The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced a major facilitation for overseas Pakistanis, announcing that the cancellation of NICOP (National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis) and CNICs of deceased individuals will now be completely free of cost and simpler than ever before. The decision, taken under the directives of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, is part of efforts to ensure accurate registration of deaths, improve database transparency, and prevent the misuse of identity cards belonging to deceased citizens.
NADRA stated that close relatives — including parents, spouses, children, or siblings — can now register the death of their loved ones either at the relevant union council in Pakistan or at Pakistani embassies abroad. Once the death is registered, they can apply for cancellation of the deceased person’s ID card at any NADRA centre or through the authority’s mobile application, making the process easier for both local and overseas Pakistanis.
NADRA spokesperson Shabbahat Ali told Urdu News that this step was essential to stop identity and financial fraud linked to the cards of deceased individuals. “In the past, there were many complaints that ID cards remained active even after a person’s death and were misused for illegal activities,” he said. The new system will now ensure that such cards are deactivated promptly and that the national identification record remains clean and transparent.
He added that the new NICOP cancellation policy would particularly ease the burden on overseas Pakistanis who previously had to undergo long and expensive processes to cancel the ID cards of relatives who passed away abroad. The digital system allows applicants to submit requests online via the NADRA mobile app or through Pakistani embassies.
To complete the cancellation, applicants need to provide the deceased person’s ID card (if available), a valid death certificate from the relevant authority or embassy, and their own identification documents. Once submitted, NADRA will process the case and issue a cancellation certificate within seven days.
Officials noted that there are currently thousands of active ID cards in NADRA’s system belonging to people who have passed away. Timely cancellation, they said, would enhance national security and improve the accuracy of Pakistan’s citizen database.
The authority has urged all citizens to report and cancel the ID cards of deceased family members promptly to avoid potential legal or financial misuse. The move is being seen as an administrative milestone with far-reaching benefits for overseas communities.
The new digital mechanism by NADRA makes NICOP cancellation for deceased overseas Pakistanis not only free of cost but also more accessible than ever — a decision expected to save families both time and money while strengthening the integrity of the country’s identification system.