NADRA waives fee for cancelling NICOPs of deceased overseas Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has announced a major facilitation for overseas Pakistanis, making the cancellation of National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) of deceased individuals both free of cost and simpler.

The decision, taken on the directives of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, aims to ensure timely and accurate registration of deaths and improve transparency in the national citizen database.

According to NADRA, no fee will now be charged for cancelling the NICOP or national identity card of Pakistani citizens who pass away abroad.

According to the NADRA< close relatives — including parents, siblings, spouses or children — will be able to register the death of their loved ones with the relevant union council in Pakistan or at a Pakistani embassy abroad.

After registration, they can apply for cancellation of the deceased person’s ID card through a NADRA centre or via the authority’s mobile app.

NADRA spokesperson Shabbahat Ali told Urdu News that the step has been taken to prevent possible misuse of ID cards belonging to deceased persons.

“In the past, there have been numerous complaints that identity cards remained active even after a person’s death, and were sometimes used for identity or financial fraud,” he said.

He said that the new mechanism will ensure that deaths are recorded promptly and accurately, leaving little room for any misuse of inactive ID cards.

“The system will not only facilitate citizens living in Pakistan but also ease the process for families of overseas Pakistanis,” he said.

Previously, many families faced difficulties in getting official records cancelled after the death of their relatives abroad. Under the new digital process, the task can now be completed online through NADRA’s mobile application or via Pakistani embassies.

The NDRA spokesperson said that to cancel the ID card of a deceased individual, applicants must provide the person’s card (if available), a death certificate issued by the relevant union council or embassy, and their own identification documents.

Once the application is complete, NADRA will officially deactivate the ID card and issue a cancellation certificate within seven days.

Officials said the move, while administrative in nature, carries broad and positive implications.

Currently, there are thousands of active ID cards in NADRA’s database belonging to people who have passed away, and their timely cancellation will make the national identification system more secure and transparent.

The NADRA has advised citizens to promptly complete the process after the death of close relatives to maintain accurate records and avoid potential legal or financial complications.

The initiative is expected to particularly benefit families of overseas Pakistanis who previously had to go through lengthy and costly procedures for card cancellations. The new policy will now save both time and money, NADRA said.

Earlier, the NADRA, declared Arshad Khan, the tea seller who gained global fame in 2016 for his striking blue eyes after being photographed as the “Chaiwala,” a Pakistani citizen, with his national identity card reinstated.