A Family Registration Certificate (FRC) is NADRA’s official record of the family members linked to your CNIC. The NADRA FRC fee is Rs 1,000 for one family type (Alpha, Beta or Gamma) and Rs 2,000 for a certificate showing both your birth and marital families, with one-day processing. You can apply in the Pak ID app or at any NADRA Registration Centre.
Last checked: 20 October 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
What is a family registration certificate?
NADRA issues the FRC under Rule 19 of the National Identity Card Rules, 2002, as proof of family composition data held in its database. In June 2025 the federal government amended the NIC Rules to give the FRC formal legal status, as Pakistan Observer reported. Since then, every applicant signs an undertaking that the information is correct, and the certificate is issued only from NADRA’s records.
Two points matter before you apply. First, the FRC only prints relationships NADRA already has: it does not add a missing child or spouse. Second, it is not proof of nationality. For that you need your CNIC, NICOP or a Pakistan Origin Card.
FRC types: Alpha, Beta and Gamma families
Since the 2025 reform, NADRA splits the family registration certificate into three types, according to ARY News and the NADRA FRC page.
| FRC type | Who appears | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha (family by birth) | You, your father, mother and siblings | Visas for parents or siblings, succession of a parent’s estate, school records |
| Beta (family by marriage) | You, your spouse or spouses, and your children | Spouse and family reunion visas, children’s passports abroad, inheritance by widow or children |
| Gamma (family by adoption) | Guardian and adopted family member | Guardianship and adoption-related cases |
| Both (birth and marriage) | Birth family and marital family on one document | When an embassy or court asks for “complete family” |
The marital (Beta) certificate now shows full details of men with more than one marriage, which NADRA says removes ambiguity found in the old format.
NADRA FRC fee and processing time (2026)
NADRA’s fee structure page lists the following executive fees:
| Certificate | Fee | Processing |
|---|---|---|
| FRC, one family type (Alpha, Beta or Gamma) | Rs 1,000 | 1 day |
| FRC, both families on one certificate | Rs 2,000 | 1 day |
The same fee applies in the Pak ID app and at a registration centre. Pay only inside the app or at the NADRA counter, and keep the receipt or tracking ID.
What the FRC is used for
- Visas and immigration. UK, Canadian, Gulf and European embassies often ask for an FRC with spouse, child or parent visa files to prove the relationship.
- Succession and inheritance. Courts and NADRA’s succession facilitation units use family records to identify legal heirs. An FRC is a quick way to show who is in the family before you apply for a succession certificate.
- School and university admissions. Some institutions ask for an FRC or a child’s B-Form to confirm guardianship. If you still need the child’s record, see our B-Form NADRA online guide.
- Bank, pension and insurance claims where the beneficiary must prove a relationship to the account holder.
Eligibility and documents
You need a 13-digit identity number: a CNIC, NICOP, Pakistan Origin Card, Juvenile Card or CRC (B-Form). Family members who should appear on the certificate must already be registered with NADRA. A deceased relative can still appear if they were in NADRA’s records.
For a registration centre, bring your original CNIC or NICOP. For the app, keep your CNIC, a phone with a working camera and your mobile number registered in your name handy. If a check of your SIM ownership is needed, here is how to check which number is on your CNIC.
How to apply for an FRC on the Pak ID app
- Download the official Pak ID app by NADRA from Google Play or the App Store. Avoid APK files and lookalike apps.
- Sign up or log in with your CNIC and mobile number, and complete the face or fingerprint check.
- From the home screen, open Certificates and select Family Registration Certificate.
- Choose the family type: birth (Alpha), marriage (Beta), adoption (Gamma) or both.
- Review every family member the app shows. If someone is wrong or missing, stop here and fix the record first (see below).
- Accept the undertaking and pay the fee by debit or credit card or the payment options shown.
- Track the application in the app and download the PDF when it is issued, usually within a day.
Applying at a NADRA Registration Centre
Visit any NADRA Registration Centre or Mega Centre with your original CNIC. Tell the operator which FRC type you need, check the family list on the screen, pay at the counter and collect the receipt. Overseas Pakistanis can use the Pak ID app with a NICOP or POC instead of visiting an embassy.
If a family member is missing or wrong
The FRC cannot be issued with a relationship that is not in NADRA’s database. Add or correct the link first:
- Missing spouse: register the marriage with NADRA using the computerised Marriage Registration Certificate (MRC) from the union council.
- Missing child: register the child’s birth and get a CRC (B-Form).
- Wrong parent or sibling: apply for a family tree correction through the Pak ID app or at a NADRA centre.
Once the record is updated, apply for the FRC again. Applying before the correction only produces a certificate with the same error.
Verification and attestation
Most embassies accept the NADRA certificate as issued, and some verify it directly with NADRA. If an embassy or foreign employer asks for an attested FRC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched an online attestation and apostille portal on 12 October 2026 that accepts family registration certificates, according to ProPakistani. Check the destination embassy’s checklist before paying for attestation.
Some embassies want an FRC issued within the last few months. NADRA does not print an expiry date, so follow the embassy’s rule and get a fresh copy if needed.
Common mistakes
- Ordering the birth (Alpha) FRC for a spouse visa, which needs the marriage (Beta) family.
- Applying before the marriage or child is registered with NADRA.
- Paying an agent for something the Pak ID app does for Rs 1,000.
- Name spellings on the FRC that do not match the passport, which visa officers query. Fix the CNIC first.
If you are applying for a family visa abroad, our guides to the Germany work visa and NICOP renewal online cover the other documents you will need.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NADRA FRC fee in 2026?
Rs 1,000 for one family type and Rs 2,000 for both birth and marital families on one certificate, both with one-day processing.
Which FRC do I need for a spouse visa?
The marriage family (Beta) certificate, which lists you, your spouse and your children. If the embassy wants parents too, order both.
Can I get an FRC online?
Yes. The Pak ID app issues the FRC as a downloadable PDF after you pay the fee, and it works for overseas Pakistanis with a NICOP or POC.
How long is a family registration certificate valid?
NADRA does not set an expiry. Some embassies require a recently issued copy, so check their checklist.
Why is my spouse not showing on the FRC?
Your marriage is not registered in NADRA’s records. Register it with the union council MRC first, then apply again.
Is the FRC proof of Pakistani nationality?
No. It proves family relationships recorded by NADRA. Use your CNIC, NICOP or passport for nationality.
Who do I contact if my FRC application is stuck?
Call the NADRA helpline on 1777 or +92 51 111 786 100, or email csd@nadra.gov.pk with your tracking ID.
