NICOP vs POC: Which Card Do You Need?

The NICOP vs POC card question comes down to one thing: whether you are still a Pakistani citizen. A NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis) is for Pakistani citizens living abroad, including dual nationals. A POC (Pakistan Origin Card) is for people of Pakistani origin who are not Pakistani citizens, such as those who gave up Pakistani nationality, the foreign-born children and grandchildren of Pakistanis, and foreign spouses of Pakistani nationals. Both give visa-free entry to Pakistan, both are issued by NADRA, and you cannot hold both at once.

This guide sets out the differences side by side, explains who in a typical overseas family needs which card, and covers how to apply. For what happens at the airport when you arrive on either card, see our guide to travelling to Pakistan on a NICOP or POC.

What is the difference between NICOP and POC?

A NICOP is a national identity card. It is the overseas version of the CNIC, issued to Pakistani citizens who live, work or hold another nationality abroad, and it confirms that you are a citizen registered with NADRA. Children of Pakistani nationals and of dual nationals are also eligible.

A POC is not a citizenship document. It is issued to foreign nationals who have a family link to Pakistan, and its job is to give them most of the practical rights of living in and visiting the country without making them citizens. Eligible people include those whose Pakistani nationality has been annulled or renounced, those whose parents or grandparents held Pakistani nationality, and the foreign spouses of Pakistani nationals.

The two are for opposite citizenship situations, which is why one person cannot hold both.

Which card do I need?

Work it out from your citizenship, not from where you live.

• You were born Pakistani and never gave up your citizenship, even if you now hold a British, American, Canadian or other passport: NICOP.
• You renounced Pakistani citizenship, for example to take the nationality of a country that does not allow dual citizenship: POC.
• You were born abroad to Pakistani parents and hold only a foreign passport: it depends on your citizenship by descent. Many children of Pakistani nationals are, and are eligible for NICOP. Where citizenship was not passed on or has been lost, POC is the route.
• You are a foreign national married to a Pakistani: POC. Our guide to the Pakistan visa for a foreign spouse covers the visa route if the card is not ready in time.

Does Pakistan allow dual nationality with my country?

Pakistan has dual nationality arrangements with 22 countries: Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, the United Kingdom and the United States. If you naturalised in one of these, you will usually still be Pakistani and need a NICOP.

If your other country is not on the list, your position depends on whether you formally lost Pakistani nationality. The Lahore High Court has held that loss of citizenship is not automatic unless taking the foreign nationality required you to renounce it. Cases like this are where people get stuck, so check your own position with NADRA or your nearest Pakistani mission before you apply for either card. Former citizens can also apply to resume Pakistani citizenship by making a written declaration to the government.

What does each card let you do?

Both cards give visa-free entry to Pakistan. Wikipedia's summary of Pakistan's visa policy states that visas are not required for holders of a POC or a NICOP. You still travel on your foreign passport if you do not hold a Pakistani one, and you show the card alongside it.

A NICOP works in Pakistan as your identity card, in the same way as a CNIC. Because you are a citizen, it is the ID you show for official paperwork in Pakistan, from banks to property offices, as a resident would show a CNIC.

A POC, according to NADRA's published benefits as reported by ARY News, lets the holder:

• enter Pakistan without a visa;
• live in Pakistan without registering with the police or immigration as a foreigner;
• own property in Pakistan;
• open bank accounts.

It does not give citizenship, so POC holders cannot get a Pakistani passport. A new benefit was announced in August 2026: Saudi Arabia agreed to let POC holders perform Hajj under Pakistan's quota from 2027, with 1 per cent of the quota, about 1,792 places, reserved for them through the government and private schemes.

How do you apply for a NICOP or POC?

Both are applied for online through NADRA's Pak-ID portal and app at id.nadra.gov.pk. The Pakistan High Commission in London tells applicants that manual booking of POC applications has stopped and walk-in applicants will not be served.

For a NICOP, you apply in your own Pak-ID account with your photograph, fingerprints and supporting documents. Your parents' or spouse's NADRA cards should be valid; if one has expired, it needs renewing first.

For a POC, the application is usually made through the Pak-ID account of a Pakistani family member, such as a parent, sibling or child, who confirms the blood relationship. Documents proving the link, such as birth and marriage certificates, are what most POC applications turn on, so collect them early.

How long does it take?

NADRA offers normal, urgent and executive processing for both. Reported times vary by card and source:

• POC: about 30 days normal, 12 days urgent and 7 days executive (ARY News, 2025).
• NICOP: the Pakistan High Commission in London quotes 6 to 8 weeks normal, 4 to 5 weeks urgent and 2 weeks executive, including delivery to the UK.

Allow longer than either figure suggests if you are travelling for a wedding or Eid. Approved cards are posted to the address on the application.

How much does each card cost?

A POC costs considerably more than a NICOP, and NICOP fees are set by zone, with lower fees for applicants in the Gulf, Africa and Asia than for those in Europe, North America and Australia. NADRA revised its fees in September 2026, and figures quoted by missions and the press do not all match, so check the fee shown on Pak-ID at the point of payment rather than relying on a number from a blog.

Common mistakes

1. Applying for a POC when you are still a citizen. If you never renounced Pakistani nationality, you probably need a NICOP, and a wrong application wastes the fee and weeks of time.
2. Assuming children are covered by a parent's card. Each child needs their own NICOP or POC to enter without a visa.
3. Letting a card expire before a trip. Check the expiry date months ahead, because renewing from abroad takes weeks.
4. Mismatched details. If your foreign passport number or name has changed, update the card, or expect questions at immigration.

Before you fly, also read our guide to mobile phone registration for overseas Pakistanis, since PTA rules apply to phones bought abroad, and our wider trip planning guide for overseas Pakistanis. Our FAQs answer other common questions about travelling with us.

Frequently asked questions