National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis / Pakistan Origin Card
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Pakistan Origin Card
A person shall be an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin or eligible for
Pakistan Origin Card if he is a foreigner; and he had been a citizen of Pakistan at any time during his life.
Among other cards, NADRA Ordinance envisages issuance of cards to
foreigners of Pakistani origin who have got themselves registered under the NADRA Ordinance. This card is called the Pakistan
Origin Card. On account of its utility, it is an identification document usable in place of NIC whenever required. However
POC is more than just an identification document.
Name, Color and Design of POC
The POC should have the same design and with blue colour as the NIC in English,
bear a barcode, which should be readable by a machine. It should be called the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) and carry a printed
statement in English to the effect that applicant is entitled Visa free entry in to Pakistan specimen attached at Annex A.
National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis
Among other cards, NADRA Ordinance envisages issuance of cards to Pakistani
workers/emigrants and citizens /resident abroad and Pakistanis holding dual nationality who have got themselves registered
under the NADRA Ordinance. This card is known as the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP). On account of
its utility, it is an identification document usable in place of NIC whenever required. However NICOP is more than just an
identification document.
Name, Color and Design of NICOP
The NICOP should have the same design and colour as the NIC in English,
bear a barcode, which should be readable by a machine. It should be called the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis
(NICOP) and carry a printed statement in English to the effect that applicant is entitled Visa free entry in to Pakistan.
Aesthetics & Security Features
POC includes a sophisticated array of security features to safeguard against
fraud and improper use. The POC contains machine-readable information, which is used to facilitate movement through immigration
controls. The special characteristics of the POC will protect is integrity. Some characteristics can be seen with the naked
eye and others will be verified using optical aids.
Aesthetics
The new POC Card design is based on the ISO 7810 size, which is 85.6 MMX
54m. The cards are produced from a substrate called Teslin, which is a flexible product and has been tested for several bending,
cracking and fatigue tests giving it high durability characteristics. The card is blue in colour with the image of the National
Flag on both sides also printed through fine lines by a security printer. The card carries all relevant information regarding
individuals name, father/husbands name, gender, date of birth, new and old id card number, family registration number, permanent
and present addresses, nationality, images of signature, and photograph, date of issue and expiry date as well as signature
of an authorized signatory from issuing authority.
BENEFITS TO NICOP CARD HOLDERS
(1) Without prejudice to any other rights, benefits, privileges or capacities
enjoyed by or available to a non-resident citizen who simultaneously holds the nationality or citizenship of any other country
or state together with his Pakistani citizenship, such non-resident citizen shall, upon issuance of the card to him and during
the period of validity of his said card, have the right to enter into Pakistan without a visa from such port or place, by
such route and in accordance with such conditions, if any, as are prescribed pursuant to the Passport Act, 1974 (XX of 1974).
(2) A card validly issued to a non-resident citizen shall be the conclusive
proof of his being a citizen of Pakistan for the purposes of availing protection of the Government of Pakistan in any foreign
country or state as a Pakistani citizen. The Federal Government shall recognize, afford and ensure full protection as citizens
of Pakistan available under the law to all cardholders abroad.
(3) The Authority may arrange for and make available other lawful benefits,
rights and privileges for holders of the card, as it may deem fit, in association with governmental or private organizations
or entities in order to incentivize registration of the citizens under these rules.
POC AND NICOP HOLDERS DO NOT NEED A VISA TO GO TO PAKISTAN.
a. This forms is to be filled in by all non-resident citizens residing/ settled abroad in different categories.
If the applicant is holding a Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), the main Application Form (Urdu) need not to be
filled in. However, if the applicant is not holding a Computerized NIC, the applicant shall also fill in the main Application
Form in Urdu along with specified form in English Language.
b. Please carefully fill in all required information applicable in your case. Any casualness or mistake in filling in the
form or any inaccurate information provided therein may result in delays or non-delivery of the card. c. In case of any
of family members (spouse, parents, grandparents, real or grandchildren, etc.) are also applying for NICOP, the separate form
may be used by them for processing of applications and delivery of NICOPs of your entire family. d. Multiple photocopies
of form may be made and used and sent along with the all-necessary documents. e. IMPORTANT: Family members applying together
will get their cards at the address in their forms. f. Please fill in the form in BLACK ink. g. Please clearly print
or type ONLY in CAPITAL letters and avoid contact with the edges of the box. The following should prove as an example: h.
