2002-04-02
Added · Updated
The Federal Government of Pakistan issued these rules to establish a comprehensive registration framework enabling eligible foreigners of Pakistani origin and their family members to obtain a Pakistan Origin Card from the National Database and Registration Authority. The regulations define strict eligibility criteria, outline standardized application and verification procedures, and mandate the issuance of physical or dematerialized cards bearing embedded digital identity features. Furthermore, the rules stipulate tiered fee structures, specify card validity periods of five to seven years based on applicant class, and grant the Authority discretionary power to refuse registration when national security or public interest warrants.
THE NATIONAL DATABASE AND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY (PAKISTAN ORIGIN CARD) RULES, 2002
THE NATIONAL DATABASE AND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY (PAKISTAN ORIGIN CARD) RULES, 2002 [2nd April, 2002] S. R. O. 198(I)/2002.- In exercise of the powers conferred by section 44 of the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000), read with clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 5, section 8, section 11 and sub-section (3) of section 17 thereof, the Federal Government is pleased to make the following rules, namely: — COMMENTS Scope. National Database and Registration Authority (Pakistan Origin Card) Rules, 2002 [“POC Rules”] have been framed in exercise of the powers conferred by section 44 of the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 read with clause (b) of subsection (4) of sections 5, 8 & 11 and subsection (3) of section 17 thereof. Said provisions of the Ordinance, in particular section 8(2) thereof, authorize the Federal Government to frame rules to provide such class of persons required to be registered under the said Ordinance, for present purposes eligible foreigners of Pakistan origin or eligible family members, with any right, interest, privilege, benefit, reward or other advantage (tangible or intangible) available under law of Pakistan. Framing of the ‘POC Rules’ 2002 including Rule 17(1) thereof conferring substantive rights onto certain persons is, thus, a valid exercise of power by the Federal Government |PLD 2019 SC 133J.
(cb) 1 [digital Identity ” shall have the same meaning as defined in the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025 (I of 2025); (d) “eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin” means an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin as specified in rule 4; (e) “eligible family member” means an eligible family member as provided in rule 5; (f) “enemy country” means an enemy country so declared by the competent authority; « (g) “foreigner” means a foreigner as defined in the Ordinance; (h) “Ordinance” means the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000); and (ha) 2 [QR code” means the Quick Response code which is a two-dimensional matrix bar code composed of a square grid of black and white modules with finder or fiducial patterns, which is machine-readable by imaging devices. It can store data in various encoding modes with error correction features, and when scanned coverts the encoded data into information for identity verification. (i) “relative” means and includes, in respect of an applicant for a card, his real parent, real grandparent, real child, real grandchild, real brother or sister, real child or real grandchild of such real brother or sister, real brother or sister of any of real parents, first cousin, ‘or real child or real grandchild of such first cousin. (2) The words and expressions used but not defined in these rules shall have the same meaning as in the Ordinance. 3. Registration. - (1) Any eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin desirous of obtaining a card may get himself registered with the Authority, and the Authority shall register him, in accordance with these rules. (2) Any eligible family member of an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin, whether such eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin is deceased or alive and, if alive, whether or not he gets himself registered under these rules, may get himself registered with the Authority, and the Authority shall register him, in accordance with these rules.
