Succession Certificate Guide — Complete Process
When a family member passes away, obtaining a Succession Certificate is often necessary before the estate — bank accounts, property, or other assets — can be legally transferred to the heirs. The process involves two distinct phases: first registering the death and cancelling the deceased's CNIC, and then applying for the Succession Certificate itself. Here's the complete process from start to finish, based on how NADRA's own procedure actually works.
Phase One: Registering the Death
Before anything else, the death needs to be formally registered. This starts at the relevant Union Council office, where a computerized Death Certificate is issued. Residents of Nankana, Jhelum, and Chakwal have an added convenience here — death registration with the Union Council can be completed remotely through NADRA's mobile app rather than requiring an in-person visit.
Phase Two: Cancelling the Deceased's CNIC
Once the death certificate is in hand, the deceased's CNIC needs to be formally cancelled. This can be done either through the Pak Identity mobile app or in person at a NADRA Registration Center.
Cancelling a CNIC via the Pak Identity App
- Log in to the Pak Identity mobile app.
- Select "ID Cancellation" from the menu.
- Enter the deceased's CNIC number and tap "Fetch Data."
- Review the deceased's information as it appears on record, then tap "Submit."
Once submitted, the request goes to NADRA for processing. After the necessary review, an approval message is sent to your registered mobile number. At that point, log back into the Pak Identity app and download the CNIC Cancellation Certificate from the Pak Identity Wallet section.
Cancelling a CNIC at a NADRA Office
If you prefer to handle this in person, bring the CRMS number from the Union Council-issued Death Certificate, along with the deceased's original CNIC if it's available, to your nearest NADRA office. The process follows four steps:
- Get a token. Collect a token from the reception desk and wait for your turn to be called.
- Biometric verification. When your turn comes, go to the counter for biometric verification of your own identity as the applicant.
- Data entry. The details needed to cancel the deceased's CNIC are recorded, and a photograph of the applicant is taken. There is no fee charged for CNIC cancellation.
- Receipt and delivery. The CNIC Cancellation Certificate can be collected from the same NADRA office one day later.
Phase Three: Applying for the Succession Certificate
With the CNIC cancellation complete, the next step is gathering details of all the deceased's assets. Once that's ready, the application for the Succession Certificate itself can be submitted at your nearest NADRA office.
Succession Certificate Fee
NADRA's Succession Certificate fee is based on the total value of the deceased's movable assets — bank balances, shares, provident funds, and similar holdings — not a flat rate. The current fee schedule is:
| Asset Value | Fee |
|---|---|
| Above Rs. 100,000 | Rs. 20,000 |
| Rs. 100,000 or below | Rs. 10,000 |
| Duplicate Certificate | Rs. 5,000 (approx.) |
This fee is paid at the "Fee payment" stage described below, after your case has been reviewed and approved by the office in-charge — not upfront at the time of filing. If your case is declined before approval, courts have previously ruled that NADRA should not charge this fee, so confirm your case status before paying.
Documents Required for a Succession Certificate
- The CRMS number from the deceased's Union Council-issued Death Certificate
- Proof that the deceased's CNIC has been cancelled
- A fresh Family Registration Certificate (FRC) listing all surviving legal heirs
- A Letter of Authorization from the remaining heirs, in favor of the applicant
- Bank statement(s) showing the deceased's account balance, or documentation of all property registered in the deceased's name
- The applicant's own valid CNIC
- Biometric verification of all legal heirs
The bank statement matters because the Succession Certificate fee itself is based on the value of the deceased's movable assets — so the bank needs to confirm the balance in writing before NADRA can calculate which fee tier applies. Similarly, the FRC should be freshly issued after the date of death, since an older FRC won't accurately reflect the current, confirmed list of legal heirs.
One detail worth being careful about: the Letter of Authorization must carry the signatures and thumb impressions of every heir of the deceased. If even one heir's signature or thumb impression is missing, the application can be declined outright — so it's worth confirming this is complete before submitting.
Step-by-Step: Applying at a NADRA Office
- Document verification at reception. A NADRA representative at the reception desk checks that all your documents are in order.
- Verification by the office in-charge. If the documents are correct, the representative sends you to the office in-charge, who verifies everything and forwards the applicant to the data entry counter.
- Data entry. Your details are recorded, along with fingerprints and a photograph. All documents are scanned, and you're issued a tracking ID. If all heirs are present at the time, each undergoes biometric verification on the spot. Heirs who are elsewhere in the country can complete biometric verification at any NADRA center, while heirs residing abroad can do so through the Pak Identity mobile app.
- Case approval. Once data entry and all required biometric verifications are complete, the applicant returns to the office in-charge, who reviews and approves the case.
- Fee payment. Once the application is approved, an approval message is sent to the mobile number provided. The applicable Succession Certificate fee — Rs. 20,000 for estates valued above Rs. 100,000, or Rs. 10,000 for estates at or below that value — can then be paid either at the NADRA office or online through the Pak-Identity portal.
- Receipt and delivery. After the fee is paid, a public notice about the Succession Certificate is published in a newspaper. There is a mandatory waiting period of at least 15 days after the notice is published. Once that period has passed, the applicant returns to the same NADRA office to collect the completed Succession Certificate.
Why the Newspaper Notice and Waiting Period Exist
The public notice period gives anyone with a competing claim on the estate — or any objection to the listed heirs — a window to come forward before the certificate is finalized. This is a standard safeguard built into the process, and the minimum 15-day period cannot be shortened regardless of how urgently the certificate is needed.
What Heirs Living Abroad Need to Know
Heirs who live outside Pakistan are not required to travel back just for biometric verification. The Pak Identity mobile app allows overseas heirs to complete their portion of the verification remotely, which keeps the application moving even when not every heir can be physically present in Pakistan during the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fee for cancelling a deceased person's CNIC?
No. CNIC cancellation itself is free of charge, whether done through the Pak Identity app or in person at
a NADRA office. Only the Succession Certificate application carries its own separate fee.
What happens if one heir refuses to sign the Letter of Authorization?
Since the Letter of Authorization requires the signatures and thumb impressions of all heirs, a missing
signature can result in the application being declined. Disputes among heirs