NADRA Birth Certificate 2026 — Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Apply Online, Fee & B-Form
This is not an official NADRA website. This guide is independent, general information about the NADRA birth certificate. For official information, always check NADRA’s website at nadra.gov.pk or your Union Council office before you apply.
What Is a NADRA Birth Certificate?
A NADRA birth certificate is the computerized official record of a child’s birth, registered in Pakistan’s civil system. It is the first official document a child ever has, and it is the foundation for everything that follows: the NADRA B-Form (Child Registration Certificate), school admission, a passport, and eventually the CNIC itself. Without a birth certificate, none of those later documents can be made properly, because every one of them asks for the birth record as its starting proof. Parents who delay birth registration often discover the cost years later, when a child cannot be admitted to school or cannot get a B-Form without a long and frustrating late-registration process.
The most important thing to understand about a NADRA birth certificate is who issues it. NADRA does not issue the birth certificate directly. A birth is registered by your local Union Council, Municipal Committee, or Cantonment Board, which issues the computerized birth certificate through the NADRA-linked Civil Registration Management System (CRMS). NADRA’s own document — the Child Registration Certificate, known as the B-Form or CRC — comes afterwards, based on that birth certificate. So the correct order is: Union Council birth certificate first, then NADRA B-Form. Parents who go straight to a NADRA centre expecting a birth certificate are sent back to their Union Council, and that wasted trip is the most common mistake in this whole process.
There is also a newer route. NADRA launched online birth and death registration through its Pak ID app in August 2025, starting in Chakwal district and expanding to more districts in phases. In areas where the service is live, a birth can be reported from home through the app, and the information goes directly to the relevant Union Council. But the online route is not yet nationwide. In most districts, the in-person Union Council route is still the only option, and parents should check whether the Pak ID option is live in their district before assuming it is.
Example — the school admission that stopped: Parents try to admit their six-year-old daughter to school. The school asks for her birth certificate and her B-Form. The parents have neither — the birth was never registered. They must now register the birth late at the Union Council, wait for the certificate, then apply for the B-Form, and only then can the school complete the admission. A registration done in the child’s first weeks would have taken a single visit. The delay cost them a school year.
Example — registering early, the easy way: A baby is born in a hospital. The parents take the hospital birth slip to their Union Council within a few weeks, register the birth, and receive the computerized certificate. In Punjab, registration within seven years is free. They then apply for the B-Form from NADRA for Rs 50 on the normal track. Two short visits, a total cost of Rs 50, and the child’s entire paper trail is in place for life.
When Should You Register a Birth?
Register the birth as soon as you reasonably can — ideally within 60 days of the birth. The hospital birth slip is fresh, the Union Council’s process is straightforward, and in Punjab registration is free up to seven years. After seven years, Punjab charges Rs 200 for late registration, and the process needs more verification. The longer you wait, the more proof the Union Council will ask for, and the more likely it is that the hospital slip has been lost or the hospital has archived its record.
There is one more timing fact worth knowing. Adults who never had a birth certificate can still get a first CNIC without one until 31 December 2026, according to reports from November 2026. That is a temporary relaxation, not a permanent rule, and it does not help children who need a B-Form for school. Do not rely on it as a reason to delay your child’s registration — register the birth now, while the documents are at hand.
NADRA Birth Certificate Fee
The fee for a NADRA birth certificate depends on where you live, because the Union Council sets its own charges within provincial rules. In Punjab, under the Birth and Death Registration Rules 2025, registration is free up to 7 years, Rs 200 after 7 years, Rs 1,000 for overseas Pakistanis, and Rs 2,000 for foreigners. Those figures come from the Punjab rules as reported by major newspapers. In other provinces, the Union Council fee is typically small — usually around Rs 100 to Rs 200 — but it is set locally, so confirm the exact amount at your own council. In Sindh, birth registration through CRMS is reported to be free, with the provincial government covering the verification charges.
The B-Form is a separate document with a separate fee, and it is worth knowing both figures together. NADRA’s B-Form costs Rs 50 on the normal track (about 7 days) or Rs 500 for executive (about 1 day). There is no urgent category for the B-Form.
So a Punjab family that registers a birth on time and applies for the B-Form on the normal track pays Rs 0 plus Rs 50 — a total of Rs 50 — for the child’s complete paper trail. An older department FAQ once listed Rs 100 for the computerized certificate in Punjab, but the 2025 rules as reported make registration free within seven years, and this guide follows the newer rules while telling readers to confirm locally.
Documents You Need for a NADRA Birth Certificate
Take the hospital birth slip — the slip the hospital gives you at the time of delivery — because it is the primary proof of the birth. It shows the child’s name, date and time of birth, the parents’ names, and the hospital’s details. If the birth took place at home rather than in a hospital, you will need a declaration from the attending dai or midwife, or witnesses who can confirm the birth, and the Union Council will tell you exactly what it accepts.
