The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has clarified that overseas Pakistanis can use their foreign mobile numbers to create accounts on the Pak ID mobile application and apply for identity documents, including the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).
During a NADRA podcast, a Pakistani citizen living in Canada asked how overseas Pakistanis could apply for NICOP using their foreign mobile numbers.
Responding to the question, NADRA spokesperson Syed Shabahat Ali explained that applicants do not need a Pakistani mobile number to register on the Pak ID app. Instead, they can select their country of residence and enter a mobile number issued in that country.
According to the spokesperson, some overseas Pakistanis face difficulties during registration because the application appears to request a Pakistani mobile number.
He explained that this happens when applicants select Pakistan as their country of residence. In such cases, the system requests a Pakistani number to send a one-time password (OTP) for account verification.
NADRA has advised overseas Pakistanis to select their actual country of residence when creating an account. For example, a Pakistani living in Canada can select Canada as their country of residence and enter their Canadian mobile number to complete the registration process.
The authority clarified that a mobile number is required to activate a Pak ID account, but it does not necessarily have to be a Pakistani number.
What is NICOP?
The National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) is an identity document issued by NADRA to eligible Pakistani citizens living abroad.
It serves as an official identity document for Pakistanis residing overseas for employment, education or permanent residence, as well as eligible citizens holding dual nationality.
Overseas Pakistanis can use the Pak ID application to apply for NICOP and access other relevant identity-document services without visiting a NADRA office in Pakistan.