A block may be left empty wherever a word ends and a new word begins in the same line or where nothing further is to be written. i.
Avoid any over-writing and other mistakes while filling in the form. Please make sure that the form is filled in as neatly
as possible. If there are too many mistakes in the form, fill in a new form. Exact photocopies of the form (on A4 size paper
ONLY) are acceptable. j. Wherever small choice field boxes " " are provided in the form (e.g. in respect of type of application,
gender, marital status, etc), the box adjacent to the appropriate answer is to be SHADED i.e. "¦
" and NOT to be ticked or checked. k. Names in full are to be written in the order of first, middle and then last name. l.
Spaces provided for dates are to be filled in from the left in the order of, firstly, Day (DD); secondly, Month (MM); and,
lastly, Year (YYYY) in four digits. m. "NIC" stands for National Identity Card issued by GOP to Pakistani citizens who
are 18 years of age or above. n. Information required in respect of NIC or Pakistani passport may only be provided by persons
holding Pakistani citizenship/nationality. o. Details of foreign/non-Pakistani passport held by a person are to be compulsorily
provided wherever required in the form (for dual Nationals only). p. Application form has numbered items. All applicable
items have to be answered/responded to. Most of the items are self-explanatory. However, item-wise description and instructions
for guidance have been provided below where felt necessary.
Application Procedure (POC)
Item No. Description & Instructions 1. Application
may be made for a new card or for renewal of a card, Renewal is needed upon expiry of the validity period of the old card
or Duplicate in case of misplace or lost or Change in case of any change in card or cancellation in case of death of applicant.
2. This is applicable only to a person not holding Pakistani NIC or passport. The details of applicable ground on the
basis of which you are applying for NICOP must be specified that applicant is whether by birth or by relation or having any
immoveable property in Pakistan or any other ground (Please specify any other ground on extra page on which applicant is applying
for Pakistan Origin Card) 3. Full name must be mentioned in block letters (First, Middle, Last). 4. Please mention
Place of Birth in this sequence City or Town, State/ Province /Country 5. NIC/ NICOP/POC NO. if any 6. Present nationality
(other than Pakistani nationality/citizenship) 7. Provide required details of Pakistani passport and Foreign passport. 8.
Father's Full name must be mentioned in block letters (First, Middle, Last) 9. Father's Present nationality 10 Father's
NIC/ NICOP/POC NO. if any 11. Enter your mother's name. (First, Middle, Last) 12. Enter your mother's nationality 13.
Mother's NIC/ NICOP/POC NO. if any 14. Married person should write their spouse's name.(First, Middle, Last) 15. Spouse's
Present nationality 16. Spouse's NIC/ NICOP/POC NO. if any 17. Carefully enter your present address on which you can
be contacted and your card may be delivered. Mistake or incomplete/inaccurate information provided here may result in delays
or non-delivery of the card. 18. Enter your permanent address in Pakistan, if any. Foreigner spouses of Pakistani citizens
may mention the permanent address of their spouses in Pakistan. 19. Please shade on which addresses you want to be delivered
a card? 20. Please mention information about children if space is insufficient then use extra sheet for more children 21.
Give all information about relative, relationship with Applicant, his NIC and NICOP No, Present Address and Telephone No 22.
Kashmiries will fill this information 23. If you have ever been deprived of Pakistani citizenship by an order of the Government
of Pakistan passed under subsection (2) or subsection (3) of section 16 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (II of 1951),
please shade the applicable box 23- 25 The box adjacent to the appropriate answer is to be ticked or checked 26. Select
the appropriate answer and shade the box adjacent to the choice field that applies to you. In respect of Education, select
only the highest level of education applicable in your case. Profession may be identified even if unemployed. 27. It is
mandatory to fill in this block. Unanswered will be treated as incomplete from and will be rejected. 28. Paste your picture
with blue background in the respective block. And signatures and thumb impression must be clearly affixed in Black ink only.
