Your Guide to Applying for a Domicile in Pakistan

Highlights of the Post:
Procedure for domicile in Islamabad
Procedure for domicile in Karachi
Procedure for domicile in Lahore

Looking for a complete process to apply for a domicile in Pakistan? Well, before we say anything else, we’d like you to know that you have landed on the right page. 

Domicile in Pakistan is a certificate that proves the citizenship of a person in a particular city. It is issued by the federal and provincial government.

In this blog, we’ve compiled the overall process for filing, fees, and obtaining a domicile certificate in Pakistan, for each of the major cities.

We have divided this blog into several sections. However, we will begin from understanding the importance and meaning of a domicile certificate in Pakistan. 

What is a Domicile Certificate?

As discussed above, the certificate of domicile proves that a person is a resident of a particular city. The official document is released by the federal, provincial government, or an authorised district magistrate.

Domicile is required when a person is seeking a government job or applying in a public university. 

Note: This certificate is only obtainable from one city, and not more than that. Let’s say that you live in Karachi and you have already acquired a domicile of Karachi – you cannot apply for a domicile in Lahore. 

Now that we’ve established the basic understanding about domicile certificates in Pakistan, let’s take a look at the process of obtaining a domicile certificate.

Let’s continue!

Domicile Application Process in Islamabad 

One of the basic requirements of a domicile for Islamabad is that the applicant must have resided a year or more in the city.

If you have recently moved to Islamabad from some other city, and you’re seeking a job or admission in university – you need to obtain a certificate of domicile in Islamabad. Before that, if you already have a domicile in some other city, you need to cancel the previous one before applying for next.

If you fit the above criteria, and are proceeding to applying for the domicile, we have compiled lists of required documents, the procedure, and the location of offices for Islamabad, that we think you might need.

List of essential Documents

The domicile requirements for applicants that are above the age of 21 are as follows: 

• Passport size photographs: 2
• Proof of trade or occupation 
• Copy of the CNIC
• Copy of father/husband’s CNIC 
• Original utility bills (it can be an electric, gas, or telephone bill) 
• Proof of residence in Islamabad 
• NOC (in case of dual address) 
• Provide a copy of SSC or Matric Certification 
• Copy of the marriage registration certificate (if applicant is married)
• Copy of Form-B (if applicant has children)

These are the domicile requirements for applicants that are younger than the age of 21 years: 

• Passport size photographs: 2
• Copy of applicant’s CNIC/ Form-B 
• Copy of mother/father’s CNIC 
• Copy of parent’s certificate of domicile in which the name of the applicant is stated
• Copy of SSC or Matric Certificate 
• Proof of trade or occupation 

Process of Obtaining a Domicile in Islamabad 

We’ve summarised the complete process of applying for a domicile in the Capital City of Pakistan: 

Step 1: The applicant would need to submit a challan of PKR 200, at the F-8 Markaz branch of National Bank of Pakistan, or at the state bank of Pakistan. 

Step 2:  The next step requires the applicant to visit the citizen facilitation centre in Islamabad with their challan receipt, domicile application form, along with all the documents that are required according to their respective age group. 

Step 3: The applicant will receive a token from the assigned counter, and they would be required to wait for their turn. 

Step 4: When it’s the applicants turn; they need to visit the counter for data entry 

Step 5: The applicant will need to pay a processing fee of PR 500 at the assigned counter. 

Step 6: The applicant will be provided with an e-receipt.  

Step 7: The applicant will be required to collect their certificate of domicile from the Citizen Facilitation Centre on the date of collection mentioned on their respective e-receipt. 

Note: During the whole process, the applicant needs to be present in person along with all their required documents. 

Contact Details of Citizen Facilitation Centre, Islamabad

Below are the timings, location, and contact details for the Citizen Facilitation Centre, Islamabad: 

Address: ICT Administration Complex, G11/4, Islamabad

Contact number: 051-9108194 

Operational Timings are as follows:
Submission Timings: 

• Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
• Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM 

Delivery Timings: 

• Monday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM 
• Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM 

Domicile Certificate Fees: 

PKR 700 (inclusive of challan and processing fee) 

Note: These guidelines have been issued on the official website of Islamabad Capital Territory.

Domicile application process in Lahore 

The process for obtaining a domicile certificate in Lahore is comparatively straightforward. We’ve put together the complete details of the process for obtaining a domicile in Lahore. 

List of essential Documents

Let’s take a look at the documents required for domicile in Lahore: 

• Form P and P1, thoroughly filled and signed by the applicant. 
• Affidavit (thoroughly filled and signed by the applicant, and attested by Oath Commissioner)
• 3 Passport Size Photographs (with white background)
• Applicant’s CNIC or B-form (Parent’s CNIC is also acceptable)
• AC verification form
• One of the following Entitlement documents will be required:
  – Property ownership documents
  – Utility Bills
  – Resident certificate
  – Education Documents
  – Voter list of the applicant’s UC where the vote is registered.
  

