NADRA B-Form 2026: Child Registration Certificate Fee, Documents and Pak-ID Apply Guide

Every child in Pakistan needs an official identity record, and for children under 18 that record is the NADRA B-Form. Known formally as the Child Registration Certificate, the B-Form links a child to the parents’ NADRA record. Parents need it for school admission, passport applications, and many other official tasks. The good news is that applying has become much simpler, with an online route for young babies and a straightforward centre visit for older children.

This guide explains the documents you need, the current fee, the biometric rules for each age group, and both ways to apply. Fees and rules can change, so always confirm the latest fee on the official NADRA website before you pay.

What the B-Form Is and Why It Matters

The B-Form is not a birth certificate. The birth certificate comes first, from the Union Council, and the B-Form is the next step, which enters the child into NADRA’s national database. Without it, a child cannot get a CNIC at 18 smoothly, and many school and travel applications stall at the document-check stage.

• Official identity: The B-Form is the child’s first NADRA identity document, valid until the child turns 18 and applies for a CNIC.
• Family link: It records the child as part of the parents’ family record, which is why the parents’ own CNIC record must be correct first.
• School admission: Schools commonly ask for the B-Form along with the birth certificate at admission time.
• Passport need: A child passport application requires the B-Form, so parents planning travel should apply early.
• Age stages: NADRA issues the certificate in stages, and it must be renewed as the child reaches the ages of 3, 10 and 18, when new biometric details are added.
• One child, one record: Each child gets a separate certificate, so apply for each child individually.

Documents You Need Before You Apply

Most delays happen because one document is missing or does not match the parents’ NADRA record. Gather everything below before you start the application, and check that names and spellings match exactly.

• Birth certificate: The computerised birth certificate from the Union Council, Municipal Committee or Cantonment Board, for a child born in Pakistan.
• Birth abroad: For a child born outside Pakistan, NADRA accepts a detailed foreign birth certificate or the S-1 form, depending on the case.
• Parent’s CNIC: The valid CNIC or NICOP of the parent who is applying must be presented, and both parents’ records should be up to date.
• Marriage record: The parents’ marriage must be recorded in NADRA’s system, because the child’s record is built on the family record.
• Child’s photograph: A clear, recent photograph is needed for children aged 3 and above, taken at the centre or uploaded as directed.
• Old B-Form: For a renewal or a duplicate, carry the previous certificate or its number if you have it.

How to Apply Through the Pak-ID App

The Pak-ID app, listed as Pak Identity in app stores, is NADRA’s official mobile application. According to NADRA’s own service list, a fresh Child Registration Certificate for a baby up to one year old can be applied for through the app. Older children are handled at a registration centre, as explained in the next section.

• Download the app: Install the official Pak-ID app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, and create an account with the parent’s CNIC number.
• Open Family section: Go to the Family section and choose the Child Registration Certificate or B-Form option.
• Enter child details: Fill in the child’s name, date of birth and birth certificate details exactly as they appear on the birth certificate.
• Choose processing speed: Select Normal or Executive processing, and confirm the fee shown in the app before payment.
• Pay the fee: Pay through the payment methods shown in the app, and save the receipt and tracking number.
• Track your application: Use the tracking option in the app to follow the application until the certificate is ready.
• Collect the result: A fresh certificate applied for through the app is delivered as a digital copy in the app or as a printed copy, as directed at the time of application.

How to Apply at a NADRA Registration Centre

The centre route covers every case the app does not: older children, renewals, corrections, and any application that needs a photograph or biometrics in person. Visit the centre with the documents listed above.

• Visit with documents: Take the child’s birth certificate and the parent’s original CNIC or NICOP to the nearest NADRA Registration Centre.
• Take the child along: The presence of children above 3 years of age is mandatory, because their photograph and biometrics are captured at the centre.
• Biometric capture: Staff capture the photograph and, where required, iris scans and fingerprints, as per the age rules in the next section.
• Verify before submission: Read every detail on the printed form before you sign it, because a spelling mistake here will follow the child into every later document.
• Pay and keep the token: Pay the fee at the counter, keep the token or receipt safe, and note the expected collection date.
• Correction route: If any detail is wrong, ask for a modification application at the same centre rather than starting a second fresh application.

