NADRA B-Form (CRC) 2026: Requirements, Age & PakID Process

The NADRA Child Registration Certificate (CRC), commonly called the B-Form, is an identity document for Pakistani citizens under 18 years of age. It records a child in NADRA’s database and establishes the child’s identity and relationship with parents or a legal guardian. It should not be confused with the underlying birth certificate issued by a Union Council, Municipal Committee, Cantonment or other competent civil-registration authority.

What Is a NADRA B-Form or Child Registration Certificate?

The Child Registration Certificate (CRC) is issued under Rule 18 of the NADRA (NIC) Rules, 2002 to Pakistani citizens who have not attained the age of 18. “B-Form” is the common public name for the CRC.

The CRC is an identity-registration document. A child’s birth must first be recorded through the competent birth-registration authority, and the resulting computerised birth registration certificate is then used as a key supporting document for NADRA registration.

Who Is Eligible for a CRC?

Every Pakistani citizen under 18 years of age may be registered with NADRA for a CRC or Juvenile Card subject to the applicable rules and documentary requirements. At age 18, an eligible citizen moves to the adult identity-card framework rather than remaining on a child document.

CRC / B-Form Requirements in 2026

NADRA’s current published requirements include the child’s birth registration record and, depending on the child’s age and circumstances, presence and biometric capture.

For a Child Born in Pakistan

A Computerized Birth Registration Certificate issued by the relevant Union Council, Municipal Committee or Cantonment authority is required under NADRA’s current guidance.

For a Child Born Abroad

NADRA’s current guidance refers to a Detailed Birth Certificate or S-1 Form for births outside Pakistan, along with the identity and relationship records required in the particular case.

Does the Child Have to Be Present?

Under NADRA’s current 2026 guidance, presence of the child is mandatory for CRC processing once the child is above 3 years of age. For a child up to 3 years, presence is specifically required where the CRC is being processed for passport issuance purposes. The registration centre or PakID process may require additional verification depending on the case.

NADRA B-Form Biometric Requirements by Age

How to Apply for a NADRA B-Form / CRC

1. Register the Child’s Birth

Obtain the computerised birth registration certificate from the competent local civil-registration authority. This is not the same document as the CRC; it is the underlying birth record used for NADRA registration.

2. Prepare Parent/Guardian and Child Records

Have the parents’ or legal guardian’s valid identity particulars available along with the child’s birth record and any supporting documentation required for the particular circumstances.

3. Apply Through the Available NADRA Channel

NADRA provides identity-document processing through NADRA Registration Centres and digital services through the PakID ecosystem for eligible transactions. The exact online option available for fresh CRC, modification or reprint should be checked in the current PakID application because digital workflows can change.

4. Complete Photograph or Biometrics Where Required

The child’s age determines whether photograph, iris and fingerprints are required. A visit to a NADRA Registration Centre may be necessary where biometric capture or other verification cannot be completed remotely.

5. Check the Issued CRC Carefully

Verify the child’s name, date of birth, parent details and other particulars against the birth certificate and family identity records. Errors should be corrected promptly through NADRA’s prescribed modification process.

Is B-Form the Same as a Birth Certificate?

No. A birth certificate records the civil event of birth and is issued by the competent local civil-registration authority. The CRC/B-Form is the child’s NADRA identity-registration document. The birth certificate is a supporting document used to obtain the CRC.

This distinction matters because older online pages sometimes describe the B-Form itself as the child’s “birth certificate”, which is imprecise.

Is B-Form Required for a CNIC at Age 18?

NADRA’s current CNIC guidance says an adult CNIC may be issued to a Pakistani citizen aged 18 or above who has not previously been registered with NADRA or who holds a CRC/Juvenile Card, subject to the required identity and birth records. Therefore, it is too broad to say that a person can never obtain a CNIC without an earlier B-Form.

Early child registration is nevertheless strongly advisable because it establishes the child’s NADRA identity record and can make later identity-document processing simpler.

CRC, Juvenile Card and CNIC: What Is the Difference?

CRC and Juvenile Card are child identity documents for Pakistani citizens under 18, with different formats and biometric requirements. CNIC is the adult identity card for eligible Pakistani citizens who have attained 18 years of age.

Can a Lost B-Form Be Reprinted?

NADRA provides reprint/lost services for CRC-related identity records subject to current verification requirements. Where family data or the child’s particulars have changed, a modification may be required instead of a straightforward reprint.

Can B-Form Details Be Corrected?

Yes, errors or changed particulars can be addressed through NADRA’s modification process. The documents required depend on what is being corrected—for example, name, date of birth, parent information or another identity detail. Where the underlying birth certificate itself is wrong, the civil-registration record may need correction before NADRA can update the CRC.

Can Overseas Pakistani Parents Register a Child?

Children born abroad may be eligible for relevant NADRA child identity documentation if they are Pakistani citizens and satisfy the applicable requirements. NADRA’s current CRC guidance refers to a Detailed Birth Certificate or S-1 Form for abroad births. Overseas families should also consider whether NICOP rather than a domestic CRC/Juvenile Card is the appropriate document for their circumstances.

NADRA B-Form Fee and Processing Time

NADRA publishes current fees and processing times through its official fee structure and identity-document pages. Because these rates and service categories can change, this page does not reproduce an old fixed fee or promise a universal number of days. Applicants should check the current NADRA fee page or PakID/NRC quotation at the time of application.

Frequently Asked Questions About B-Form / CRC

What is the age limit for a B-Form?

CRC/B-Form is for Pakistani citizens who have not attained 18 years of age. At 18, adult identity-document rules apply.

Does a 5-year-old child need to be present?

Yes. NADRA’s current guidance requires the presence of children above 3 years of age for CRC processing.

What biometrics are required for a 7-year-old?

For the 3–10 age bracket, NADRA’s current published requirement is photograph and iris capture.

What biometrics are required after age 10?

For children aged 10–18, the current requirement includes photograph, fingerprints and iris capture.

Can I use the hospital birth slip instead of the Union Council birth certificate?

NADRA’s current published CRC requirement for an inland birth is a Computerized Birth Registration Certificate from the Union Council, Municipal Committee or Cantonment authority. A hospital record may help with civil birth registration but should not be assumed to replace the prescribed computerised birth certificate for CRC processing.

Is CRC the same as a Juvenile Card?

Both are NADRA identity documents for children under 18, but they are distinct document types with their own format and processing features.

Can a B-Form be obtained online?

NADRA provides digital identity services through PakID, but the available transaction and whether an NRC visit is required depend on the application type, child’s age and biometric needs. Check the current PakID workflow when applying.

Does B-Form expire?

NADRA’s current system uses age-linked validity points. CRC issued in the younger age brackets must be updated as the child reaches the next biometric stage, and child documents cease to be the adult identity document at age 18.

Official NADRA Sources

NADRA — Child Registration Certificate (CRC) / Juvenile Card
NADRA — CNIC eligibility and requirements
NADRA — Current fee structure

Updated: 10 September 2026. Requirements can change; the current NADRA portal or Registration Centre should be checked for case-specific documents, fees and biometric instructions.