Note: At the time of application, the required documents must be at least one year old. 

Process of Obtaining a Domicile in Lahore

Step 1: The first thing that the applicant needs to do is obtain a challan either from E-Khidmat Markaz or the National Bank of Pakistan. 

Step 2: The applicant needs to make a challan payment for PKR 200. 

Step 3: Once the applicant has paid the challan, they need to visit E-Khidmat Markaz and obtain a domicile application form. For further convenience, the applicant can download the form via the official website prior to their visit. 

Step 4: The applicants need to thoroughly fill the domicile application form and submit it at the markaz, with all the required documents. 

Step 5: Once the applicant has successfully submitted their documents, the applicant will be provided with an e-receipt. 

Step 6: The e-receipt will have a tracking ID, that the applicant can enter on the website, and track the status of the process. There are other options to find out the status of the domicile certificate, such as using their toll-free number or using their SMS Gateway by sending the assigned application ID at 9100. 

Step 7: The last step involves collecting the domicile certificate from the office. 

Note: For the domicile certificate, the applicant needs to visit the e-Khidmat Markaz in person. 

Contact Details of E-Khidmat Markaz in Lahore

Below are the details for the E-Khidmat Markaz in Lahore, including address, contact information, and procession fees, etc: 

Address: Jinnah Hall (Town Hall), Lower Mall, Anarkali, Lahore.
Contact number: 042-99214572; 0800-09100

Operational Timings: 

Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM 

Domicile Certificate Fees:
PKR 200 (Challan) 

Domicile Application Process in Karachi

The simplest process of obtaining a domicile in Pakistan, is in Karachi.

The procedure of obtaining a domicile in Karachi is more or less similar to Lahore. You can easily apply for the domicile certificate by visiting the respective deputy Commissioner’s Office.

For further convenience, we have put together the requirements, procedure, locations, and all other details required in order to obtain a domicile or PRC in Karachi. 

List of essential documents

Here is a list of documents required for domicile & PRC in Karachi: 

• 5 Passport Size Photographs 
• Applicant’s CNIC (both original and attested copy)
• Any applicant that is below the age of 18 needs to provide an attested copy of their B-form
• Applicant’s below the age of 18, will also need to provide attested copies of educational certificates till the current year. 
• Applicants who are below the age of 21, need to provide copies of father’s CNIC and Domicile. 
• In case the applicant is a government employee, provision of attested copies of service certificates is required. 
• Proof of residence via electricity bill, gas bill, or rent agreement
• In the scenario that the applicant is married, they must provide a copy of their spouses’ CNIC 
• In the scenario that the applicant has children, an attested copy of their children’s birth certificate or B-form are required. 

Process of Obtaining a Domicile in Karachi 

Here’s the process of obtaining a domicile certificate and PRC in Karachi:

Step 1: The applicant must pay a challan of PKR 200 at the National Bank of Pakistan, Deputy Commissioner Office Branch. 

Step 2: The applicant must paste stamps on all photocopies

Step 3: The applicant must obtain, thoroughly fill, and get the domicile application attested. You can get your form attested by the Oath Commissioner. 

Step 4:  Once all the documents are aligned, the applicant can submit these at the DC office. 

Step 5: At then end of a successful document submission, the applicant will receive a receipt. 

Step 6: The last step includes collecting your Domicile and PRC from the assigned DC office. 

Note: In order to apply for the domicile & PRC in Karachi, the applicant needs to visit the DC office in person. 

Where to Apply for a Domicile in Karachi? 

Unlike other major cities of Pakistan, Karachi has several District Commissioner offices for domicile certificate procedure. 

Here is a list of all the DC offices, and their relevant details: 

• Administrative District Central
  Address: DC Office, Sector 15-A/1, Buffer Zone, Karachi
  
• Administrative District East
  Address: DC east, District Council Building, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Opposite Mashriq Centre, Karachi
  
• Administrative District West
  Address: Manghopir Road, SITE Area, Karachi
  
• Administrative District South
  Address: 4-Club Road, Opposite Karachi Gymkhana, Civil Lines, Karachi
  
• Administrative District Korangi
  Address: ST 1/3, Sector 41-B, Korangi No. 2-1/2, Karachi
  
• Administrative District Malir
  Address: Main Quaidabad, Malir, Karachi 

Domicile Certificate Fees:  PKR 200 (Challan)   

So, this was our detailed post on obtaining a domicile in Pakistan. We have covered the procedure in major cities such as Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. 

Meanwhile, if you want more information about legal procedures for vehicle transfer, or the process of property registration in Karachi, follow Jagah Online Blogs. 

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