Civil servants: Foreign nationality declaration made mandatory

Business Recorder

Civil servants: Foreign nationality declaration made mandatory

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has made it mandatory for all civil servants to disclose whether they or their dependents possess foreign nationality, foreign passports, permanent residency status, or any travel documents that may provide a pathway to citizenship of another country. The new framework, notified through the Civil Servants (Disclosure and Regulation of Foreign Nationality) Rules, 2026, introduces strict disclosure requirements and prescribes disciplinary as well as service-related consequences for the concealment, non-disclosure, or misrepresentation of such information. According to an S.R.O issued by the Establishment Division, every civil servant will now be required to submit declarations regarding their own and their dependents’ foreign nationality status at the time of appointment, annually thereafter, and within 90 days of the promulgation of the new rules. The regulations apply to all federal civil servants and have been promulgated by the Prime Minister under Section 25 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973. Under the rules, any individual seeking appointment to government service must declare whether he or any of his dependents is a foreign national or possesses a foreign passport, residence permit, permanent residence card, or any other travel document issued by a foreign country that may eventually lead to acquisition of foreign nationality. The government has prescribed severe penalties for concealment. Failure to make the required declaration, or submission of a false declaration at the time of appointment, would render the appointment “void ab initio” and liable to termination at any stage. In addition, failure to submit annual declarations or the special declaration required within 90 days of the notification would constitute misconduct under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020, potentially exposing officers to disciplinary proceedings. The rules also place restrictions on acquiring foreign nationality or immigration-related documents. No civil servant or dependent will be allowed to apply for or obtain a foreign nationality, a foreign passport, a permanent residence card, or any similar document without prior approval from the competent appointing authority. However, the government has carved out an exemption for civil servants and dependents who acquired another nationality by birth or descent. Such individuals would not be subject to the prohibition or prior approval requirements, although disclosure obligations would still apply. A particularly stringent provision targets officers serving on diplomatic assignments abroad. The notification bars the granting of permission for acquiring nationality or immigration-related status in countries where the civil servant is serving or has served on an accredited diplomatic posting. Furthermore, if a civil servant or his dependents already hold foreign nationality or travel documents relating to a country where the officer has served diplomatically, they would be required to have such status revoked, withdrawn, cancelled, or formally renounced, as applicable. The rules also expand reporting obligations relating to marriages with foreign nationals. Civil servants will have to declare whether they or their dependents are married to foreign nationals and whether the required government permission was obtained under the Government Servants (Marriage with Foreign Nationals) Rules, 1962. Annual declaration forms attached to the notification require officers to disclose details of foreign spouses, nationality, date of marriage, and official permission references where applicable. The Establishment Division has prescribed separate declaration forms for newly appointed officers, annual compliance reporting, and a one-time disclosure exercise to be completed by all serving civil servants within 90 days. The notification also repeals all previous rules and administrative instructions inconsistent with the new framework, making the 2026 rules the principal regulatory regime governing disclosure and regulation of foreign nationality among civil servants. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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