1 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I) /2025 Dated 13th September 2025 w.e.f. 09th September 2025 2 Ins by S.R.O 330 (I) /2026 Dated 24rd February 2026 w.e.f. 23rd February 2026
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the criteria specified in sub-rule (1) and subject to the fulfilment of the said criteria, a foreigner who, being a citizen of Pakistan before the sixteenth day of December, 1971, and domiciled in the territories which before the said day constituted the Province of East Pakistan, ceased to be a citizen of Pakistan and acquired the nationality or citizenship of a foreign state or country except Bangladesh, India and Israel at any time before the said day, shall also be an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin: Provided that at least one of his living relatives is a citizen of Pakistan having a permanent residence in Pakistan. (3) A foreigner who, or any of whose parents or grandparents, was born in the territories included in India on thirty-first day of March, 1937, and who, having his domicile within the meaning of the Succession Act, 1925 (XXXIX of 1925), as in force at the time of commencement of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (II of 1951), in the territories now included in Pakistan and having never been a citizen of Pakistan, acquired the citizenship or nationality of a foreign state or country before the commencement of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (II of 1951), shall also be an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin: Provided that— (i) at least one of his living relatives is a citizen of Pakistan having permanent residence in Pakistan; (ii) he is not, and never was, a citizen or national of an independent state or country comprising any of the territories included in India on the 31st March, 1937; (iii) he is not, and never was, a citizen or national of a state or country not recognized by Pakistan; and (iv) he is not a citizen of any enemy country. (4) A foreigner, any of whose parents or grandparents, was a citizen of Pakistan at any time during his lifetime, and who himself has never been a citizen of Pakistan, shall also be an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin: Provided that— (i) at least one of his living relatives is a citizen of Pakistan having a permanent residence in Pakistan;
(ii) neither he, nor any of his parents or grandparents is, or has ever been, a citizen or national of an independent state or country, excluding Pakistan, comprising any of the territories included in India on the 31st March, 1937; (iii) neither he, nor any of his parents or grandparents is, or has ever been, a citizen or national of a state or country not recognized by Pakistan; and (iv) he or any of his parent or grandparents is not a citizen of any enemy country: Provided further that in case of his parents or grandparents, clauses (ii) and (iii) of the first proviso shall not apply if the concerned parent or grandparent acquired citizenship of Pakistan and never thereafter acquired the citizenship or nationality of the states and countries specified in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the first proviso. '[(5) A foreigner who is married to a citizen of Pakistan shall, till the time he or she remains married to such citizen, also be an eligible foreigner of Pakistan Origin: Provided that in case the citizen of Pakistan to whom such foreigner is married dies during the subsistence of their marriage, such foreigner shall continue to be an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin till the time he or she contracts a second marriage: Provided further that such foreigner married to a citizen of Pakistan is— (i) not a citizen or national of India; (ii) not a citizen or national of a state or country not recognized by Pakistan; and (iii) not a citizen of any enemy country: Provided also that the Federal Government may, in special extraordinary circumstances and upon an application made in this behalf by the concerned person, allow a foreigner married to a citizen of Pakistan not otherwise eligible under the second proviso, to be registered for and issued a card as an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin and such person shall, upon issuance of the card and till the expiry or early termination of validity thereof for a reason other than such person’s ineligibility cured under this proviso, be treated as an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin for all purposes under these rules.] 5. Eligible family member. - (1) An eligible family member means and includes, in respect of an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin, any of the spouse; real parents or grandparents; or real children or grandchildren, of the eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin:
1 Subs, by S.R.O. 301(1)/2018, dated 7th March, 2018
Provided that such family member is— (i) not a citizen or national of India; (ii) not citizen or national of a state or country not recognized by Pakistan; and (iii) not a citizen of any enemy country: Provided further that in respect of an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin specified in sub-rule (5) of rule 4, an eligible family member shall only include dependent real children of such eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin: Provided also that the Federal Government may, in special extraordinary circumstances and upon an application made in this behalf by the concerned person, allow any of the family members of a foreigner of Pakistan origin, who are otherwise not eligible under the first proviso as an eligible family member, to be registered for and issued a card as an eligible family member and such person shall, upon issuance of the card and till the expiry or early termination of validity thereof for a reason other than such person’s ineligibility cured under this proviso, be treated as an eligible family member for all purposes under these rules. (2) In case any of the eligible family members himself or herself qualifies as an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin under these rules, he or she may apply in the said independent capacity for registration and issuance of the card under these rules. 6. Terms and conditions. - (1) A person shall only hold or use a card validly issued to him under these rules in so far as he continues to fulfil the criteria of eligibility as laid down and applicable to him under these rules or till the expiry of the validity period of the card, whichever is earlier. (2) A card shall no more be valid upon the holder thereof ceasing to fulfil the criteria of eligibility applicable to him under these rules or upon the expiry of the validity period thereof. 7. Form of Application. - (1) An application for registration for, and issuance of, a card shall be made in the form specified by the Federal Government from time to time. (2) The Authority may issue necessary written instructions to an applicant^ to accompany an application for guiding and helping him in filling in the application in accordance with these rules.