Biometric rules by the child’s age: NADRA’s biometric requirements change as the child grows. This is the main reason older children must visit a centre in person, while a baby’s application can often be completed through the app.

• Under 3 years: Biometrics are generally not required, which is why the youngest babies can be registered with documents alone.
• Ages 3 to 10: A photograph and an iris scan are required, while fingerprints are not taken at this stage.
• Ages 10 to 18: A photograph, fingerprints and an iris scan are all required, so the child must attend the centre.
• Renewal at 3, 10 and 18: The certificate is renewed at each of these ages so that the new biometric details are added to the record.
• Expired certificate: An expired certificate should be renewed promptly, because schools and passport offices may refuse an out-of-date document.
• Lost certificate: A reprint or duplicate can be requested through the Pak-ID app or at a centre, with the same fee categories as a fresh application.

Fee and Processing Time in 2026

NADRA’s current fee schedule for the Child Registration Certificate lists only two categories. There is no separate urgent category for this document, so choose between Normal and Executive based on how quickly you need it.

• Same fee for all types: The fee is the same whether the application is fresh, a renewal or a duplicate.
• Check before paying: Fees can be revised, so confirm the amount shown on the official NADRA fee page or in the app before payment.
• Keep the receipt: The payment receipt and tracking number are the only proof of your application until the certificate is issued.
• Overseas applicants: Applicants abroad pay in foreign currency after conversion, and the amount shown in the app may differ from the rupee fee.
• No agents needed: The process does not require any agent or middleman, and paying one only adds cost and risk.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Most B-Form problems are small errors that are easy to prevent. A few minutes of checking at the start can save weeks of correction later.

• Name spelling: Match the child’s name exactly to the birth certificate, including the spelling of the father’s and mother’s names.
• Date of birth: Never guess a date of birth; it must match the Union Council record digit for digit.
• Wrong app expectation: Do not assume the app will accept an older child’s fresh application; children above one year generally need a centre visit.
• Unrecorded marriage: If the parents’ marriage is not in NADRA’s record, fix that record first, or the child’s application may be held.
• Unofficial apps: Use only the official Pak-ID app and the official NADRA website, and never share CNIC copies or one-time codes with strangers.
• Last-minute applications: Apply well before a school admission or travel deadline, because even the executive route depends on documents being in order.

Conclusion

The NADRA B-Form is a small document with a large role in a child’s life. With the birth certificate ready, the fee is only Rs 50 for normal processing, and babies up to one year can be registered through the Pak-ID app. Older children need a short centre visit for their photograph and biometrics. Apply early, check every spelling before submission, and keep the receipt safe until the certificate is in your hands. For the latest fee and service updates, visit the official NADRA website at nadra.gov.pk.

FAQs

What is the NADRA B-Form fee in 2026?
The normal fee is Rs 50 with about 7 days of processing, and the executive fee is Rs 500 with about 1 day of processing.

Can I apply for a B-Form online for any age?
No. The Pak-ID app offers a fresh certificate for babies up to one year old. Older children apply at a NADRA Registration Centre, where their photograph and biometrics are captured.

What documents are needed for a B-Form?
The child’s computerised birth certificate, a parent’s valid CNIC or NICOP, and a recorded marriage in NADRA’s system. For a birth abroad, a detailed foreign birth certificate or S-1 form is used instead.

Does a child need to visit the centre?
Children above 3 years of age must attend, because their photograph and biometrics are captured in person. Children under 3 generally do not need biometrics.

When must the B-Form be renewed?
It is renewed at the ages of 3, 10 and 18, so that new biometric details are added, and it is replaced by a CNIC when the child turns 18.

Shahzad Sahil

Shahzad Sahil is the editor of lahorejobs24.com, covering government jobs, private jobs, bank jobs, results and education news for Lahore and Punjab, with information verified from official sources.