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How to Register Your Nikah Nama
Your nikah must be officially registered with NADRA to get a computerized marriage certificate. Here is how to do it — including what to do if it was never registered.
NADRA⏱ 1–2 hours💰 PKR 200–500
- Original Nikah Nama (signed by nikah registrar, bride, groom, and witnesses)
- Original CNICs of both husband and wife
- CNIC photocopies of both parties
- CNICs of two witnesses who were present at the nikah
- CNIC of the nikah registrar (Nikah Khwan)
1
Ensure your nikah was conducted by a licensed Nikah Registrar
In Pakistan, nikah must be performed by a Union Council-licensed Nikah Registrar (Nikah Khwan). If your nikah was not conducted by a licensed registrar, the Nikah Nama may not be accepted for registration. Verify the registrar's license number on the document.
2
Get the original Nikah Nama from your Nikah Registrar
The Nikah Registrar keeps a copy and gives you the original. Make sure it has the official stamp and signatures of the registrar, both parties, and two male witnesses (or one male and two female witnesses as applicable).
3
Register at your Union Council
The Nikah Nama must first be submitted to the Union Council (UC) of the area where the nikah took place. The UC will issue a registration number and stamp the document. This is a legal requirement under the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961.
4
Visit NADRA for the computerized certificate
With the UC-registered Nikah Nama, visit a NADRA office. Submit the original Nikah Nama, both CNICs, and photocopies. NADRA will issue a Computerized Marriage Certificate (CMC) which is required for most official purposes.
5
Update your CNIC marital status (optional)
You can also update your marital status on your CNIC at NADRA at the same visit. Bring your Nikah Nama as supporting documentation.
- Register the Nikah Nama as soon as possible — delays complicate the process
- The Computerized Marriage Certificate (CMC) from NADRA is what most institutions ask for — the handwritten Nikah Nama alone is often not sufficient
- For overseas Pakistanis: the CMC can be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for use abroad
- If the nikah was years ago and never registered, you can still register — visit the Union Council with witnesses and be prepared to explain the delay
Is registration of nikah mandatory by law?
Yes. Under the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961, registration of nikah is compulsory in Pakistan. Non-registration can complicate inheritance, divorce, child custody, and visa applications.
We got married abroad. How do we register in Pakistan?
Get your foreign marriage certificate attested by the Pakistani Embassy in that country, then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan, and finally submit to NADRA for a CMC.
Can my wife add her husband's name to her CNIC after marriage?
Yes. With the CMC, your wife can update her CNIC at NADRA to include her husband's name. This is optional but required for some visa and passport applications.
Last updated: 2026-03-20. Requirements and fees can change — always verify with the official office before visiting.