Ehsaas Program Registration 2025: The Real Role of 8171 and NADRA

Trying to sign up for the Ehsaas Program (now run by BISP) and not sure where to even start?

Here’s the biggest mistake most people make: they think you can register by sending a text to 8171 or by going to a NADRA office.

That’s the main confusion, and it’s stopping people from actually applying the right way.

Let’s clear this up. Here is the correct 3-step process for getting registered and what 8171 and NADRA are actually used for.

Here’s that guide, rewritten in a more natural and SEO-friendly style.

The 3 Most Important Facts About Registration

Before you do anything, let’s clear up the biggest myths. A lot of people get this wrong.

1. 8171 Isn’t for Registration. Sending a text to 8171 is only for checking your status or getting payment alerts after you’re in the system. You can’t use it to start a new application.
2. NADRA Doesn’t Register You. NADRA’s job is to verify your information (like your CNIC and family) after you apply. They don’t take the application themselves.
3. The Only Way to Register is the NSER Survey. The one and only way to apply is by going in person to an official BISP / Ehsaas registration center and completing the NSER survey.

Step-by-Step: How Ehsaas Program Registration Actually Works

Here’s exactly what you need to do, from start to finish.

Step 1: The NSER Survey (This is the REAL Registration)

This is the one step you must do yourself. The NSER (National Socio-Economic Registry) is just the government’s official list to find families who need financial help.

• Find Your Center: You have to go in person to a BISP / Ehsaas registration center. You can usually find these at your local tehsil office.
• Complete the Survey: A staff member there will ask you questions about your family, income, and general household (how many people, what they do, etc.).
• Bring Your ID: You must have your valid CNIC (your main ID card) and the B-Forms or CNICs for your other family members.

That’s it. This in-person survey is the only official application. You cannot register for the NSER survey online.

Step 2: NADRA’s Role (The Verification)

The best part about this step? You don’t have to do anything. It all happens automatically in the background.

• Data Check: After your survey, your information is sent to NADRA to be checked.
• Your “Poverty Score”: NADRA confirms who you are, checks your family tree (like how many children you have), and analyzes your financial data (like if you own a car or have traveled abroad).
• Getting Approved: Based on this check, the government gives you a “Poverty Means Test” (PMT) score. If your score is below the official limit, you’re approved for the program.

Step 3: 8171’s Role (The Communication)

After you’ve been approved, 8171 is how you’ll get all your information.

• Checking Your Status: Now you can send your 13-digit CNIC number in a text to 8171. The system will reply and tell you if you are eligible, not eligible, or if your survey is still being processed.
• Payment Alerts: When your payment is ready (like the Ehsaas Kafalat payment), you will get an official SMS from 8171 telling you that you can go collect your money.
• 8171 Web Portal: You can also use the 8171 Web Portal online to check your status with your CNIC.

Summary: The Process

Step	Your Action	The System’s Role (8171 & NADRA)
1. Registration	Visit a BISP/Ehsaas center and complete the NSER survey.
2. Verification	Wait for your survey to be processed.	NADRA verifies your CNIC and family data to see if you are eligible.
3. Communication	Check your status by sending your CNIC to 8171.	8171 is the service that tells you if you are approved and when your payment is ready.

Here’s that FAQ section, rewritten in that more human, conversational style.

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Got Questions? Here are some common ones.

Q: So, I texted my CNIC to 8171, and it just came back saying “Not Registered.” What’s going on?

A: Ugh, this is the single most common frustration people have, but it’s an easy fix!

Think of it this way: 8171 is like a tracker for a package. If you never went to the post office (the BISP center) to mail the package (do the survey), the tracker has nothing to show you.

It just means the system has no file for you yet. You can’t be “checked” until you’re “in.” You still need to go in person to a BISP/Ehsaas center and complete the NSER survey. After you do that, 8171 will work.

Q: Can’t I just register for this whole thing online? Do I really have to go in person?

A: I know, it’s a hassle. But no, unfortunately, you cannot register online. The only way to get into the program is by completing that NSER survey in person at an official BISP center.

That “8171 Web Portal” you might have seen is just like the text message—it’s only for checking your status after you’ve already applied.

Q: I checked my status, and it says I’m “ineligible.” What am I supposed to do now?

A: Okay, “ineligible” doesn’t always mean “ineligible forever.” It just means that based on the last survey you did (which might have been years ago), you didn’t meet the poverty score.

If your life situation has changed since then—maybe a breadwinner lost a job, or your family has grown—the system doesn’t know that. Your best bet is to go back to your local BISP/Ehsaas center and ask them to “update your survey.” This will give them your new, current information to make a fresh decision.

Q: I was approved and went to get my money, but my fingerprints failed! What now?

A: First off, don’t panic. This happens to a lot of people, especially if you work with your hands a lot or as you get older.

It just means the fingerprint scanner at the payment shop can’t match the prints NADRA has on file for you. The fix is to go to your local NADRA office and ask them to “update your biometrics” (your fingerprints). Once they have your new, clear prints in their system, you can go back and collect your payment without a problem.

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