NADRA
Last Updated: October 2026
NADRA’s CNIC page lists three types of card: the standard Teslin CNIC, the Smart CNIC with a chip, and a CNIC with a QR code. The QR code card is new: NADRA introduced it on 14 August 2026, and it says every card already issued stays valid until its expiry date, so nobody has to replace anything now. What NADRA has not published, as of 30 September 2026, is a fee for the QR card or a way for an existing holder to ask for one.
This guide sets the three cards side by side using NADRA’s own figures, records what NADRA has said about the QR card, and lists the questions it has left open, so you can tell an official statement from a guess.
The three CNIC types NADRA lists
| Type | NADRA’s description | Fee: Normal, Urgent, Executive | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNIC (Teslin) | Standard Teslin-based identity card issued to adult citizens | New: PKR 0, 1,150, 2,150. Renewal: PKR 400, 1,150, 2,150. Days: 15, 12, 6 | 10 years |
| Smart CNIC | An advanced card with a secure microchip, enhanced security features and improved durability | PKR 750, 1,500, 2,500 new or renewal. Days: 31, 23, 9 | 10 years |
| CNIC with QR code | A newer version containing a machine-readable QR code to allow faster verification of the cardholder’s data | No fee row published | Not listed separately |
The figures are from NADRA’s fee structure (site version V3.1.3). The fee table has rows for the plain card and the Smart card only. Our guide to CNIC fees and processing time explains the two tables, and why the Smart card costs more without being faster. NADRA’s CNIC page also shows sample cards under an “Urdu Cards” and “Sindhi Cards” toggle, which it does not list as further card types.
What NADRA has said about the QR code card
- It is chipless. A QR code replaces the imported microchip, and NADRA’s Urdu release calls the new card polycarbonate, in place of the plain Teslin card now issued; its English release does not name the material. NADRA says the chip-enabled functions of the Smart card, introduced about 14 years ago, could not be used as intended because chip readers and the supporting infrastructure were not available.
- It is made in Pakistan. The Pakistan Security Printing Corporation in Karachi, formerly the National Security Printing Company, manufactures it to NADRA’s specifications. The Federal Government approved issuance on 23 February 2026.
- The QR code holds the cardholder’s information and photograph. It can be read on a smartphone and verified through the PakID app. Banks, telecom operators, hospitals, Pakistan Railways, police and other authorised institutions are to be given software to read it.
- The card shows more. The family number appears on it, with symbols for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, organ donors and citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The name and address are printed in Urdu and English, and the visible and covert security features are updated.
- The rollout is in phases. From 14 August 2026 the QR card replaces the standard National Identity Card only. From January 2027 it is to be issued for all categories, including NICOP and Juvenile Cards. The Pakistan Origin Card comes last.
- Existing cards stay valid until their respective expiry dates.
The legal basis is in NADRA’s release on the amended rules, which says the amendments published in the Gazette on 24 February 2026 define the QR code in the National Identity Card Rules, allow a QR code or any other technological feature in place of the microchip, and aim to let all citizens carry a similar card instead of the two types, with and without a chip, now in circulation. The same release provides for a senior citizen logo and lifetime validity from age 60, which our senior citizens guide covers.
What NADRA has not said
| Open question | What we found |
|---|---|
| What does the QR card cost? | Nothing in NADRA’s releases, and no QR row in its fee structure |
| How does an existing cardholder get one? | No procedure published. The releases only say existing cards stay valid |
| Which current card does phase one replace? | NADRA’s release says “the standard National Identity Card”. NADRA’s CNIC page uses “standard” for the Teslin card, but the release does not name it, and says nothing yet about Smart card holders |
| How long is a QR card valid? | Not listed. NADRA’s validity schedule names CNIC and Smart CNIC at 10 years |
| Will the Smart card still be issued? | Its fee row is still published. NADRA’s stated aim is one card type, but it gives no date |
Important: until NADRA publishes a fee, treat any figure quoted for the QR code card as unconfirmed. NADRA’s table lists only the plain and Smart card rows, so a figure quoted for the QR card cannot have come from it. The amount on the payment screen in the Pak ID app or at the counter is the only reliable one, so read it before you pay.
Do you need to replace your card now?
No. NADRA says all identity cards already issued remain valid until their expiry dates, and a card without a QR code is not fake or invalid. What still matters is the expiry date itself: NADRA cites Rule 12 of the NADRA (NIC) Rules, 2002 for renewing no later than one month after expiry, and our renewal guide covers the process. If your renewal falls after 14 August 2026, ask at the counter or on 1777 which card you will receive and what it costs before choosing a tier.
Is the Smart CNIC’s chip worth paying for?
NADRA’s own statement is the best evidence available. It says the chip’s functions could not be used as intended, and the new card drops the chip altogether. A Smart card renewal is PKR 750 on Normal against PKR 400 for the plain card, and takes 31 days against 15. Since NADRA has not said what the QR card will cost, there is a fair argument for not paying the chip premium if your renewal is not urgent. The decision is yours, and NADRA gives no guidance either way.
