Citizenship · Updated August 2026 · Last verified August 2026
Quick Answer
Renunciation of Pakistani citizenship is a formal legal act, filed through your nearest Pakistani Mission on Form X, and it’s only available to adults who already hold or have been assured another country’s citizenship. It’s a different process from NICOP or a Pakistan Origin Card (POC); those are identity documents, not citizenship decisions. Processing the renunciation of Pakistani citizenship typically takes about four weeks after your Mission forwards a complete file to DGIP Islamabad, though several missions quote three to four months for the certificate itself.
This matters most for overseas Pakistanis who’ve naturalized elsewhere and need to formally complete the renunciation of Pakistani citizenship, often because their new country doesn’t allow dual nationality, or because a job or security clearance requires it.
Renunciation of Pakistani Citizenship vs NICOP vs POC
These three get confused constantly because they’re all handled by Pakistani missions and NADRA, but they answer different questions. If you just need to know which card applies to you, see our full NICOP vs POC comparison; the table below focuses specifically on how the renunciation of Pakistani citizenship fits between the two.
| Document | Who It’s For | Citizenship Status |
|---|---|---|
| NICOP | Pakistani citizens (including dual nationals) living abroad | You remain a full Pakistani citizen |
| Renunciation (Form X) | Citizens who want to formally give up Pakistani citizenship | Ends your citizenship as of the registration date |
| POC | Former citizens, or people of Pakistani descent who were never citizens | Not a citizen; limited rights only, no vote, no Pakistani passport |
The sequence for someone completing the renunciation of Pakistani citizenship is renunciation first, POC after. You can’t apply for a POC until your NICOP has been cancelled following an approved renunciation.
Who Can Apply for Renunciation of Pakistani Citizenship
- Must be residing outside Pakistan at the time of application
- Must not be a minor; renunciation under Section 14 A is not available to anyone under 21
- Must already hold, or have been given a valid assurance of, another country’s citizenship or nationality
A minor child cannot renounce independently, and a parent’s renunciation of Pakistani citizenship doesn’t automatically apply to children in Pakistan; only to minor children residing with that parent abroad, and even then only if the parent chooses to name them on Form X.
Documents Needed for Renunciation of Pakistani Citizenship
- Form X, typed (not handwritten) and notarized, submitted in three or four sets depending on the Mission
- Original CNIC/NICOP; this has to be cancelled online with NADRA before or alongside the application, with the cancellation marked “deferred” until the renunciation certificate is issued
- All valid and expired Pakistani passports, original plus a photocopy of each, or a notarized affidavit if a passport was lost
- Notarized copy of your foreign passport or naturalization/citizenship certificate
- A signed, notarized letter stating your reason for renunciation
- Recent passport size photographs, white background, taken within the last six months
Exact document counts and formats vary by Mission; some ask for four complete sets, others three, so confirm with your specific consulate before compiling copies.
The Application Steps for Renunciation of Pakistani Citizenship
This follows the process published by DGIP’s Immigration Wing, the office that ultimately clears every renunciation case.
- Confirm your foreign citizenship status. You need either an existing foreign passport/citizenship certificate, or an official assurance letter (for example, a naturalization guarantee) from the other country.
- Defer your CNIC/NICOP cancellation. Start the cancellation on NADRA’s portal, but the cancellation itself is held pending until your renunciation certificate arrives; don’t let it process fully beforehand.
- Compile and notarize Form X. Type it, don’t handwrite it, and have it notarized along with your supporting letter and document sets.
- Submit in person at your Mission. Applications for renunciation of Pakistani citizenship are submitted in person, not online, along with the fee and all original documents required.
- Mission forwards to DGIP Islamabad. Your file is sent to the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports for clearance, after which the renunciation certificate is prepared and dispatched back to your Mission.
You officially cease to be a Pakistani citizen from the date DGIP registers your renunciation, not from the date you submitted the application.
Fees by Mission
The base fee set by DGIP is modest, but individual missions convert it into local currency and add their own bank charges, so the amount you’ll actually pay for the renunciation of Pakistani citizenship depends on where you file.
| Mission / Region | Typical Fee |
|---|---|
| DGIP base fee (Pakistan set rate) | Rs 500 |
| Germany (Frankfurt) | €15 plus €1 bank charge |
| Turkey (Istanbul) | $100 |
| India (New Delhi) | INR 7,600 |
Fees are generally non refundable once submitted, and most missions require payment by bank transfer, money order, or card at the counter; cash and personal checks are commonly refused.
What Happens to Your Children
If a father completes the renunciation of Pakistani citizenship, his minor children residing with him abroad cease to be Pakistani citizens at the same time, automatically, not by separate application. Minor children who remain resident in Pakistan are not affected and keep their citizenship regardless of what a parent abroad does.
A child affected this way isn’t locked out permanently: within one year of turning 21, they can make their own declaration to resume Pakistani citizenship.
Practical Note
The most common process error isn’t a missing document; it’s applicants letting their NICOP/CNIC cancellation complete fully before the renunciation certificate is issued. That leaves you without any active Pakistani identity document during a multi month wait. Make sure the cancellation is explicitly marked as deferred, and keep the NADRA email confirming that deferral with your application file.
If your reason for the renunciation of Pakistani citizenship is a foreign government job or clearance requirement, bring a letter from that requiring authority; several missions ask for it specifically when the stated reason is employment related.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I complete the renunciation of Pakistani citizenship while living in Pakistan? No. Renunciation under Section 14 A requires you to be residing outside Pakistan at the time of application, and it’s filed through a Pakistani Mission abroad, not a domestic office.
Can a minor renounce their own Pakistani citizenship? No. Anyone under 21 cannot independently pursue renunciation of Pakistani citizenship under the Pakistan Renunciation Act, 1951. A minor’s status only changes if a parent’s renunciation includes them, and only if they’re residing with that parent abroad.
How long does renunciation of Pakistani citizenship take? DGIP quotes about four weeks once a complete application reaches Islamabad, but several missions tell applicants to expect three to four months in total, factoring in the Mission’s own processing and the mailing of the certificate.
Do I need to cancel my NICOP before or after applying? Start the cancellation, but ask NADRA to defer it until your renunciation certificate is issued. Cancelling it outright beforehand leaves you without a valid Pakistani ID during the wait, and you’ll need proof of the deferral for your application file.
Can I get a POC right after renouncing? Yes, once your NICOP cancellation is finalized following the approved renunciation of Pakistani citizenship. POC eligibility for former citizens is specifically built around this sequence: renunciation first, POC application after.
Is the renunciation fee refundable if my application is rejected? No. Fees are generally treated as non refundable regardless of outcome, so it’s worth confirming your eligibility and document set with your Mission before submitting.
Bottom Line
Renunciation of Pakistani citizenship is a one way legal declaration, not a card renewal. It has to be filed abroad, in person, by an adult who already holds another citizenship, and it takes your minor children abroad with it unless you say otherwise on Form X. Keep your NICOP cancellation deferred until the certificate arrives, and budget closer to a few months than a few weeks for the whole process to close out.
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