Juvenile Card for a Child Passport: Why Children Aged 10+ Need It
By Aadil Shehzad · Last updated 30 October 2026
A Juvenile Card is the NADRA identity card most Pakistani children aged 10 to 17 now need for a passport. A child of 10 or older can no longer apply with an old B-Form (Child Registration Certificate) that has no fingerprints or photo. The Directorate General of Immigration & Passports accepts either an updated CRC with fingerprints and photo or a Juvenile Card. The Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah ask for the Juvenile Card itself.
What the passport office asks for at each age?
A Pakistani child passport needs a different NADRA document before and after the child’s 10th birthday. The Directorate General of Immigration & Passports (DGI&P) splits minors into two groups and names the documents for each.
| Child’s age | ID document the passport office accepts | Passport validity |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | Original CRC (B-Form) or Family Registration Certificate (FRC), with one photocopy | 5 years |
| 10 to 14 | Original updated CRC with fingerprints and photo, or a Juvenile Card, with one photocopy | 5 years |
| 15 to 17 | Original updated CRC with fingerprints and photo, or a Juvenile Card, with one photocopy | 5 or 10 years |
Every child applicant also needs the original CNICs or passports of both parents, and must come with one parent or a court-appointed guardian. DGI&P issues a separate passport to each child and no longer adds children’s names to a parent’s passport.
A Pakistani passport for a child under 15 is valid for 5 years only, according to DGI&P. Children aged 10 and above must show either an updated Child Registration Certificate carrying their fingerprints and photograph, or a NADRA Juvenile Card. Children under 10 can still apply with a standard CRC (B-Form) or a Family Registration Certificate.
Why the old B-Form stops working at age 10?
The B-Form stops working for passports at age 10 because the passport office now needs the child’s fingerprints and photo on a NADRA record. In January 2025 the federal government made fingerprints and photographs mandatory on the CRC for children over 10, Geo News reported. Issuance of the updated B-Form began in phases from 15 January 2025.
The same report said children in this age group must show the updated B-Form when they apply for a new passport. The older B-Form without these features is no longer accepted.
Most families got their child’s B-Form soon after birth. That certificate holds no fingerprints, because NADRA does not take them before age 10. NADRA’s own schedule also treats age 10 as an expiry point for both the CRC and the Juvenile Card. So for most children, the B-Form in the family folder was never going to work for a passport after the 10th birthday.
Parents have two ways to fix this:
- Update the CRC at NADRA, so it carries the child’s fingerprints and photo.
- Get a Juvenile Card, NADRA’s chip-based smart card for children under 18.
Both need a visit to NADRA with the child, because NADRA must capture the child’s fingerprints in person.
Juvenile Card or updated CRC: which one to get
The Juvenile Card is the safer choice for a child passport, especially for families abroad. An updated CRC works at passport offices in Pakistan but is cheaper and can be faster. The table below compares the two for passport use.
| Point to compare | Updated CRC (B-Form) | Juvenile Card |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Paper certificate | Chip-based smart card |
| Accepted by DGI&P in Pakistan for ages 10+ | Yes, if it carries fingerprints and photo | Yes |
| Accepted by the Riyadh embassy and Jeddah consulate for ages 10+ | Their pages say CRC holders need a Juvenile Card | Yes |
| Lowest NADRA fee in Pakistan | Rs 50 (normal) | Rs 750 (normal, 31 days) |
| Useful beyond the passport | Limited | Works as the child’s photo ID for school, domestic flights and bank accounts |
Fees are NADRA’s 2026 rates in Pakistan. See our Juvenile Card fees and application guide for urgent and executive rates.
Our recommendation
Get the Juvenile Card if your child is 10 or older and you live in Saudi Arabia, travel often, or are not sure which office will take the application. It is the one document every office we checked accepts. Choose the updated CRC only if you are applying at a passport office inside Pakistan and need the cheapest route. Even then, ask the NADRA operator to confirm the new CRC will show the child’s fingerprints and photo.
What Pakistan’s passport offices abroad ask for?