Scanning the QR code, and looking after it
NADRA says the code can be read through a smartphone camera and verified with the PakID app or authorised software. Its release notes for the app mention QR code features, and version 5.8.0 added QR verification for CRC and ID cancellation certificates. We found no public step-by-step from NADRA for a member of the public scanning a CNIC, so this guide does not invent one. Because NADRA says the code carries your information and photograph, treat a photograph of it like a photograph of the card: do not post it, and do not scan QR codes from messages that claim to be from NADRA. Searches for a “CNIC QR code generator” lead to tools that make lookalike cards. NADRA offers nothing of the kind. The card’s QR code is also separate from NADRA’s Digital ID, a credential issued inside the Pak ID app.
Logos and inscriptions on the card
| Mark | Who gets it | What NADRA asks for |
|---|---|---|
| Disability logo | Persons with disabilities | A certificate from a body such as the Council on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Disability status also brings lifetime expiry |
| Organ donor logo | Registered organ donors | A certificate or card from one of the transplant bodies or hospitals the policy names |
| Azad Jammu and Kashmir inscription | Residents of AJK | The 2026 amendments require the inscription “Resident of Azad Jammu and Kashmir” |
| Senior citizen logo | Citizens aged 60 or above | Provided for in the 2026 amendments. How to obtain it is not published |
The disability and organ donor requirements are in Registration Policy RP-6.0.2. That policy sets no requirement for a senior citizen logo, and NADRA’s inclusive registration page describes the disability logo and lifetime expiry for persons with disabilities.
Common mistakes
- Replacing a valid card early. NADRA says existing cards stay valid until expiry.
- Quoting a QR card fee as fact. NADRA has published none.
- Treating a card without a QR code as fake. NADRA says cards already issued remain valid until they expire.
- Paying extra for a chip expecting it to work. NADRA says the chip’s functions could not be used as intended.
- Sharing a photograph of the QR code. NADRA says it holds your information and photograph.
- Using a QR code generator. It produces a lookalike, not a NADRA card.
- Waiting for the new card past expiry. NADRA’s rule is to renew within a month of expiry.
Sources: the card types and their descriptions are from NADRA’s CNIC page; the fees, timelines and validity periods from its fee structure (site version V3.1.3); the QR card’s features, phases and validity of existing cards from NADRA’s media release of 14 August 2026; the legal basis, the senior citizen logo and the AJK inscription from its release on the amended rules (S.R.O. 330(I)/2026 and 331(I)/2026, Gazette of 24 February 2026); the disability and organ donor requirements from Registration Policy RP-6.0.2, page 11; the disability provisions from its inclusive registration page; and the app release notes from the Pak Identity page on the Apple App Store. The reporting by Gulf News and Biometric Update repeats NADRA’s phrasing and adds no fee or procedure. All read on 30 September 2026, and the Urdu text of the 14 August release on 6 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this topic.
What types of CNIC does NADRA issue?
NADRA’s CNIC page lists three: the standard Teslin-based CNIC for adult citizens, the Smart CNIC with a secure microchip, and a CNIC with a machine-readable QR code. The QR code card is the newest. NADRA introduced it on 14 August 2026.
Does the new QR code CNIC have a chip?
No. NADRA describes it as a chipless card. A QR code replaces the imported microchip, and NADRA says the chip-enabled functions of the Smart card could not be used as intended because chip readers and supporting infrastructure were not available.
Do I need to replace my current CNIC with the QR code card?
No. NADRA says all identity cards already issued remain valid until their respective expiry dates. The one date to watch is your own expiry date, since NADRA cites a rule requiring renewal no later than one month after expiry.
How much does the QR code CNIC cost?
NADRA has not published a fee. Its fee structure, site version V3.1.3, has rows for the plain card (PKR 0, 1,150 or 2,150 for a new card and PKR 400, 1,150 or 2,150 for renewal) and the Smart card (PKR 750, 1,500 or 2,500), and no row for the QR card. Read the amount on the Pak ID payment screen or at the counter before paying.
How do I get the new QR code CNIC?
NADRA has not published a procedure for existing holders. Its release says that from 14 August 2026 the QR code card replaces the standard National Identity Card only, with all categories following from January 2027. If you are applying or renewing, ask at the counter or on 1777 which card you will receive.
Is the Smart CNIC still issued?
NADRA’s fee structure still lists Smart card fees, and NADRA has not announced an end date. Its amended rules aim to let all citizens carry a similar card instead of the two types, with and without a chip, now in circulation.
How do I scan the QR code on a CNIC?
NADRA says the code can be read through a smartphone camera and verified with the PakID app or authorised software, and that institutions such as banks and telecom operators will be given software to read it. We found no public step-by-step from NADRA for cardholders, and the code carries your information and photograph, so do not share pictures of it.
When will NICOP and Juvenile Cards get a QR code?
NADRA says from January 2027 the QR code card will be issued for all categories of national identity cards, including NICOP and Juvenile Cards, and that the Pakistan Origin Card will move to the chipless QR format in the final phase. Its NICOP and POC pages already list QR-code versions.
Is a CNIC without a QR code fake or invalid?
No. Every card issued before the QR code card is valid until the expiry date printed on it, according to NADRA. A card is not invalid because it has no QR code.
