How to Apply for a Succession Certificate from NADRA


When a family member dies leaving behind bank accounts, shares or other movable assets, the bank will not simply hand the money to the family. It will ask for a succession certificate — the document that names the rightful heirs and lets them collect what the deceased person left behind. In Pakistan, that certificate now comes from NADRA, and the process is far quicker than going to court.


What is a succession certificate?


A succession certificate authorises the legal heirs of a deceased person to collect debts and securities owed to them — bank balances, prize bonds, shares and similar movable assets. It does not cover immovable property such as houses or land; for that, NADRA issues a separate Letter of Administration.


Since the Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Act, 2020, NADRA has the authority to issue these certificates alongside the courts. The court route still exists, but it is now mainly used where NADRA cannot act — for example, where the heirs disagree or the estate is disputed.


Who should apply


One legal heir applies on behalf of the family, with written authorisation from the other heirs. The process runs through NADRA's Succession Facilitation Units — 186 across the country — or at a National Registration Centre.


Before you apply, you will need a fresh Family Registration Certificate (FRC) listing all surviving legal heirs. Our guide explains how to get one: https://risepakistannews.blogspot.com/2026/10/how-to-get-family-registration.html


Documents you will need


- The deceased person's death certificate, issued by the Union Council or NADRA, with its CRMS number

- Proof that the deceased person's CNIC has been cancelled (cancellation is free, through the Pak Identity app or a NADRA centre)

- A fresh Family Registration Certificate (FRC) showing the complete family

- CNIC copies of every legal heir (SNIC or NICOP are also accepted)

- A letter of authorisation from the other heirs, signed by all of them

- Bank statements or documents for every asset — account balances, shares, prize bonds or property papers


The process, step by step


1. Gather the documents listed above and agree which heir will be the applicant.

2. Visit your nearest NADRA Succession Facilitation Unit with the applicant's CNIC, the death certificate and the FRC.

3. File the application, listing every asset and every heir.

4. Every legal heir completes biometric verification — at any NADRA centre in Pakistan, through the Pak ID mobile app, or, for heirs living abroad, at a designated Pakistan mission. One unverified heir stalls the whole case.

5. NADRA publishes a public notice inviting objections and waits at least 15 days. If nobody objects, the certificate is issued — for a complete, undisputed application, generally within a few weeks of the notice.


Fees


NADRA's fee depends on the value of the deceased person's movable assets, not a flat rate: around Rs. 10,000 where the assets are worth less than Rs. 100,000, and around Rs. 20,000 where they are worth Rs. 100,000 or more. A duplicate or amended certificate costs around Rs. 5,000. The fee is paid after the case has been reviewed and approved — not upfront. Confirm the current fee with NADRA before applying, as fees can change. An already-issued certificate can be verified online for a separate fee of Rs. 50.


Frequently asked questions


Can overseas heirs apply? Yes. Heirs abroad can complete biometric verification at a Pakistani mission or through the Pak ID app.


What if the heirs disagree? If the estate is disputed or an heir cannot be verified, NADRA may not be able to process the case, and the court route under the Succession Act, 1925 remains open.


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