Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC): Registration, Renewal, Verification and the 2026 Overhaul

Pakistan needs hundreds of thousands more nurses, and every one of them must be registered with the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC) before they can practise. Here’s how registration, renewal and verification work, and what changed when the council was rebuilt in 2026.

Imagine you’ve passed your final exams, a job offer is waiting, and your registration card still hasn’t arrived. For years, many Pakistani nurses lived that wait. The council has now been rebuilt, and getting your paperwork right first time matters more than ever.

This article is part of our guide: Nursing Councils, Associations and Unions Explained.

What is the PNMC?

The PNMC is Pakistan’s national regulator for nurses, midwives and lady health visitors. It registers qualified nurses, approves nursing colleges and programmes, and issues verification and good standing certificates for nurses going abroad.

The 2026 overhaul

In 2026 the federal government restructured the council. According to The Express Tribune, President Asif Ali Zardari approved the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Bill, 2026, a new 19-member council was formed, and the reconstituted council approved 55 nursing colleges while clearing a backlog of pending cases. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said Pakistan has far fewer nurses than it needs and that applications from 425 colleges were awaiting inspection.

How to register

1. Start your application on the PNMC online registration system and print the system copy.
2. Gather your documents: CNIC, domicile, matriculation certificate, attested nursing certificate or provisional certificate, course completion certificate and passport photos.
3. Pay the fee by the method the council specifies (the published list mentions a bank demand draft payable to the Registrar).
4. Send the system copy and documents by post or deliver them to the PNMC office. The council says faxed or emailed applications are not accepted.
5. Track your application and collect your registration card.

Renewal every five years

PNMC registration must be renewed every five years from the date of registration. Government employees don’t need an employer certificate; nurses in private or non-government jobs should bring a current employer certificate. Renew early so a lapse doesn’t interrupt your work.

Verification for working abroad

Most overseas regulators, including the NMC in the UK and Gulf licensing bodies, ask for verification of your registration or a certificate of good standing directly from the PNMC. Apply for verification as soon as you start an overseas application, because it can take time.

Service	What you need	Tip
First registration	Online form, attested certificates, CNIC, fee	Check the latest list on pnmc.gov.pk
Renewal (5 years)	Old card, employer certificate if private sector, fee	Renew before expiry
Verification / good standing	Request form, registration details, fee	Start early for jobs abroad

Avoid these mistakes

• Sending unattested copies
• Missing pages or mismatched names on documents
• Paying through unofficial agents
• Letting registration lapse while working abroad

But isn’t PNMC registration slow no matter what I do?

Delays have been a real problem, and the new council says it is clearing backlogs. You can’t control the council’s speed, but you can avoid the most common cause of extra delay: an incomplete application. Submit every document exactly as listed, keep copies and receipts, and follow up politely in writing.

Related: Indian Nursing Council guide · Fake recruitment agency red flags · Council vs association vs union

Sources: Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council, registration requirements (pnmc.gov.pk); The Express Tribune, “Reconstituted nursing council clears 55 colleges” (2026).