Lawyer in Karachi for Pakistanis in the USA

How do I make a power of attorney in the USA for use in Pakistan?

1. 1

   Get the power of attorney drafted

   We draft it for the exact purpose — a sale, a court case, a succession petition — so the sub-registrar or court accepts it the first time.

2. 2

   Apply on the NADRA portal

   Create an account at poa.nadra.gov.pk, upload the signed document and copies of the CNIC or NICOP of you, your attorney and two witnesses, and select the Washington mission.

3. 3

   Give biometrics and pay

   Submit fingerprints and pay by card. The Embassy's page lists a fee of US $32 by card (US $30 by cheque on the in-person route).

4. 4

   Attend the video interview

   A consular officer interviews you by video. After approval, NADRA sends a final consent request.

5. 5

   Send the approval to your attorney

   You receive an approval PDF to send to your attorney in Pakistan with the signed document, ready for registration and use.

The Embassy of Pakistan in Washington describes an online route that most Pakistani Americans can use without leaving home:

Which Pakistani missions serve the USA?

• •Embassy of Pakistan, Washington DC
• •Consulate General of Pakistan, New York
• •Consulate General of Pakistan, Chicago
• •Consulate General of Pakistan, Houston
• •Consulate General of Pakistan, Los Angeles

Choose the mission that covers the state you live in. NADRA warns that choosing the wrong mission can route an online application to the wrong office and lead to rejection.

What if I am a US citizen without a Pakistani ID?

The online portal is for holders of a CNIC, NICOP or POC. If you only hold a US passport, the Pakistani Consulate in Los Angeles says the document must first be legalised by the US State Department in Washington DC, after which you visit the Pakistani mission in person.

Many Pakistani Americans can avoid this by applying for a NICOP first. If you are unsure which route fits, send us your documents before you start — the wrong route is the most common cause of delay.

Can US documents like death or marriage certificates be used in Pakistan?

Pakistan joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 9 March 2023, and the USA is also a party. Public documents issued in the USA — such as a death certificate needed for a succession certificate — can generally be apostilled by the issuing state's authority instead of going through embassy legalisation. See our apostille guide for when each route applies.

What Karachi matters do clients in the USA usually bring?

• •Selling a parent's house or plot after their death, or a property bought years ago
• •Succession certificates to release a deceased parent's bank accounts and savings
• •Illegal occupation of an empty house by tenants, caretakers or land grabbers
• •Partition disputes between siblings in Pakistan and abroad
• •Khula, divorce and custody cases with one spouse in Pakistan

Pakistan is about 9–10 hours ahead of the US east coast, so we schedule WhatsApp and video calls around your working day and share every order and hearing date in writing.