ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) announced on Wednesday that it will begin issuing biometric verification certificates based on facial recognition at all its registration centers beginning January 20, 2026.
This new service aims to assist individuals for whom fingerprint-based verification is not feasible. The move comes after the government amended the NIC (National Identity Card) Rules, broadening the scope of recognized biometric identifiers to include facial photographs and iris scans, alongside fingerprints.
According to NADRA, if fingerprint verification fails, citizens can visit the nearest registration center to have a new facial photograph taken. This image will then be compared with the existing record in Nadra’s database. Once verified, Nadra will issue a certificate that displays the purpose of verification, the citizen’s recent facial photograph, the existing record photograph, CNIC number, full name, father’s name, a unique tracking ID, and a QR code.
The issued certificate will remain valid for seven days, allowing citizens to submit it to institutions requiring biometric verification. These organizations can then verify the certificate online through Nadra’s system and update their records accordingly.
This initiative aims to address issues faced by individuals with fading fingerprints due to age or medical conditions, particularly when accessing bank services, SIM card registration, housing societies, or conducting property transactions that require fingerprint verification.
Additionally, Nadra announced that facial recognition certificates will soon be available via its e-Sahulat franchise network. Once the digital ID system is fully operational, the certificates will also be accessible through the Pak-ID mobile application.
The authority has urged regulators, government agencies, and private sector entities to upgrade their hardware and software systems in accordance with approved standards to facilitate the integration of facial recognition verification. In the initial phase, institutions will need to update their software to support the verification process. The second phase will require installing cameras at service points or integrating them into existing biometric verification machines.
Nadra emphasized that, ultimately, citizens will be able to access these verification services directly at participating institutions, eliminating the need to visit Nadra centers in person.