(3) The Authority shall, in so far as it is practicable, specify in the written instructions referred to in sub-rule (2), the documents required from an applicant. (4) The Authority shall make applications available to all eligible foreigners of Pakistan origin and eligible family members on demand and shall keep them at such places within and outside Pakistan and in such form, printed or otherwise, as the Authority may deem fit for facilitating the collection of the applications by the prospective applicants. 8. Manner of receipt of application. - (1) A filled in application may be deposited at or with, as applicable, any of the following places or persons, namely: — (a) Representative offices or other authorized representatives of the Authority; (b) registration counters established for the purpose by the Authority; (c) authorized offices of the Authority; and (d) any other place or person designated or authorized by the Authority for the purpose. (2) In addition to the places and persons specified in sub rule (1), the Authority may also receive an application by mail or any other mode including any advanced means, electronic or otherwise, in order to facilitate the deposit of the application by any prospective applicant. 9. Manner of registration, inquiry and evidence.- (1) The Authority shall establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, a registration and database system for the purposes of these rules in the manner deemed fit by the Authority along with an automated computerized system for recording and verification of exit and entry of holders of card at such ports or places in Pakistan as are deemed necessary for the purpose by the Authority. (2) Before registering an applicant under these rules, the Authority may make any inquiry or require any evidence, documentary or otherwise, from an applicant as it may deem fit in respect of the eligibility of an applicant or such other matters as are deemed necessary for the purposes of these rules.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power of making inquiry or requiring evidence under subrule (1), the Authority may require evidence in respect of the following, namely: — • (a) In the case of an eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin, his foreign nationality or citizenship and fulfilment of other criteria and requirements as laid down in, and applicable to him under, these rules; and (b) in the case of an eligible family member, his relationship with the concerned eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin; proof of eligibility of the concerned eligible foreigner of Pakistan origin if he is not himself applying for registration under these rules; and fulfilment of other criteria and requirements as laid down in, and applicable to him under, these rules. (4) Upon being satisfied as to an applicant being eligible for registration for, and issuance of, a card under these rules, the Authority shall register the applicant in the registration and database system established pursuant to sub-rule (1). 10. Issuance of card. - (1) Every person who is registered under rule 3, read with rule 9, shall be issued a card by the Authority. (2) The Authority may deliver, or cause to be delivered, a card to an applicant by hand or through any other appropriate means of delivery. The applicant may receive or collect the card personally or through his nominee or authorized representative subject to written acknowledgement of receipt thereof by the recipient. “11. 1[Form of card. - (1) “A card shall be in the form as set out in the Schedule I to these rules and shall bear the data, information and other features provided in the said Schedule I including the date of issuance and expiry of the card. (2) Where an electronic microchip, QR code or any other technological feature is embedded in a card issued under these rules by the Authority, it may contain the data printed on the card excluding such data as may be deemed appropriate by the Authority including the date of issuance and the date of expiry of the card.”;
1 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I)/2025 Dated 12th September 2025 w.e.f 09th September, 2025
1 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I)/2025 Dated 12th September 2025 w.e.f 09th September, 2025
1 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I)/2025 Dated 12th September 2025 w.e.f 09th September, 2025
Provided that the Authority shall charge the fee and other sums for the issuance of a new card as specified under rule 12 and provisions ol the said rule shall mutatis mutandis apply to the payment of fee and other sums under this subrule. (2) For any card lost, stolen, or otherwise rendered useless, the Authority may, on an application for issuance of a duplicate card made in the form as the Federal Government may specify in this behalf and subject to surrender, if possible, of the previous card, issue a duplicate card: Provided that the Authority shall charge the fee and other sums for the issuance of a duplicate card as specified under rule 12 and provisions of the said rule shall mutatis mutandis apply to the payment of fee and other sums under this subrule. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule, if a change in any card is necessitated for a mistake or fault on part of the Authority or if issuance of a duplicate card is necessitated on account of such loss or destruction of a card before the delivery thereof to the applicant as is not attributable to any act or omission of the applicant, no fee shall be charged by the Authority for the issuance of a new or duplicate card, as applicable. 17. Benefits for holder of card. - (1) During the validity of a card and without prejudice to any other rights, benefits, privileges or capacities enjoyed by, or available-to, the holder of card, every holder of card validly issued to him under these rules— (a) may 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 for citizens of Pakistan under section 13 of the Passports Act, 1974 (XX of 1974); (b) shall have permission to stay in Pakistan till the validity of the card; (c) shall, during his stay in Pakistan, be exempt as a foreigner from reporting to, or registering with, any law enforcing or other governmental agency to whom or with which such report or registration in the capacity of a foreigner is otherwise required under any law in force in Pakistan;
(d) may open bank accounts anywhere in Pakistan and transact business therein subject to fulfilment of the requirements of any other law for the time being in force; (e) may, subject to any other law for the time being in force, enter into transactions of purchase and sale of movable or immovable property anywhere in Pakistan and deal with and dispose of such property; and (f) may use the card for establishing and proving his identity anywhere in Pakistan where a National Identity Card is required for the purpose. (2) The Authority may arrange for other lawful benefits, rights and privileges for holders of card, as it may deem fit, in association with governmental and private organizations or entities in order to incentivize their registration. 18. Card necessary for certain purposes. - (1) The holder of card shall, at the time of entry into, or exit from, Pakistan present his card before the immigration authorities and at any counters established or maintained by the Authority for recording entry into, or exit from, Pakistan of such holder of card. (2) For avoidance of doubt, it is clarified that immigration of any holder of card shall remain subject to the jurisdiction of the concerned immigration authorities existing under the law for the time being in force. 19. Cancellation, impounding and confiscation of card. -(1) Without prejudice to the generality of the grounds and reasons for which a card may be cancelled, impounded or confiscated under section 18 of the Ordinance, any card may also be cancelled, impounded or confiscated, if there is satisfactory grounds or reasons to believe that--- (a) the holder of card has shown himself by act or speech to be disaffected to the Constitution of Pakistan; or (b) the holder of card is a citizen, national or subject of any state or country at war with, or committing external aggression against Pakistan, or of any other country assisting the country at war with, or committing such aggression against, Pakistan; or
(c) the holder of card has been convicted or sentenced for indulging in acts of terrorism or any other heinous offence, or has been convicted of any offence with imprisonment of up to one year or fine of up to fifty thousand rupees; or (d) it is not conducive to the public interest that the holder of card should continue to hold the card. 20. Manner of issuance and form of receipt for surrendered cards. - (1) Upon the death of any holder of card, the card issued to him shall be surrendered or delivered to the Authority or any other person or authority designated for the purpose by it within sixty days of such death by the spouse, heir, next of kin, parent or guardian, as the case may be, of such holder of card. (2) In case of a card which is no more valid under these rules except on account of expiry of its validity period, the holder of card shall surrender or deliver the card to the Authority or any other person or authority designated for the purpose by the Authority within thirty days of the card becoming invalid. (3) Upon surrender of a card pursuant to these rules, the Authority shall issue a receipt in acknowledgement of receipt of the card so surrendered in an appropriate form 1[In schedule “IV”] 2 [21. Issuance of De-materialized Card or Certificate. - (1) A de-materialized form or certificate may be issued to any person who possesses a valid card or certificate that has already been issued under the Ordinance and the rules made thereunder. The Authority shall ensure that dematerialized form or certificate is embedded with cryptographic security features to ensure confidentiality and integrity. (2) The de-materialized form or certificate shall reflect the most recent and valid version of the corresponding physical document, as recorded in the database. (3) The issuance of a de-materialized form or certificate shall be subject to the completion of due verification and authentication by the Authority’s standard. (4) A holder of a de-materialized form or certificate may access his de-materialized form or certificate via the Authority’s notified digital platforms.
