Eligibility quiz
Are you under 21 years old?
Benefits
Benefits for your childBenefits for your child
Pakistani passport and ID
Pakistani citizens can hold a Pakistani passport and an identity card.
An ordinary passport lasts five or ten years, but no more than five years for children under 15.
Citizens can renew it or get one from a Pakistani mission abroad, whatever their residence status there.
Live in Pakistan for life
Pakistani citizens can enter, live in and leave Pakistan without a Pakistani immigration visa.
Citizenship has no routine expiry or renewal date.
Citizens are equal before the law and can move, gather, form groups and use the courts, within legal limits.
Attend school for free
Children aged five to sixteen have a right to free education in Pakistan.
What is available and who can attend a particular school can depend on the province, age and school.
Work in Pakistan
Pakistani citizens can work and run a business in Pakistan.
Some jobs and professions have special requirements or restrictions.
Get help abroad
Pakistani citizens can seek help from Pakistani missions abroad, including emergency travel documents and help returning to Pakistan.
They can also seek help if detained or without money, legal aid and registration of a Pakistani child’s birth abroad.
Own property in Pakistan
Pakistani citizens have a right to property, with legal limits and special restrictions on some property.
Vote in elections
Pakistani citizens can register to vote from age 18 if they live, or are treated as living, in an electoral area.
A person declared by a court to be unable to make sound decisions cannot register, and only registered citizens can vote.
How to apply
Applying at an immigration officeApplying at an immigration office
Find an immigration office
Your parent or guardian can choose DGI&P Islamabad or a listed zonal office for your application.
Find an immigration officeSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I apply for minor-child registration for Pakistan citizenship at a DGI&P office?”
Download the application form
Your parent or guardian should download Form M, the application to register a minor as a Pakistani citizen.
Download the formFill in the form
Your parent or guardian should fill in and sign Form M for you.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How does a parent or guardian fill in Form M for Pakistan citizenship minor-child registration?”
Gather your documents
Your parent or guardian should prepare the required documents for the immigration office.
See required documentsHand in your application
Your parent or guardian should bring your completed Form M and supporting documents to DGI&P Islamabad or a listed zonal office, with four completed sets unless the office asks for a different number. They should pay the Rs. 200 fee and ask the office how to pay it.
Find an immigration officeSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I apply for minor-child registration for Pakistan citizenship at a DGI&P office?”
Wait for the decision
Your parent or guardian should wait while your application is checked and respond if the office asks for more documents or information.
See what happens nextSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens after I submit a Pakistan citizenship minor-child registration application?”
Collect your citizenship certificate
After approval, your parent or guardian should collect your citizenship certificate through the relevant regional passport office or DGI&P Islamabad. You can then apply for a Pakistani passport.
Find certificate collection detailsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I collect a Pakistan citizenship certificate after minor-child registration is approved?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Adoption or guardianship records
Include your adoption or guardianship order or certificate as evidence of your relationship with your Pakistani parent or guardian. Include identity or civil-status records that help establish the relationship.
Parent's citizenship records
Include documents showing that your parent or guardian is a Pakistani citizen. Include their Pakistani citizenship certificate if they have one.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Limits on public office
Having another citizenship can limit which public offices a Pakistani citizen can hold.
Citizenship can be lost
Pakistani citizenship can be given up or taken away in certain cases, including cases involving fraud or other actions that break the rules.
Getting another citizenship may affect Pakistani citizenship, depending on the other citizenship.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
r/pakistan
English Reddit group for people interested in Pakistani local life
Join on Redditr/PakistanAsks
English Reddit group for people interested in Pakistani local life
Join on Redditr/Bahawalpur
English Reddit group for people interested in Pakistani local life
Join on RedditConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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