Pakistani nationality is governed by the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951. Section 14 of the Act deals with dual citizenship, and its general rule is strict: a citizen of Pakistan who voluntarily acquires the citizenship of another country ceases to be a citizen of Pakistan.
The exception is what most overseas Pakistanis rely on, and it is narrower than commonly assumed.
The designated-country exception
Section 14(3) empowers the Federal Government to permit dual citizenship with countries it designates by notification. Pakistan has entered into such arrangements with a defined list of countries, which has been added to over time and includes the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Belgium, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Bahrain, among others.
The list changes. Countries have been added by notification, and the authoritative source is the current list published by the Ministry of Interior. Before naturalising anywhere, check the list as it stands - not as someone described it a few years ago.
Acquiring the nationality of a country not on the list operates, in principle, to terminate Pakistani citizenship under section 14(1).
What dual nationality does and does not give you
Where the arrangement applies, you keep your Pakistani citizenship, your CNIC or NICOP, and the right to hold property, work and live in Pakistan without a visa.
What it does not give you is unrestricted eligibility for public office. Article 63(1)(c) of the Constitution disqualifies a person from being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of Parliament if they acquire the citizenship of a foreign State. This has been applied by the Supreme Court to unseat dual nationals, and it extends in practice to certain other public positions. Renunciation is required before contesting.
NICOP and POC - neither is citizenship
Two documents are constantly confused with nationality:
- NICOP - the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis. This is a CNIC for a Pakistani citizen living abroad. The holder is a Pakistani citizen. It permits visa-free entry and is used for banking, property and identity purposes in Pakistan.
- POC - the Pakistan Origin Card. This is for a person of Pakistani origin who is not a Pakistani citizen - typically someone who acquired foreign nationality and lost or renounced Pakistani citizenship, or a foreign national married to a Pakistani citizen. It grants visa-free entry, the right to hold property other than agricultural land, and to open bank accounts, but the holder is not a citizen and cannot vote or hold a Pakistani passport.
The practical rule: if the country you have naturalised in is on the designated list, you keep citizenship and hold a NICOP. If it is not, the POC is the document that preserves your practical connection to Pakistan.
Children born abroad
Under section 5 of the Act, a person born outside Pakistan is a citizen by descent if their father, or since the amendment their mother, was a citizen of Pakistan at the time of the birth. The birth should be registered with the Pakistani mission in the country of birth, and NADRA issues a Child Registration Certificate. Registering promptly avoids a considerable amount of difficulty later, particularly where the parent's own documents are incomplete.
Renunciation
Renunciation is done through a declaration made in the prescribed manner, processed through NADRA and the Ministry of Interior, and results in a renunciation certificate. It is required for candidature for Parliament, and is sometimes required by the country of naturalisation where that country does not itself permit dual nationality.
Renunciation is a serious step and it is not readily reversed - a former citizen who wishes to resume Pakistani nationality must apply and satisfy the conditions in force at the time. Take advice before renouncing.
Practical points
- Check the current designated list with the Ministry of Interior before naturalising abroad.
- If you hold citizenship of a designated country, obtain and maintain a NICOP - keep it current, since an expired NICOP creates entry and banking problems.
- If you are not a citizen, apply for a POC to preserve visa-free entry and property rights.
- Register children born abroad with the mission and obtain the Child Registration Certificate.
- Before contesting public office, obtain a renunciation certificate well in advance; the disqualification has been enforced.
- Keep your NADRA record consistent across documents - a name spelled differently on a foreign passport and a CNIC causes problems at every step.
This article describes the general position under the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951. The list of designated countries and the applicable procedures change by notification. It is not advice on any specific case; verify the current position with the Ministry of Interior or a Pakistani mission before acting.