How to Apply for Child Registration Certificate (B-Form) in Pakistan

One of the essential documents that can be obtained from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is the Child Registration Certificate (CRC), often referred to by its more familiar name, the B-form. It is used to register young children under the age of 18 who are not yet qualified to apply for a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) or Smart Card in Pakistan.
If you are looking to apply for a B-form as a parent or guardian of a child but are unsure about how to proceed or want to know about the NADRA B Form fee, Graana.com has outlined the whole process below.

Child Registration Certificate in Pakistan

As mentioned earlier, a CRC is an official document used to register kids younger than 18 years old. A child has the right to obtain a birth certificate from his or her country of origin. This is a requirement under international law. The process of collecting a CRC has been automated by NADRA, which has streamlined and simplified the entire procedure.
You can apply for a CRC if you provide verified proof of childbirth from the union council, for which you must have a NADRA registration numberParents must possess a valid NIC or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP), and a visit to any NADRA Registration Centre (NRC) is required.

It is important to note that if a child’s parents are currently not in the country or have passed away, a first blood relative who is eligible to file for birth registration must submit a court-issued Guardian Certificate (and a death certificate, if applicable) along with their application.

Documentation Required for Child Registration Certificate in Pakistan

For a child to be registered at the union council, the parents should submit the following necessary documents:

• Copies of the parents’ and guardian’s CNICs, as well as a government-issued test of guardianship are required for overseas travel
• The child’s certificate of birth should be presented, which has been issued by the concerned medical facility or birth attendant.
• The form given at the union council should be signed twice, along with a thumbprint impression. Ensure that correct information has been recorded in the form.
• The union council does not charge a fee to provide evidence of a child’s birth.

Total Time Duration

The following is a rundown of the delivery time for a CRC:

• In case of routine registration, the process generally takes 3 full working days.
• In the event of late registration, it takes up to 7 business days (for a child between the ages of 61 days to 7 years).
• For the registration of children aged above 7 years, the process can take about 20 business days.

Importance of Child Registration Certificate in Pakistan

Children who have yet to turn 18 may be required to submit a B-form to take their Matric or Intermediate examinations, apply for a passport, and complete various other legal procedures.

For this reason, parents or guardians must always keep their CRCs with them.

Steps to Obtain a Child Registration Certificate

To submit an application for a CRC, you can go to the NADRA registration office that is located closest to you. An online registration system has not yet been developed for children.
The procedure involves the following steps:

Step 1

First, you will be required to collect a token from the NADRA registration counter. This token has a number that will allow you to go to the relevant registration desk.

Step 2

When your token number is called, you will be instructed to check in at a specific registration counter. At this point, personal information of the parents, including their photographs and fingerprints, will be collected.

If you are a guardian, you must submit a letter stating your guardianship along with an authorised letter approved and attested by the relevant government officials.

Step 3

In the third step, all the information of the applicant will be entered into the database. This will be retrieved from the birth certificate provided by the union council.

Hence, before handing in the certificate, do ensure that there are no typos or other errors. If there are any, please make the necessary corrections before submitting.

Step 4

Once all of the required details have been submitted, a form will be printed out for the applicant to double-check the information they provided. If there is any error, it will be rectified immediately.

Step 5

In the fifth step, the completed form is forwarded ahead. You can inquire about when you will be able to receive the B-form for your child, and where you are required to collect it. It takes an average of five working days, but there is always the possibility of a delay.
The process of applying for a B-form at NADRA is relatively straightforward, and the fee is pretty reasonable as well.

NADRA B Form Fee

The standard fee for the NADRA B-form, which must also be submitted when applying for the B-form, is Rs. 50. However, if you are applying through the Executive Centre, the charges would be about Rs. 500.
You will receive your B-form within a period of 10 to 30 working days. On the other hand, if applied through the Executive Centre, it will be delivered between 3 to 7 working days after the application is submitted.

FAQs

Following are some of the questions people ask regarding the B-Form process.

How can I register my newborn baby in Pakistan?

Before you register your newborn child, you will first need to apply for a birth certificate from the union council in your specific region. After that, you can apply for a Child Registration Certificate to register your child with NADRA.

How can I change the date of birth on my birth certificate in Pakistan?

You are required to get approval from your regional union council to make any modifications to the information listed on your birth certificate.
Before applying for the CRC, always check if the data does not include any errors.

How can I get my birth certificate online in Pakistan?

