A family member has died, leaving money in a bank account or a house in their name. The family knows the assets exist, but the bank or property authority asks for proof of who is legally entitled to deal with them. What should the family apply for, and where?
A NADRA succession certificate in Pakistan helps legal heirs claim certain movable assets after a person's death. For immovable property, such as a house or land, NADRA generally provides a Letter of Administration through the applicable succession process. The document you need depends on the asset and the law governing the estate.
This guide explains 2026 NADRA fees, documents, the application process, overseas biometric verification, delays, objections and when a court may be necessary—using official information instead of guesswork.
On This Page
- What Is a NADRA Succession Certificate?
- Succession Certificate vs Letter of Administration
- Who Can Apply?
- Documents Required
- How to Apply: Five Practical Steps
- NADRA Succession Certificate Fees in 2026
- How Long Does It Take?
- Can Overseas Pakistanis Apply?
- What If an Heir Objects or Records Do Not Match?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Checklist Before You Visit NADRA
What Is a NADRA Succession Certificate?
A succession certificate identifies the legal heirs entitled to certain assets or claims of a deceased person. It helps the relevant institution decide whom it may lawfully deal with when releasing those assets.
Example: A father dies with Rs. 1.5 million in his bank account. His wife and children want to claim the funds. The bank may require a succession certificate before releasing the money to the lawful heirs.
The certificate does not mean that the family member who submits the application owns all the money. The entitlements of all lawful heirs must be considered under the applicable personal law. A certificate is also not a substitute for investigating disputed ownership or transferring every kind of property.
NADRA's official Succession Certificate guide explains the administrative service available through designated NADRA centres.
Succession Certificate vs Letter of Administration
The two documents are often called the same thing, but they serve different purposes under NADRA's current procedure.
| Document | Usually used for | Simple example |
|---|---|---|
| Succession Certificate | Movable assets | Bank balance, shares or other eligible financial assets |
| Letter of Administration | Immovable property | House, plot, apartment or land |
Practical example: If the deceased left a bank account and a house, ask about the appropriate documentation for each asset category. Do not assume one certificate automatically completes the land-record mutation or property transfer. The relevant bank, land office or housing society may require further steps.
For an estate involving property disputes or ownership records, see our guide to property disputes for overseas Pakistanis. The correct procedure depends on the property and the relevant authority.
Who Can Apply?
A legal heir is a person legally entitled to inherit from the deceased. A spouse, child, parent or other relative may qualify depending on the family circumstances and applicable personal law. Being a relative does not automatically prove that a particular person has a share in every estate.
NADRA's current eligibility information says the deceased and legal heirs must be Pakistani citizens and the assets must be located in Pakistan for its stated process. Other situations may need a different legal route.
Usually, one legal heir begins the application on behalf of the others using the required authorization. All legal heirs must be identified accurately, even when only one person handles the paperwork. A Family Registration Certificate (FRC) is important evidence of family registration, but any missing or incorrect family details should be checked before filing.
Do not leave out a daughter, widow, parent or other potential heir merely because they live abroad or are not involved in family discussions. An incorrect heir list can create a serious dispute.
Documents Required
NADRA's current published checklist includes:
- Death certificate of the deceased person.
- CNIC Cancellation Certificate issued by NADRA for the deceased.
- Family Registration Certificate (FRC).
- List of all legal heirs with copies of their CNICs.
- Asset details, such as the bank account, investment record or property information.
- Letter of authorization or affidavit, attested as required, authorizing the applicant to act for the heirs.
Depending on the asset and the case, supporting records may include bank statements, shareholding details, title deeds, property numbers or identity documents for overseas heirs. These examples are not a replacement for NADRA's official list.
You can check NADRA's forms and downloads page for the current succession authorization or affidavit specimen.
Before applying: Compare names, CNIC numbers, relationships and spellings across the death record, FRC and asset documents. A small mismatch can lead to extra verification.
How to Apply Five Practical Steps
Step 1 — Choose the correct NADRA centre
NADRA says an eligible legal heir should visit a designated NADRA Registration Centre, Succession Facilitation Unit or authorized service point after preparing the documents. NADRA's current guidance specifically allows initiation through legal counsel in Sindh and Balochistan, subject to its requirements. Do not assume every province follows the same representation rule.
Step 2 — Submit the heirs' and assets' details
The applicant submits identity information, the deceased person's records, the list of heirs, the asset details and the required authorization. Keep copies of everything submitted and record the application or tracking reference.
Step 3 — Public notice and objection period
The process includes publication of notice inviting claims or objections. Under the Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Act, 2020 for Islamabad Capital Territory, the notice period is 14 days. Corresponding provincial rules govern applications elsewhere.
Step 4 — Verify legal heirs
The legal heirs complete the required identity and biometric verification through notified facilities, including authorized overseas locations where available. If a person's biometrics cannot be matched, NADRA may require further identification or an appearance under the applicable rules.
Step 5 — Collect the certificate or letter
If verification is complete and no unresolved objection prevents processing, NADRA may issue the appropriate document showing the legal heirs and their shares under the applicable law. The relevant bank or property authority can then advise on its own release or transfer formalities.
Important: Getting a certificate is not the same as instantly receiving the bank balance or having a house transferred to your name.
NADRA Succession Certificate Fees in 2026
According to NADRA's official fee schedule, the current published charges for a fresh application are:
| Asset value | Published NADRA fee |
|---|---|
| Rs. 100,000 or more | Rs. 20,000 in the standard fee schedule |
| Rs. 100,000 or more in Sindh | Rs. 22,000 |
| Less than Rs. 100,000 | Rs. 10,000 |
NADRA also lists Rs. 5,000 for a duplicate and Rs. 5,000 for an amended application. Fees can change, so check the official schedule when applying. Separate expenses for property transfer, documentation or legal assistance are not included in these published NADRA charges.
