Overseas Pakistanis can register on NADRA’s Pak ID application using a mobile number from abroad, the National Database and Registration Authority has said. The clarification followed a question from a Canadian citizen during a NADRA podcast about how expatriates could apply for a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) with a non-Pakistani phone number.
Registering with a number from the country of residence
NADRA spokesperson Syed Shabahat Ali said applicants do not need a Pakistani mobile number to register on the app or apply for NICOP and other identity documents. Instead, they can choose their country of residence and enter a local number from there, he said.
He noted that many overseas Pakistanis use Pak ID to apply for NICOP and other documents, but some face difficulties. According to the spokesperson, the system appears to offer only the option of a Pakistani number.
Why some users are asked for a Pakistani number
According to NADRA, the problem arises when applicants select Pakistan as their “country of stay” during registration. The system then requests a Pakistani number to send a one-time password (OTP) that verifies the account.
To avoid this, overseas Pakistanis should choose the country where they actually live, the authority said. For instance, a Pakistani living in Canada can select Canada and enter a Canadian mobile number, which can then activate their Pak ID account and provide access to services, including NICOP applications.
NADRA stressed that a mobile number is required to activate a digital identity on Pak ID, but it does not have to be a Pakistani one.