Pakistan’s passport offices abroad do not all word the age 10 rule the same way. We checked the published requirements of five offices on 22 October 2026.
| Office | What its page says for children aged 10+ | What to bring |
|---|---|---|
| DGI&P, Pakistan | Updated CRC with fingerprints and photo, or a Juvenile Card | Either one |
| Pakistan Embassy, Riyadh | “Children of 10 years of age and above holding CRC issued from NADRA are required to obtain juvenile card” | Juvenile Card |
| Consulate General, Jeddah | “A Juvenile Card issued by Nadra is required for children over 10 years of age” | Juvenile Card |
| High Commission, London | Minors aged 10 and above “must obtain a valid NADRA NICOP” with photo and biometrics; a B-Form holder must apply for a CNIC, NICOP or Juvenile Card | NICOP, or ask the mission first |
| Consulate General, Toronto | “Juvenile card/NICOP/CRC containing picture and biometric of the minor” | Any of the three, if it has biometrics |
The Riyadh and Jeddah wording is stricter than DGI&P’s. Their pages do not mention the updated CRC as an option. If you apply in Saudi Arabia, plan on a Juvenile Card. In the UK, the London page names the NICOP, so check with the High Commission before you choose a document. Mission pages change without notice, so check yours again in the week you book.
Getting a child passport in Saudi Arabia: the order of steps
Parents in Saudi Arabia should get the child’s Juvenile Card first and book the passport appointment only after the card arrives. The passport counter cannot accept an application for a child aged 10 or older without it.
- Check the child’s age on the appointment date. If the child will be 10 or older, the B-Form alone will not be accepted in Riyadh or Jeddah.
- Apply for the Juvenile Card. The child must be present, and one parent must pass biometric verification. The Riyadh embassy’s NADRA wing says it offers “all types of NADRA services including NICOP, CNIC, CRC, FRC“. It does not name the Juvenile Card or list a fee for it, so call or ask at the counter before you go.
- Wait for the card to be delivered. NADRA’s normal Juvenile Card service takes about 31 days in Pakistan. Delivery abroad depends on the country.
- Book the passport appointment. The Riyadh embassy takes bookings through its online appointment portal.
- Attend with at least one parent. The Jeddah consulate says the presence of at least one parent with the child is mandatory.
The Jeddah consulate also asks for both parents’ CNIC, passport and Iqama, with copies. A child who also holds another nationality brings that passport too.
Documents to bring on passport day
A child passport application for a child aged 10 or older needs the Juvenile Card plus the parents’ documents. Use this checklist, which combines the DGI&P list and the Saudi mission lists.
- Child’s Juvenile Card (or updated CRC where accepted), original and one copy
- Father’s and mother’s CNIC, NICOP or passport, originals and copies
- Iqama or residence permit copy (Riyadh and Jeddah)
- Child’s foreign passport, if the child is a dual national
- Court custody papers, if the parents are separated or divorced
- Court guardianship certificate, if a guardian is applying
- Original death certificate and a copy, if a parent has died
- Old passport, or a police report for a lost one, if this is a renewal
If parents are divorced or separated and only one attends, DGI&P needs the other parent’s permission. That means the other parent appears in person or gives consent on attested non-judicial stamp paper.
Mistakes that cost families a second visit
A child passport application for a child aged 10 to 17 can stall on the ID document, not the form. Five avoidable mistakes follow directly from the rules above:
- Bringing the baby B-Form. A B-Form made at birth has no fingerprints, so it fails for any child aged 10 or older.
- Booking both appointments together. The passport slot arrives, but the Juvenile Card is still being printed.
- Expecting a 10-year passport. A child under 15 receives a 5-year passport only, so plan the renewal date.
- Adding the child to a parent’s passport. DGI&P no longer allows it. Every child needs their own passport.
- One separated parent attending alone. Without custody papers or the other parent’s attested consent, the office cannot proceed.
Frequently asked questions
Is a B-Form valid for a Pakistani passport after age 10?
An old B-Form is not valid for a passport once a child turns 10. DGI&P accepts a CRC only if it has been updated with the child’s fingerprints and photo. The Riyadh and Jeddah missions ask for a Juvenile Card.
Does a child under 10 need a Juvenile Card for a passport?
A child under 10 does not need a Juvenile Card for a passport. DGI&P accepts the standard CRC (B-Form) or a Family Registration Certificate for this age group.
How long is a Pakistani passport valid for a child?
A Pakistani passport for a child under 15 is valid for 5 years. DGI&P does not issue 10-year passports to applicants under 15.
Does the child need to go to NADRA in person for a Juvenile Card?
The child must attend NADRA in person, because NADRA captures the child’s photo and fingerprints. One parent or the legal guardian must also attend and pass biometric verification.
Can I get a Juvenile Card at the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh?
The Riyadh embassy’s NADRA wing lists NICOP, CNIC, CRC and FRC services, but its page does not name the Juvenile Card. Confirm with the embassy before booking.
identityservices.pk is an independent guide and is not affiliated with NADRA, DGI&P or any Pakistani mission. Requirements were checked against official pages on 30 October 2026.