Q: The forms claim the NICOP fee is for multiples of 3
years, what is the latest fee structure? A: The forms reflect the OLD fee structure, please IGNORE the validity section
on the forms. The current fee structure is for validity of 10 years and this is final.
Q: What is the approximate processing time for POC/NICOP
applications? A: Minimum processing time for POC is 3 months. Minimum time for NICOP is 3 months, but it usually takes
more than 4 months. The delay is mainly because the cards are made in Pakistan and then sent to the mission here.
Q: Do I need to send a return envelope with my application? A:
Yes, if you want to receive a receipt for your application filed with this office. The return envelope is not used for your
card, that is sent on our expense.
Q: Do I need to send separate money orders/cashier's checks
for each applicant? A: No, upto 8 POC applicants or 8 NICOP applicants can use 1 money order/cashier's check for their
combined fees (for example for 4 NICOP applicants), however payment of one card may not be mixed with that of another (POC
may not be mixed with that of NICOP and vice versa). If one family is applying for both types of cards, make sure you include
separate money orders/cashier's checks for each type.
Q: Are there any other special instructions with regard
to sending in an application? A: Each application is processed individually so if one family is applying, make sure you
attach separate copies of each document with each application e.g. do not send just 1 copy of a father's NIC when he is applying
for himself, his wife and his kids. Also make sure you mark your application "ATTN: NADRA" so that it reaches the relevant
department quickly and doesnt experience any delays in the mail room.
Q: I need to change my name. What do I do? A: To apply
under a different name than your supporting documentation you need valid proof of name change. This can be a Marriage Certificate,
Divorce Papers or Court Order (from Pakistan only) of name change.
Q: I am a student here, can I get a fee waiver? A:
Yes, but then you will not get a card, you will only be registered in the National Database. If you want the card, you will
have to pay for it.
Q: Do I really need to fill out the urdu based NICOP forms? A:
That depends. If you have a CNIC (Computerized National ID Card) and are attaching its copy, then no you do not. In ALL other
cases (including old NIC) you MUST fill out the urdu form.
Q: Can minors (under 18) apply for NICOP? A: Yes, but
only if you have their CRC.
Q: Which Money Order should I send? A: You can send
any brand you like (US Postal Service, Western Union). It is cashed in the US not in Pakistan.
Q: Do I have to get the urdu forms attested? A: No,
the Consulate/Embassy handles this.
Q: Do I really need my parent's NIC number? A: You
must provide their numbers if they are alive and currently Pakistani citizens. Otherwize you can just write DECEASED or NA.
Q: Where do I mail my application? A: You can mail
it to whichever office you like. Generally, you should send your application to Consulate/Embassy closest to you. The addresses
for each are available on the Community page.
Children Registration Certificate
Child registration is the fundamental right that every country should provide to
the children of its citizens. The right of name and nationality is ensured in Article 7 of the United Nation Convention on
the Rights of the Child, where Pakistan was a signatory. It states that:
The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right to acquire
a nationality, and as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.
Children registration is essential not only for their identity but also for governments
for their social services planning. It ensures the availability of health and educational facilities to the children. Registration
is a proof that is needed for a number of services and it recognizes the child as a citizen of a country with rights to be
cared for. Despite of all the policies and legislations for birth registration, Pakistan has not been able to achieve the
targets and many children in Pakistan are still deprived of this fundamental right.
NADRA is planning to take on the initiative of issuing Children Registration Certificate
for every Pakistani child less than 18 years of age. The certificate includes the information about minors name & registration
number, parents name and CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card) numbers, date of birth, place of birth and gender. Children
will be allotted same registration number when he/she applies for CNIC on attaining 18 years of age. It is the responsibility
of every Childs parents/guardian to register their children who are less than 18 years of age. Application for CRC will be
received from NADRA Swift Registration Centers. Detailed procedure and pre-requisite may be requested by sending a request
to: crc@nadra.gov.pk
NADRA has established Call Centers in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi where
you can call and enquire about the status of your National Identity Card, National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis,
Pakistan Origin Cards and Children Registration Certificates.
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National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis / Pakistan Origin Card