For decades, getting a succession certificate in Pakistan meant years stuck in civil court. That changed with NADRA’s Succession Facilitation Units (SFUs) — and as of the Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates (Amendment) Act 2025, NADRA now has equal legal authority alongside the courts to issue these certificates. Here’s exactly how the process works in 2026.
What Is a Succession Certificate?
A succession certificate is a legal document that establishes legal heirs’ right to a deceased person’s movable assets — bank accounts, shares, prize bonds, national savings certificates, and vehicles. A related but separate document, the Letter of Administration, covers immovable property — houses, plots, and land. You can apply for both in a single NADRA application if needed.
Federal and Provincial Governments have mandated NADRA, under Section 3 of the respective Succession Laws, to issue these certificates directly to legal heirs — without requiring a court petition, for straightforward, uncontested cases.
Where to Apply
As of 2025, NADRA has expanded to 186 Succession Facilitation Units across Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan. You can apply at any unit regardless of where the inherited property or assets are actually located — a major improvement over the earlier rule that required filing in the specific province where the property sat.
Eligibility Requirements
- Both the deceased and all legal heirs must be Pakistani citizens
- The property or assets must be located within Pakistan
- One legal heir must appear in person to initiate the application (in Sindh and Balochistan, this can be done through legal counsel)
The 5-Step NADRA Process
- Application submission — One legal heir submits a formal application at any NADRA Succession Facilitation Unit, National Registration Centre, or District Accounts Unit, along with full asset details.
- Public notice — NADRA publishes a notice in a widely circulated national newspaper and on its website, inviting objections from anyone with a competing claim.
- 14-day objection window — The application proceeds only if no objections are received within 14 days.
- Biometric verification — All legal heirs must complete fingerprint verification. Heirs based abroad can do this remotely via the Pak-ID mobile app, or in person at a Pakistani mission in cities including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford, Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
- Issuance — Once verification clears, NADRA prints a digital certificate carrying a QR code, which banks, land revenue offices, and other institutions can scan to instantly verify authenticity.
Documents Required
- Original NADRA computerized death certificate, plus the deceased’s cancelled CNIC
- CNIC copies of all legal heirs (SNIC or NICOP also accepted)
- A fresh Family Registration Certificate (FRC) showing the deceased’s complete family lineage
- For movable assets: bank statements, prize bond details, or vehicle registration documents
- For immovable property: registry papers, mutation documents (Fard), or property tax records
- A Letter of Authorization/Affidavit, attested by an Oath Commissioner
NADRA Succession Certificate Fees (2026)
| Estate Value | Fee |
|---|---|
| Under Rs. 100,000 | Rs. 10,000 |
| Rs. 100,000 or more | Rs. 20,000 (plus Rs. 2,000 where applicable) |
Important: following a Sindh High Court ruling, NADRA cannot charge its full processing fee if an application is ultimately rejected — in that case, only a nominal fee applies (up to Rs. 2,000 for estates up to Rs. 1 million, or Rs. 1,000 for estates under Rs. 100,000).
Verifying an already-issued certificate online costs a separate Rs. 50 fee via NADRA’s verification portal.
How Long Does It Take?
The NADRA route typically takes 15 to 30 working days from application to issuance — dramatically faster than the civil court route, which can take years for contested or complex cases.
NADRA vs Civil Court — Which Should You Use?
| NADRA (SFU) | Civil Court | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical timeline | 15–30 working days | Months to years |
| Best for | Uncontested claims, clear heirs | Disputed inheritance, missing heirs, complex estates |
| Cost | Rs. 10,000–22,000 | Court fees + lawyer fees, generally higher |
| Legal authority | Equal to courts (since the 2025 Amendment Act) | Full judicial authority, including contested cases |
If there’s any dispute among heirs, a minor heir involved, or missing family members, a court petition (with witness evidence) is still generally the appropriate route — NADRA’s SFU process is designed for straightforward, uncontested cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NADRA actually have legal authority to issue succession certificates, or is this just an administrative shortcut?
It’s fully legal authority. Federal and Provincial Succession Laws specifically mandate NADRA to issue these certificates, and the Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates (Amendment) Act 2025 confirmed NADRA holds equal authority alongside civil courts for this purpose.
Can overseas Pakistanis complete this process without traveling to Pakistan?
Yes. Biometric verification can be completed via the Pak-ID mobile app or at a Pakistani mission in major cities abroad — you don’t need to fly back for a straightforward, uncontested case.
What’s the difference between a Succession Certificate and a Letter of Administration?
A Succession Certificate covers movable assets (bank accounts, shares, vehicles). A Letter of Administration covers immovable property (houses, land). You can apply for both together in one NADRA application.
What happens if someone objects during the 14-day notice period?
If a valid objection is raised, NADRA cannot proceed with issuance, and the matter typically needs to go through civil court instead.
Final Thoughts
NADRA’s succession certificate process has genuinely transformed what used to be a multi-year court ordeal into a process that can be completed in weeks — for the majority of uncontested cases. Gather your documents (especially the FRC and death certificate) before you start, since incomplete paperwork is the most common cause of delay, and confirm current fees and requirements directly with NADRA before applying, since this process has changed significantly even in the past two years.
This guide reflects NADRA’s succession certificate process as of 2026, including the Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates (Amendment) Act 2025. Requirements and fees can change — always verify current details directly with NADRA before applying.