Take the original CNICs of both parents, plus photocopies. The parents’ CNICs are how the child’s record is linked to the family in NADRA’s system. If only one parent has a CNIC, take that one and tell the Union Council — the process can still be completed, but the staff may ask additional questions. Take your marriage registration certificate as well, if you have one, because some Union Councils ask for it as supporting proof of parentage.
You do not need photographs of the baby for the birth certificate itself. You do not need to pay an agent. And you do not need to bring the child to the Union Council — the registration is a paper process, and the child does not need to be present.
How to Get a NADRA Birth Certificate — Step by Step
Step 1: Register the Birth at the Union Council
Go to the Union Council, Municipal Committee, or Cantonment Board of the area where the child was born, with the hospital birth slip and both parents’ CNICs. Fill in the birth registration form with the child’s name, date of birth, place of birth, and the parents’ details. Check the spelling of the child’s name carefully before you submit the form — a spelling mistake on the birth certificate will follow the child into the B-Form and the CNIC, and correcting it later is slow. Pay the fee, if any, and take the receipt.
Step 2: Collect the Computerized Birth Certificate
The Union Council enters the birth into the CRMS system and issues the computerized birth certificate. In most cases this takes a few working days. Collect it from the same office and check every detail on the spot: the child’s name in English and Urdu, the date of birth, the parents’ names and CNIC numbers, and the registration number. If anything is wrong, ask for a correction immediately.
Step 3: Apply for the NADRA B-Form (CRC)
With the birth certificate in hand, apply for the child’s B-Form from NADRA. The B-Form is NADRA’s own document — the Child Registration Certificate — and it is the document schools, passport offices, and NADRA itself actually use for children under 18. Apply through the Pak ID app or at a NADRA Registration Centre, using the birth certificate and a parent’s CNIC. The fee is Rs 50 on the normal track (about 7 days) or Rs 500 for executive (about 1 day). For children up to one year old, the Pak ID app can handle the application from home.
For older children, you may need to visit a NADRA centre. Read our full guide to the NADRA B-Form, its documents and fee before you apply.
Step 4: Keep Both Documents Safe
Keep the birth certificate and the B-Form together in a safe place, with the parents’ CNICs. You will need the B-Form for school admission, for a passport, and for the child’s first CNIC at 18. Take photocopies for day-to-day use and keep the originals at home. If either document is lost, it can be reissued from the same record, but reissue takes time — prevention is better.
Can You Apply for a NADRA Birth Certificate Online?
In districts where NADRA has linked Union Council registration to the Pak ID app, yes. Open the Pak ID app, log in with your own CNIC account, open the birth registration service, enter the child’s and parents’ details exactly as on the hospital slip, and upload clear photos of the slip and both CNICs. The application goes to your Union Council for verification, and the certificate is issued from that verified record. This fully digital route currently works in covered CRMS areas — for example, many Sindh districts such as Karachi, Larkana, and Jamshoro, and parts of other provinces — and NADRA is expanding it.
But the online route is not yet nationwide, and if the option does not appear in your Pak ID app, do not be confused — it simply means your district is not live yet. Go to your Union Council in person instead. There is no public website that issues a birth certificate from a CNIC number alone, and any website that claims to do so should not be trusted with your personal information.
NADRA Birth Certificate Compared With the B-Form
Parents often confuse these two documents. They are different, and you need both.
| Birth certificate | B-Form (CRC) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The computerized record of the birth, registered at the Union Council | NADRA’s Child Registration Certificate for children under 18 |
| Who issues it | Union Council / Municipal Committee / Cantonment Board, via CRMS | NADRA, through the Pak ID app or a Registration Centre |
| What it proves | That the birth happened, when, where, and to whom | That the child is registered in NADRA’s national database |
| Fee (Punjab) | Free up to 7 years; Rs 200 after 7 years | Rs 50 normal (about 7 days); Rs 500 executive (about 1 day) |
| Needed for | The B-Form, and as the base record for the child | School admission, passport, and the first CNIC at 18 |
| Online route | Pak ID app, in covered districts | Pak ID app (up to age 1) or NADRA centre |
The birth certificate is the foundation. The B-Form is the building on top of it. Do them in that order, and do not skip either one.
Common Problems — and What to Do
The Hospital Slip Is Lost
If the hospital birth slip is lost, the Union Council will ask for alternative proof. That may include a letter from the hospital, if it still has the record, or a declaration from witnesses to the birth. Go to the hospital first and ask whether it can reissue the slip or a certified record of the birth. The longer you wait, the harder this becomes, because hospitals archive old records.
The Birth Was at Home
A home birth needs a declaration from the dai or midwife who attended, or from witnesses, and the Union Council will tell you what form that declaration must take. Take the witnesses’ CNIC details with you. Do not let anyone charge you for arranging witnesses — the Union Council’s own process is free or nearly free.
