ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has explained the easy way to get your National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) card reissued if it has expired, is lost, or damaged.
According to a statement issued by NADRA, if your NAICOP card has expired, is lost, or damaged, you can get a new card issued from any NADRA office across Pakistan. It can also be reissued through the PakID app.
How to get a NICOP Card
- No additional documents are required for renewal or reprint; only the old CNIC number is sufficient
- There is a self-service kiosk facility at NADRA mega centers where the applicant can submit the application by entering his/her number, updating biometric verification, photo, and signature
- Digital means like e-Sahulat, Easypaisa, Jeez Cash, and Rast can be used to pay the fee
Categories of NICOP
Applicants can choose Normal, Urgent, or Executive categories as per their requirements
According to NADRA officials, the entire process can be completed from home through NADRA’s mobile application. In case of applying through Pak ID, the card will be delivered to the address provided by the applicant worldwide.
Earlier, the Federal Government officially announced extensive changes to the National Identity Card Rules 2002 and the Pakistan Origin Card Rules 2002, which represent a significant advancement toward establishing a complete digital NADRA identity system.
The amendments, which were issued through S.R.O. 330(I)/2026 and S.R.O. 331(I)/2026 under Section 44 of the NADRA Ordinance 2000, were published in the Gazette of Pakistan on February 24, 2026.
The country is now modernizing its identity documentation system through research that implements QR verification systems, increases its biometric authentication capabilities, and introduces new card designs for different citizen groups.
QR-Codes Now Mandatory
The Quick Response (QR) code now becomes an official security feature through its legal designation as a security and verification element that exists under statutory law. The revised rules define the QR code as a secure machine-readable two-dimensional barcode that contains stored identity information that can be rapidly validated through scanning.
The rules permit the implementation of a QR code or any other technological feature as a substitute for the existing microchip system. The National Database and Registration Authority NADRA will gain the ability to implement new verification methods without needing to update its legal framework multiple times.
The reform introduces a standardized identity card system, which will replace the existing dual system that allows citizens to choose between chip-based Smart National Identity Cards and non-chip identity cards.
All citizens will possess a standardized card that includes advanced verification features because they can use QR technology for their identification needs throughout public and private institutions.