In Pakistan, it is currently not possible to submit an application for a birth certificate online. The application process requires that you visit the union council office closest to your location. Even NADRA has not yet implemented an online application process for the CRC.

Tracking the NADRA B-Form

You can check the status of your NADRA B-form online by dialling the number that is printed on your token. You will be informed about the status of your application on the same day or the following day. Alternatively, you can also send a message by simply using the first twelve digits of the token number given to you.

Similarly, it is worth mentioning here that you can also track your CNIC record digitally.

NADRA Office Contact information

There is a NADRA office located in each and every district of Pakistan.For instance, there are several NADRA offices in Lahore.

The operational hours of each are mostly similar; they open at 9 in the morning and close at 5 in the evening. However, mega NADRA centres are open seven days a week.

Form-B Status Tracking via SMS

With the assistance of NADRA’s SMS service, you can track the progress of any applications concerning your CNIC, NICOP, and B-form, among others.
NADRA has created one of the most advanced database systems in the world, and it is continuously working to enhance it for the convenience of people who already possess ID cards as well as new applicants.
Before implementing this system, applicants were required to personally visit a NADRA office to inquire about any updates on their application. They usually had to wait in line for several hours before receiving their token number. Now, however, they can monitor the progress of their CNIC application by simply sending an SMS to the number provided by NADRA.
In certain circumstances, applicants require a specific document in urgency, and this system enables them to check for updates whenever and as frequently as they like by simply sending a text message.
Open the Write SMS option on your mobile phone and submit the 12-digit tracking number to 8400 to check the status of your application for an identity card.

Difference Between B-Form and Birth Certificate

A B-form is issued directly by NADRA, whereas a birth certificate is a record of the child’s registration with the local union council. When the applicant reaches the age of 18, they are issued a CNIC using the same number provided on the B-form.

Difference Between B-Form and Juvenile Card

A Juvenile Card (JC) is a form of photo identification obtained by minors who have not yet reached the age of 18. The chip-based card is differentiated from the CRC by the fact that it is an “entitled document” that provides access to several services. To collect a child’s biometric information, the parents or a blood relative who possesses an NIC must be physically present.
A JC serves the same purpose as a CRC/B-form. JC, just like CRC, records the child’s name, registration number, gender, date of birth, address, in addition to the child’s photo and signature.
JC also stores the child’s biometric information (for those over the age of 15). The microchip embedded in a JC allows them to save the child’s records, including medical and educational information. In Pakistan, certain educational institutions, such as those that offer degrees in medicine, require the submission of a JC before a child can be registered there.

How to Get a Juvenile Card in Pakistan

Following methods can be used to get the Juvenile Card in Pakistan

Children who do not have a CRC or B-form

If a child does not already possess a CRC or B-form, and is being registered on NADRA’s database for the first time, you will require the following to register for a Juvenile Card:

• The child should be physically present.
• A blood relative or guardian with a valid CNIC should also be present.
• For children aged 10 or above, a certificate of birth or education is needed.
• The biometric verification of a parent, blood relative or guardian is also required, along with an attested computerised NADRA form that must be obtained from NADRA and signed by a gazette-listed government officer of grade 16 or higher.

Children who have a CRC

You will need to fulfil the following requirements to obtain a Juvenile Card for a child who already has a CRC or B-form:

• The child should be physically present.
• The CRC/B-form should be submitted.
• A blood relative or guardian with a valid CNIC should also be present.
• Biometric verification of a parent, blood relative or guardian is also required, in addition to a certified computerised NADRA form from a gazette-listed government officer of grade 16 or above.
• Note: A representative will deliver the computerised NADRA form at the NADRA Registration Centre once they have entered and verified the child’s data on the system.

Instructions to Get Juvenile Card in Pakistan

By completing the steps outlined below, you will be able to apply for a Juvenile Card at any NADRA Registration Centre (NRC) in your area:

• When you arrive at the NRC, you will be given a token with a number on it.
• When you approach the counter that calls out your token number, a representative from NADRA will check the documents that have been provided.
• The minor’s photograph, fingerprints, and signature will then be collected.
• After the data has been entered into the system, a physical copy of your form will be sent to you so that you can examine it.
• After reviewing the information on your form, you will be requested to pay the charges. The cost is determined by the kind of delivery service that you select for your cards (normal, urgent or fast track).
• You will be provided with a hard copy of the application form you have filled out.

For more related information, visit the Graana blog.