NADRA Allows Siblings to Verify First CNIC When Parents Unavailable
A sibling in the NADRA family tree can verify a first CNIC application if parents are unavailable.
Young Pakistanis applying for their first Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) no longer need to worry if their parents cannot come to the NADRA office. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has confirmed that a brother or sister listed in the applicant's family tree can complete the required biometric verification instead.
The clarification came in a video shared on NADRA's official YouTube channel this week. A NADRA spokesperson was answering a question from a citizen, who asked who can give fingerprints for a person turning 18 when the parents are not available.
What NADRA Said
The spokesperson said NADRA's first choice is still a parent. Ideally, at least one parent should come with the applicant and verify the application with fingerprints. This helps NADRA confirm that the young person really belongs to the family recorded in its system.
But the process does not stop if parents cannot come. If the father and mother are unavailable, or have passed away, a sibling can do the verification. The only condition is that the sibling must be listed in the applicant's family tree in NADRA's records.
The spokesperson explained it with a simple example. If two brothers or sisters were registered on the same B-Form, also called the Child Registration Certificate, one of them can go with the other and verify the application. Because biometric verification works by matching fingerprints with NADRA's database, the sibling giving fingerprints must already be registered with NADRA.
Applying Online Through Pak ID
NADRA also reminded young people that they do not always have to stand in long queues. If an applicant already has a B-Form, the first CNIC application can be submitted online through the Pak ID mobile app.
The authority gave one important piece of advice. Before applying, citizens should make sure their family tree and B-Form details are complete and correct in NADRA's records. NADRA uses these family links to confirm who the applicant is, so a brother or sister who is not linked in the family tree cannot be used for verification.
How Much a First CNIC Costs
A first CNIC can cost nothing at all. According to NADRA's official fee schedule, a new CNIC on normal priority is free and is ready in about 15 days. Those who need it faster can pay for urgent or executive service. Applicants who want the chip based Smart NIC pay a fee even on normal priority.
Card type | Normal | Urgent | Executive |
|---|---|---|---|
New CNIC | Free (15 days) | Rs1,150 (12 days) | Rs2,150 (6 days) |
New Smart NIC | Rs750 (31 days) | Rs1,500 (23 days) | Rs2,500 (9 days) |
Other Recent Help for First Time Applicants
This is not NADRA's only recent step to help people who struggle to get their first card. In February 2026, NADRA announced that first time applicants could get a CNIC without a computerised birth certificate. This special facility is time bound and will remain open until December 31, 2026.
At that time, NADRA said 98.3 percent of Pakistan's adult population was registered, leaving around 1.7 percent without a CNIC. It said the gap was bigger among women and in districts where birth registration is weak.
Under that scheme, an unmarried woman aged 18 or above needs a valid CNIC or NICOP of a parent, plus the fingerprints of one parent. A married woman also needs a Nikah Nama and her husband's verification. A man above 24 needs a parent with a valid card, at least one sibling with a valid card, and verification by one parent. Where both parents have died but their records exist with NADRA, an authorised officer may allow an exemption from biometric verification after checking the records.
What It Means for Families
For many households, this clarification removes a real worry. Some young people have lost a parent, while others have parents living abroad or too ill to visit a NADRA centre. They can now finish the process with the help of an adult brother or sister.
This matters because a CNIC opens many doors in Pakistan. Without it, a young person cannot open a bank account, get a SIM in their own name, apply for a passport or register as a voter. Families with a child close to 18 should check their family tree on the Pak ID app or at a NADRA centre now, and make sure the sibling who will verify has a valid CNIC.