It comes from the Union Council or Municipal Committee.
- Applying at the wrong council. Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa both name the council where the marriage was registered.
- Leaving the CNIC as it is. Your marital status changes at NADRA only when you apply with the certificate.
- Expecting an online check. None is published. Ask the issuing council.
- Relying on an unregistered divorce. Punjab’s e-Khidmat asks for registration from the Union Council and Arbitration Council or a court order.
- Sending a relative to attest divorce papers for use abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs accepts only the spouses, or a power of attorney from abroad.
- Forgetting the POC of a foreign ex-spouse. The policy expects the Pakistani spouse to report the divorce.
Sources: the CNIC update requirements, the remarks and the POC rules are from Registration Policy RP-6.0.2 (issued 18 September 2026), pages 15, 24, 28 and 30; the FRC and POC answers from NADRA’s CNIC page and its cancellation page (site version V3.1.3); the fees from NADRA’s fee structure. The issuing office and evidence in Punjab are from the LG&CD Punjab FAQ and the e-Khidmat divorce certificate page; Islamabad’s from the ICT Administration; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s from the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Divorce or Dissolution of Marriages (Registration and Certification) Rules, 2021, rules 38 to 41 and the Model Schedule of Fee. Sections 7 and 8 are quoted from the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961 on the Pakistan Code, and the attestation rules from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ attestation checklist. All read on 29 and 30 September 2026. The Islamabad, Sindh and Balochistan details are from NADRA’s public guides for Islamabad (13 June 2026), Sindh and Balochistan (11 June 2026), read on 2 October 2026. The Pak ID app route is from NADRA’s video guide on applying for a divorce certificate through the app, read on 6 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this topic.
Does NADRA issue divorce certificates?
No. The Union Council or Municipal Committee where the marriage was registered issues the divorce certificate. NADRA supplies the civil registration system, and it uses the certificate to update your marital status on your CNIC and family record.
Where do I get a divorce certificate?
From the Union Council or Municipal Committee where the marriage or nikah nama was registered, or in Punjab through an e-Khidmat Markaz. In Islamabad it comes from the Local Government office at the Agriculture Complex, G-11/4, signed by the Chairman of the Arbitration Council.
How much does a divorce certificate cost?
Punjab’s e-Khidmat Markaz lists PKR 200 and Islamabad’s ICT Administration lists PKR 250, although NADRA’s June 2026 guidebook for Islamabad gives PKR 200. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, registration is free and the certificate costs PKR 100, a duplicate PKR 150 and a correction PKR 200. We found no published fee for Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan.
What documents do I need?
In Punjab: the application form, the registration from the Union Council and Arbitration Council or the court order, the fee, your CNIC and both spouses’ CNICs, with originals and attested photocopies. Islamabad also asks for the CNIC copy of each spouse’s father. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa asks for Form-Q, an affidavit and the divorce deed, talaqnama or order.
How long does it take?
Punjab’s e-Khidmat lists 7 working days for the original certificate. Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa publish no timeline for a divorce certificate.
Can I check a divorce certificate online?
We found no official online check, and NADRA’s site offers none. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s rules say a divorce document is verified from the council that issued it or its successor, so ask the issuing council.
How do I update my CNIC after a divorce?
Apply to NADRA with the divorce certificate from the Union Council, Municipal Committee or Cantonment, a foreign divorce certificate that is a final court order, or an affidavit or undertaking for non-Muslims. NADRA’s policy shows the application made through the mobile app, and no document is needed if your spouse has already updated the record.
Why does my ex-spouse still appear on my FRC?
NADRA says this happens when your marital status has not been updated in its database. You must submit the divorce documentation and request a modification of your CNIC record, and the FRC then follows the updated record.
What happens to a foreign spouse’s POC after a divorce?
It is cancelled. Under Rule 4(5) of the NADRA (POC) Rules, 2002, a foreign spouse holds a POC only while the marriage lasts, and NADRA’s policy makes the Pakistani spouse responsible for reporting the divorce, with the divorce papers as the document.
