Pakistan

Last Updated: 2026-04-01

Official Portal: Ministry of Interior — Directorate General of Immigration & Passports

Embassy Finder: Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Missions Abroad

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	5 years of residence in Pakistan (7 years under certain provisions)
Language requirement	Adequate knowledge of a language spoken in Pakistan (Urdu, English, or regional language)
Civics test	No formal civics test
Processing time	6—24 months (varies by application type and government backlog)
Naturalization fee	PKR 5,000—15,000 (approximately USD 18—54)
Dual citizenship	Conditional — permitted with 21 specific countries through bilateral agreements
Citizenship by birth in Pakistan	Yes (jus soli, with exceptions for children of diplomats and enemy aliens)
Citizenship by descent	Yes — through either parent
Governing law	Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (as amended)

Dual Citizenship

Conditional. Pakistan permits dual citizenship only with countries that have entered into bilateral agreements with Pakistan. As of 2026, Pakistan has dual nationality agreements with 21 countries, including:

United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, Iceland, Switzerland, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and several others.

Pakistani citizens who acquire nationality of an agreement country retain Pakistani citizenship automatically. Those who acquire citizenship of a non-agreement country technically lose Pakistani citizenship under Section 14 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951, though enforcement has been inconsistent.

NICOP and POC cards: Pakistan issues the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC) to facilitate the diaspora’s continued engagement. The POC grants visa-free entry and property/banking rights to former Pakistani nationals and persons of Pakistani descent.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Pakistan recognizes jus soli with limited exceptions. Under Section 4 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act:

Every person born in Pakistan after 13 April 1951 is a citizen of Pakistan by birth.
Exceptions: Children of diplomatic agents accredited to Pakistan and children of enemy aliens born in a place under enemy occupation.

This is one of the more generous birthright citizenship provisions in Asia.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

A person born outside Pakistan is a citizen by descent if, at the time of birth:

The person’s father was a citizen of Pakistan (Section 5).
Under the 2000 amendment, citizenship by descent is also transmitted through the mother if the birth is registered at a Pakistani consulate within one year.

Registration requirement for births abroad: The birth must be registered with a Pakistani mission abroad. Failure to register does not automatically extinguish the claim but complicates the documentation process.

There is no explicit generational limit, though practical difficulties in establishing documentation increase with each generation born abroad.

By Adoption

Pakistan does not have formal adoption legislation under its dominant Islamic legal framework (kafala guardianship is practiced). Adoption does not automatically confer Pakistani citizenship. However, a child under guardianship of a Pakistani citizen may be eligible for citizenship through other provisions (registration or naturalization).

By Marriage

Marriage to a Pakistani citizen does not automatically confer Pakistani citizenship. However, a foreign spouse may apply for citizenship by registration under Section 10 of the Citizenship Act.

Requirements:

The marriage must be legally recognized.
The applicant must be ordinarily resident in Pakistan.
Application is made to the federal government through the Ministry of Interior.
There is no specific minimum marriage duration, but residence in Pakistan is expected.

By Naturalization (Residency)

Requirement	Details
Residency	Not less than 5 years of residence in Pakistan during the preceding 8 years, including at least 12 months immediately before the application
Language	Adequate knowledge of a language spoken in Pakistan
Character	Good character; no criminal convictions
Intent	Intention to reside in Pakistan or serve the Pakistan government
Oath	Oath of allegiance to Pakistan
Renunciation	Must renounce prior nationality (unless dual citizenship agreement exists)
Approval	Federal government discretion
Fee	PKR 5,000—15,000

Special provisions: The federal government has the power to waive or reduce any of the above requirements in special cases. Citizens of Commonwealth countries benefit from simplified registration procedures.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Pakistani citizen of full age and capacity may renounce citizenship by making a declaration of renunciation (Section 14A). The renunciation is registered and takes effect upon registration, provided the person holds or acquires another nationality.

Involuntary Loss

Ground	Details
Acquisition of non-agreement country citizenship	Automatic loss upon voluntarily acquiring citizenship of a country with which Pakistan has no dual nationality agreement (Section 14)
Fraud	Citizenship obtained by fraud, false representation, or concealment may be deprived (Section 16)
Disloyalty	Trading with an enemy during war, or actions showing disloyalty to Pakistan
Extended foreign residence	Naturalized citizens continuously resident outside Pakistan for 7+ years who have not registered annually at a Pakistani consulate may face deprivation (Section 16)
Foreign government service	Unauthorized service under a foreign government

Restoration of Nationality

Former Pakistani citizens who renounced or lost citizenship may apply for restoration through the Ministry of Interior. The federal government has discretion to restore citizenship, typically requiring:

Application demonstrating the reasons for seeking restoration.
Renunciation of any conflicting nationality (unless a dual citizenship agreement exists).
Clean criminal record.
Payment of applicable fees.

The Pakistan Origin Card (POC) provides an intermediate status for former citizens who have not yet restored full citizenship, granting visa-free entry and many of the practical rights of citizenship (property ownership, bank accounts, business registration).

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Pakistan is not a party to the 1954 Convention on Statelessness or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Foundlings: There is no explicit statutory provision for foundlings, though the broad jus soli rule means most children born in Pakistan acquire citizenship regardless of parentage.
Statelessness: Pakistan hosts significant populations of undocumented persons, including Afghan refugees (estimated 1.3—3 million) and Bengali-speaking communities in Karachi (estimated 200,000—1 million) who arrived during or after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and remain largely stateless.

Document Checklist

Sources

Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (as amended). https://www.na.gov.pk/
Directorate General of Immigration and Passports. https://www.dgip.gov.pk/
NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority) — NICOP and POC services. https://www.nadra.gov.pk/
Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. https://mofa.gov.pk/
Pakistan Ministry of Interior. https://www.interior.gov.pk/
Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT) — Pakistan. https://globalcit.eu/

Pakistan.pk

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