NADRA Lets You Reprint Lost CNIC From Home via PakID App
Lost or damaged your CNIC? You can now apply for a new copy from home through NADRA's PakID app.
People who have lost their national identity card, or whose card is broken or worn out, no longer have to stand in long queues at a NADRA office to get a new one. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has told citizens that they can apply for a replacement CNIC from home through its PakID mobile app, and have the new card delivered to their address.
The option is not completely new. The Pak Identity app, first released in August 2021, already listed reprint of lost cards among its services, and NADRA shared a video guide on the process in December 2025. The authority is now once again urging people to use the app instead of visiting its centres, as it moves more of its work online.
How to apply for a reprint on PakID
First, download the PakID app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. New users have to make an account with their email address and mobile number, and verify themselves with their fingerprints or face using the phone camera.
After logging in, open the "Identity Documents" section on the home screen and tap "Identity Card". On the next screen, choose who the card is for. Select "Myself" for your own card. You can also apply for a close blood relative such as a father, mother, spouse, brother, sister, son or daughter, but NADRA says that person must be present with you at the time of applying.
Next, tap "Reprint". The app will show your existing details. You then enter the address where you want the new card sent. This can be your permanent or present address, another address, or a NADRA centre. After choosing the service category, tap "Start Application".
No supporting documents are needed for a CNIC reprint, because the new card is printed from your existing NADRA record. Overseas Pakistanis applying for a NICOP reprint must upload their passport. Once the application is checked, a "Pay Now" button appears. The fee can be paid by debit or credit card inside the app, and you can follow the progress of your application in the app's inbox until the card reaches you.
Fee and delivery time
Like other NADRA services, a reprint comes in three categories: Normal, Urgent and Executive. The fee charts reported in the media list the following charges for a smart card duplicate. In its December 2025 guide, NADRA gave the delivery times shown below.
Category | Fee | Delivery time |
|---|---|---|
Normal | Rs 750 | About 30 days |
Urgent | Rs 1,500 | About 12 days |
Executive | Rs 2,500 | About 7 days |
Fees and timelines can change, and different NADRA updates have mentioned different delivery times. The exact amount is shown in the app before you pay, so applicants should check it there. NICOP fees are charged in US dollars and depend on the country where the applicant lives.
Reprint, renewal or modification?
Choosing the right option matters. Reprint is only for a card that is lost or damaged while all the details on it stay the same. If you want to change your name, address, marital status, photo or any other detail, you must choose Modification. If your card has expired or is about to expire, choose Renewal. All three can be done through the PakID app.
Citizens who do not have a smartphone, or who find the app difficult, can still get a reprint the old way. They can visit any NADRA Registration Centre, give their fingerprints, and pick a service category there.
What it means for ordinary people
A lost CNIC is a serious problem in Pakistan. The card is needed to open a bank account, buy a SIM, apply for a passport, receive government payments, and even to get medical and education services. Until now, many people had to take a day off work and travel to a NADRA office just to replace a card. For people in small towns and villages, where centres are far away, the app can save both time and money.
The move also comes at a time when a valid ID card is becoming more important for mobile users. In June 2026, a NADRA spokesperson said 4,906,611 SIMs would be blocked in phases because they were linked to ID cards that had not been renewed or that belonged to people who had died. A lost card does not cancel your record, but people whose lost card had also expired should apply for renewal, not just a reprint, to keep their SIMs safe.
NADRA has also started issuing a new Made in Pakistan identity card with a secure QR code instead of a chip. The federal government approved it on 23 February 2026, and the QR code can be scanned and checked through the same PakID app. NADRA has not said in this latest notice whether reprinted cards will come in the new QR design.
For more details, citizens can visit the official NADRA website or call the NADRA helpline.