1 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I)/2025 Dated 12th September 2025 w.e.f 09th September, 2025 2 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I)/2025 Dated 12th September 2025 w.e.f 09th September, 2025
(5) A de-materialized form or certificate issued under these Rules shall have the same legal validity, evidentiary value and enforceability as a card or certificate. (6) All existing Authority’s rules, regulations and procedures of the Authority shall apply mutatis mutandis to de-materialized form of card or certificate, unless expressly excluded or modified by these Rules. 1 [22. Issuance of Digital Identity. - (1) The Authority may issue a Digital Identity to any person holding a valid Pakistan Origin Card. (2) The format of the Digital Identity shall be as notified by the Authority, and may include mobile-based identity, Quick Response (QR) codes, encrypted biometric tokens, or any other secure digital form. (3) The rules applicable to the issuance, verification, renewal, correction, and cancellation of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) and other identity cards or certificates shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Digital Identity, unless otherwise specified. (4) The Authority shall maintain a database of Digital Identity, in such form and manner as may be notified, by the Authority for lifecycle management and interoperability with digital platforms.
1 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I) /2025 Dated 13th September 2025 w.e.f. 09th September 2025
1 [Schedule 1 Rule 11 [No.7/32/2025-NADRA]
1 Ins by S.R.O. 331(I)/2026 Dated 24th February, 2025, with effect from 23rd February, 2026.
1 [Schedule II (Rule 12) Fee for Smart Pakistan Origin Card (SPOC) Type Category Fee (US$) Fresh / Renewal Normal 150 Urgent 200 Executive 250 Modification / Reprint Lost Normal 200 Urgent 250 Executive 300 POC Cancellation (due to death & divorce) - 25 CRC/CNIC/SNIC/NICOP/SNICOP Cancellation (due to surrender of nationality) - 15 Updation of Non-printable field - 30 1 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I) / 2025 Dated 13th September 2025 w.e.f 09th September 2025
1 [Schedule III (Rule 12) APPLICATION FORM 1 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I) / 2025 Dated 13th September 2025 w.e.f 09th September 2025
1 [Schedule IV Rule 20(3) (Cancellation Certificate due to Death) NADRA DATABASE AND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY Ministry of Interior Government of Pakistan RECEIPT FOR POC CANCELLATION (Due to Death) Under Section 17(3) of NADRA Ordinance2000 Applicant Name: _______________ Applicant Citizen Number: ___________________ Applicant’s Relation with Deceased: _________________ Name & Citizen Number of Deceased Deceased Father Name Date of Death
Registrar General of Pakistan Issuance Date “This receipt is legally admissible as evidence to prove the above-mentioned data and information of the aforesaid deceased Under Section 17(4) of NADRA Ordinance2000 xxxxxxxxxxxx 1 Ins by S.R.O 1784 (I) / 2025 Dated 13th September 2025 w.e.f 09th September 2025
1 [Schedule IV Rule 20(3) (Cancellation Certificate due to Divorce by Pakistani Citizen / Origin) NADRA DATABASE AND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY Ministry of Interior Government of Pakistan No:____________________ RECEIPT FOR SURRENDERED CARD {On account of card holder ceasing to be eligible or card becoming invalid as pe section17 (2) read with section 17 (3) of the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000)} Card holder’s Name: Card: Pakistan Origin Card Card Type: SMPOC Card No: This is to acknowledge that the aforementioned Card issued by this Authority to the above-mentioned cardholder, with the number and type mentioned herein above, has been duly surrendered by, or on behalf of, the said cardholder to this Authority and accordingly received back upon the cardholder ceasing to be eligible to hold the Card or, as the case may be, the card becoming invalid. Upon surrender, the aforesaid Card has forthwith become invalid and cannot be used any further.
Registrar General of Pakistan Issuance Date “Under Section 17 (4) of the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000) This receipt is admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving the information of particulars contained herein relating to the person to whom this receipt relates. (File No. )