The NADRA facial recognition verification system is set to officially launch across all NADRA registration centres starting January 20, 2026. This new service aims to support citizens whose fingerprint-based biometric verification is no longer possible due to age, medical conditions, or worn fingerprints. The announcement marks a major step toward inclusive and technology-driven identity verification in Pakistan.
This development follows amendments to the National Identity Card Rules, which have expanded the legal definition of biometrics. Facial photographs and iris scans are now formally recognised alongside fingerprints, allowing NADRA to modernise its verification framework and reduce long-standing difficulties faced by many citizens.
Why Facial Recognition Verification Was Needed
For years, fingerprint-based verification has been mandatory for banking, SIM registration, property transactions, and other essential services. However, many citizens—particularly senior citizens and those with certain medical conditions—experience fingerprint fading over time. As a result, they often face repeated rejections when attempting biometric verification.
The NADRA facial recognition verification system addresses this gap by offering an alternative that is reliable, secure, and legally recognised. This initiative ensures that no citizen is denied essential services due to limitations of fingerprint biometrics.
How the New Verification Process Works
When fingerprint verification fails at a bank, telecom franchise, or another service provider, the citizen will be directed to visit the nearest NADRA Registration Centre. There, a fresh facial photograph will be captured using standardised equipment.
This new image will be matched with the photograph already stored in NADRA’s database. Once the system confirms a successful match, NADRA will issue a biometric verification certificate. This certificate serves as official proof of identity verification for the specified purpose.
Details Included in the Verification Certificate
The facial recognition-based certificate will include comprehensive and verifiable information. It will contain the citizen’s name, father’s name, CNIC number, and purpose of verification. Additionally, both the newly captured photograph and the image already on record will appear on the certificate.
To enhance security and authenticity, the certificate will also feature a unique tracking ID and a QR code. Institutions can verify the certificate online through NADRA’s system, ensuring transparency and preventing misuse. The NADRA facial recognition verification certificate will remain valid for seven days from the date of issuance.
Where and How the Certificate Can Be Used
Once issued, the certificate can be submitted to the relevant institution—such as banks, SIM franchises, housing societies, or property offices—where biometric verification is required. The concerned institution will incorporate the certificate into its records and verify it electronically through NADRA.
This approach significantly reduces repeated visits, long waiting times, and unnecessary frustration for citizens who previously had no alternative to fingerprint verification.
Future Expansion Through Digital Platforms
NADRA has also announced plans to expand this service beyond registration centres. In the future, facial image-based biometric verification certificates will be available through e-Sahulat franchises. This will bring the service closer to communities, especially in areas with limited access to NADRA offices.
Following the full rollout of Pakistan’s Digital ID initiative, the NADRA facial recognition verification facility will be integrated into the Pak-ID mobile application. This step will allow citizens to access verification services digitally, further simplifying identity-related processes.
Institutional Upgrades and Implementation Phases
To ensure smooth adoption, NADRA has urged regulators, public institutions, and private sector organisations to upgrade their hardware and software systems. In the first phase, institutional software applications must be updated to support the integration of facial recognition-based verification certificates.
In the second phase, service providers will be required to install cameras at service counters or integrate them into existing KYC biometric machines. Once these upgrades are complete, citizens will be able to complete facial biometric verification directly at the service provider’s location without visiting a NADRA centre.
A Step Toward Inclusive Digital Identity
The launch of NADRA facial recognition verification represents a significant move toward inclusive digital governance. By recognising multiple biometric identifiers, NADRA is ensuring that identity verification systems adapt to real-world challenges faced by citizens.
This initiative not only improves service accessibility but also strengthens Pakistan’s digital identity infrastructure, making it more resilient, secure, and citizen-friendly in the years ahead.