The Child Is Already Several Years Old
Late registration is possible, but it needs more proof. In Punjab, registration after seven years costs Rs 200 and needs extra verification. Take the hospital record if you can still get it, the child’s school record if the child is already in school, and any other document that shows the child’s date of birth. The Union Council will tell you what it accepts. Do not let the delay grow longer — every year makes it harder.
The Name Is Spelt Wrong on the Certificate
Check the certificate the day you collect it. If the child’s name is misspelt, ask for a correction at the issuing office immediately, with the hospital slip as proof of the correct spelling. A wrong spelling on the birth certificate will be copied into the B-Form and then into the CNIC, and each later correction is slower and more expensive than fixing it at the start.
The B-Form Application Is Refused
A B-Form application is usually refused because the birth certificate is missing or because the parents’ CNIC details do not match. Fix the underlying problem first — get the birth certificate, or correct the CNIC — and then reapply. Read our guide to the NADRA B-Form for the full list of what NADRA asks for.
Your NADRA Birth Certificate Checklist
- I have the hospital birth slip, or the home-birth declaration.
- I have both parents’ original CNICs, plus photocopies.
- I have checked the spelling of my child’s name before submitting the form.
- I know which Union Council has jurisdiction over where the child was born.
- I have registered the birth promptly, and I have kept the receipt.
- I have collected the computerized certificate and checked every detail.
- I have applied for the B-Form from NADRA (Rs 50 normal, Rs 500 executive).
- I have kept both documents safe, with photocopies for daily use.
Common Questions
How do I get a NADRA birth certificate in Pakistan?
Register the birth at the Union Council, Municipal Committee, or Cantonment Board where the child was born, with the hospital birth slip and both parents’ CNICs. The Union Council enters the birth into the CRMS system and issues the computerized certificate. In some districts the same registration can be started in the Pak ID app. Then apply for the NADRA B-Form separately.
What is the fee for a NADRA birth certificate?
In Punjab, registration is free up to 7 years, Rs 200 after 7 years, Rs 1,000 for overseas Pakistanis, and Rs 2,000 for foreigners, under the Punjab Birth and Death Registration Rules 2025. In other provinces the Union Council fee is typically around Rs 100 to Rs 200. The B-Form is separate: Rs 50 normal (about 7 days) or Rs 500 executive (about 1 day).
Can I apply for a NADRA birth certificate online?
In districts where NADRA has linked Union Council registration to the Pak ID app, yes — you can start the NADRA birth certificate registration in the app and the application goes to your Union Council for verification. The service is expanding but is not yet nationwide. If the option does not appear in your app, go to the Union Council in person.
What is the difference between a birth certificate and a B-Form?
A NADRA birth certificate is the computerized record of the birth, issued by the Union Council through the CRMS system. The B-Form (Child Registration Certificate, or CRC) is NADRA’s own document for children under 18, issued on the basis of the birth certificate. Schools, passport offices, and NADRA itself use the B-Form. You need the birth certificate first, then the B-Form.
How long does a NADRA birth certificate take?
The Union Council normally issues the NADRA birth certificate within a few working days of registration. The B-Form then takes about 7 days on the normal track or about 1 day on the executive track. Treat these as planning estimates and confirm the current timing at your office or in the app.
What if my child was born at home?
Take a declaration from the dai or midwife who attended the birth, or from witnesses, to the Union Council, along with both parents’ CNICs. The Union Council will tell you what form the declaration must take, and the NADRA birth certificate is issued once it is accepted. Do not pay anyone to arrange witnesses.
Do I need a NADRA birth certificate for a first CNIC?
For children, the B-Form (which needs a NADRA birth certificate) is the route to a first CNIC at 18. For adults who never had a birth certificate, a first CNIC can be obtained without one until 31 December 2026, according to reports from November 2026 — but that is a temporary relaxation, and it does not help children who need a B-Form for school.
What if the NADRA birth certificate has a wrong spelling?
Ask for a correction at the issuing Union Council immediately, with the hospital slip as proof of the correct spelling. Do not wait — the wrong spelling will be copied into the B-Form and then into the CNIC, and each later correction is slower.
Conclusion
A NADRA birth certificate is a small piece of paper that decides a child’s whole paper trail. Register the birth at the Union Council within weeks of the delivery, with the hospital slip and both parents’ CNICs — in Punjab it is free for seven years. Check the spelling before you submit the form, collect the computerized certificate and check it again, and then apply for the NADRA B-Form for Rs 50 on the normal track.
Two short visits and fifty rupees put your child’s record in place for school, for a passport, and for the CNIC at eighteen. Delay, and every later step becomes slower, more expensive, and more frustrating. Register early, and keep both documents safe. For the next step, read our guide to the NADRA B-Form, its documents and fee and to the NADRA Family Registration Certificate.