What if NADRA declines an application?
NADRA's fee page lists Rs. 15,000 as the processing amount for a declined application that has already been processed. In an official National Assembly explanation in May 2026, the government clarified that this is not a separate extra charge for issuing a decline certificate; the applicable processing amount is retained and the balance refunded under the stated rules. Ask the issuing office about the amount applicable to your particular application.
How Long Does It Take?
NADRA's published succession guidance states 14 days after publication in its processing information. But this is not a guaranteed total time from your first visit.
Time may also be required to prepare documents, correct an FRC, publish notice, arrange biometrics for every heir and finish verification. If an objection is raised, the process may take longer or require a different legal forum.
Avoid any promise of a guaranteed 14-day certificate. A complete, consistent application is the best way to avoid preventable delays.
Can Overseas Pakistanis Apply?
Yes, eligible overseas Pakistani legal heirs can take part, but it is important to separate starting an application from completing biometric verification.
NADRA currently says one heir generally needs to visit a designated location in Pakistan to initiate the process, with the stated Sindh and Balochistan legal-counsel exception. Overseas heirs may complete biometric verification through an authorized Pakistani mission or other notified facility, where available. The Pakistan High Commission in London explains the five-stage procedure.
Example: Two sisters live in the UK while their brother lives in Karachi. The family should first verify the asset's location, the correct filing route, all heirs' authorizations and where each sister can complete biometrics. Living abroad does not mean a lawful heir should be omitted from the application.
For document coordination and property-related issues from abroad, see Inheritance & Succession in Pakistan for Overseas Pakistanis.
What If an Heir Objects or Records Do Not Match?
The NADRA route is designed for applications that can be verified administratively. It is not a court trial that can decide every dispute over family relationships, forged records or asset ownership.
Under the 2020 federal Act for Islamabad Capital Territory, an unresolved factual controversy can lead NADRA to decline the application so the matter can be taken to the appropriate legal forum. The Act's definition of factual controversy expressly includes cases involving a minor legal heir. Provincial laws and procedures must be checked separately; do not assume this exact rule operates identically nationwide.
Common warning signs include:
- An heir says their name was left out.
- The FRC or identity records do not reflect the family correctly.
- Someone disputes whether the deceased owned the asset.
- A legal heir is a minor or cannot complete verification.
- The application involves disputed signatures, inheritance shares or a prior court order.
What to do: Ask NADRA for the written reason or decline record, keep all submitted documents and check which court or authority has jurisdiction. A declined NADRA application does not necessarily mean the family has lost its inheritance rights.
Where the inheritance involves a deceased father and children, our article on child maintenance and inheritance after a father's death explains why maintenance claims and inheritance entitlements are different legal matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a succession certificate online?
Do not assume the entire application can be completed from home. NADRA's currently published instructions require a visit by an eligible heir to a designated location in Pakistan for initiation, except for its specified legal-counsel route in Sindh and Balochistan. Confirm current digital facilities before travelling.
What is the NADRA succession certificate fee in Karachi?
NADRA's published fee schedule lists Rs. 22,000 for an eligible fresh Sindh application involving assets worth Rs. 100,000 or more and Rs. 10,000 for assets below Rs. 100,000. Confirm the latest fee at filing.
Is an FRC enough to withdraw money from a deceased person's bank account?
Usually, no. An FRC records family registration; the bank may require a succession certificate and its own account-release documentation. Ask the bank for its exact requirements.
Is a succession certificate needed to transfer a house?
For immovable property, NADRA currently identifies a Letter of Administration as the relevant document category. Property-transfer or mutation steps may still be required afterward.
Do all heirs need to visit NADRA together?
Not necessarily at the same time or location. Each legal heir must satisfy the required verification process. Overseas biometric facilities may be available, subject to notification and appointment arrangements.
What happens if one brother or sister refuses to cooperate?
An unresolved objection or missing consent can stop straightforward administrative processing. Ask for the written position and check the proper legal remedy rather than hiding an heir or submitting incorrect information.
What if an heir is under 18?
A minor heir must not be ignored. The 2020 ICT Act treats the involvement of a minor legal heir as a factual controversy for that statutory route. Other provincial rules and any court or guardianship requirements need separate review.
Does a succession certificate decide every inheritance share?
The issuing process identifies heirs and their shares under applicable personal law, but a disputed estate may still require legal determination. Do not use an informal family agreement to assume a daughter, widow or other lawful heir has no rights.
Is the certificate issued in exactly 14 days?
No fixed promise should be made. Fourteen days is the published notice-related period, and documentation, publication, biometric checks and disputes can affect actual completion.
Checklist Before You Visit NADRA
- Confirm whether your asset needs a Succession Certificate or Letter of Administration.
- Obtain the death certificate, CNIC cancellation certificate and FRC.
- Identify every possible legal heir, including family members living abroad.
- Collect asset details and the required authorization/affidavit.
- Compare all names, CNIC numbers and relationships for errors.
- Check the current fee, designated centre and biometric options on NADRA's website.
- If there is a dispute, minor heir or missing record, check the correct legal route before paying non-refundable processing costs.
The key takeaway: First identify the asset, then establish the heirs and prepare accurate records. NADRA can simplify uncontested succession matters, but the correct document, fee and process depend on the estate and the law that applies.
Legal information notice: This article is general educational guidance, updated for October 2026. The applicable federal or provincial law, personal law, asset type, heirship and official fee notifications may change the procedure. It does not replace advice based on a particular family's documents.
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