NADRA warns of a fake visa portal and confirms the only official site is visa.nadra.gov.pk. Learn how to verify domains and protect your CNIC and PakID details online.
What NADRA Warned About
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has issued a public advisory after identifying a fraudulent website that is impersonating its official visa portal. The purpose of such fake platforms is typically to trick people into sharing sensitive personal information and making payments on a site that looks official.
In its statement posted on X, NADRA pointed to a malicious domain that was presenting itself as a visa service platform. NADRA stressed that the website is not linked to the authority and may be used to obtain personal data or collect money fraudulently. The warning is important because visa and identity-related services often involve CNIC details, contact information, and payment steps—exactly the information scammers target for identity misuse and future fraud.
The One Detail That Confirms the Real Portal
NADRA clarified that the only official visa portal is visa.nadra.gov.pk. It advised citizens to use only official NADRA web services hosted on domains ending in .gov.pk. This is the fastest authenticity check most users can do in seconds.
A helpful way to think about it is this: scammers often create look‑alike addresses by adding extra words, changing spelling slightly, or using unusual endings like “.online” instead of an official government domain. If the website does not clearly end in .gov.pk, treat it as suspicious. Do not enter your CNIC, phone number, passport details, or any card information.
If you are unsure, open a fresh browser tab and manually type the official address rather than clicking links from messages, ads, or forwarded posts. This single habit prevents many phishing attacks.
How to Protect Your CNIC and Payments Online
NADRA urged the public to avoid suspicious websites and verify authenticity before sharing any information. To stay safe, use a simple checklist before you submit details online:
• Check the domain carefully and prefer official .gov.pk links.
• Avoid clicking visa or ID links sent through unknown WhatsApp messages, SMS, or emails.
• Never share OTP codes, passwords, or card PINs with anyone, even if they claim to be from an authority.
• If a page asks for unnecessary information or pressures you to pay quickly, stop and verify first.
• Keep screenshots and transaction details if you suspect fraud, and report it to the relevant platform.
NADRA said its Information Security Department has taken steps to curb such activity and that, in the past month, it identified and took down nine impersonating domains misusing NADRA’s name. That shows these scams can appear repeatedly, so user vigilance remains critical.
Separately, NADRA also clarified that digital identity documents issued through its PakID platform carry the same legal status as physical identity cards. It said some authorities had been asking for a physical CNIC copy instead of accepting the digital version, and NADRA stated this practice conflicts with the applicable legal and regulatory framework. Under the NADRA Ordinance 2000 and the Digital Identity Regulations 2025, NADRA‑issued digital IDs have the same legal validity and evidentiary value as physical CNICs, NICOPs, or POCs, and relevant institutions are required to accept them as proof of identity.
