Converting PNG to JPG for NADRA: The 2026 Guide

Imagine this scenario: It is 11 PM. You have spent the last hour wrestling with the NADRA website. The server is slow, your internet is acting up, but you have finally filled out every single form field. You reach the final step—uploading your photo. You select your perfect picture, hit upload, and...

'Error: Invalid File Format' or 'File type not supported'.

It is maddening. You just want to get this over with, but a tiny technical detail is standing in your way. If your photo is saved as a PNG, a WebP, or an iPhone HEIC file, the Pak Identity system will simply refuse to accept it.

Don't worry, Bhai. You don't need to be a computer expert to fix this. In this guide, I will explain why this happens and give you the quickest, safest way to convert your photo to the correct JPG format required by the government.

The 'Why' Behind the JPG Rule

You might wonder, 'A picture is a picture, right? Why does NADRA care about the file extension?'

It comes down to two things: Compression and Legacy Systems.

File Size: PNG files are 'lossless', meaning they keep every single detail. This makes them huge. A simple passport photo in PNG might be 2MB. NADRA's servers process millions of applications. To save bandwidth and storage, they strictly enforce a 60KB limit. JPG is designed to shrink files down without looking bad.
Transparency: PNGs support transparent backgrounds (like stickers). NADRA requires a solid white background. If you upload a transparent image, the system doesn't know what to put behind your head—black? white? checkers? To avoid this ambiguity, they ban PNGs entirely.

The iPhone Nightmare (HEIC Files)

If you own an iPhone, you probably face this issue constantly. By default, iPhones save photos in a format called HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container).

HEIC is amazing technology—it saves space on your phone while keeping photos sharp. But the Pak Identity website is old-school. It has no idea what a .heic file is. If you try to upload a photo directly from your iPhone gallery to the website via Safari, it might work (Safari converts it sometimes), but if you transfer it to a PC first, it stays as HEIC and fails.

The Fix for iPhone Users

You don't need to change your phone settings. Just use our CNIC Resizer Tool. It accepts HEIC files, processes them, and lets you download a verified JPG file instantly.

Why Screenshots are a Bad Idea

A common jugaad (hack) people use is to open the photo on their screen and take a screenshot. Since screenshots are usually JPG or PNG, they think this solves the problem.

Please, stop doing this. Here is why:

Resolution Drop: A screenshot only captures the pixels on your screen, not the full quality of the camera sensor. Your sharp photo becomes blurry.
Black Bars: Screenshots often capture the black bars at the top/bottom of your phone screen. This messes up the face ratio requirements and leads to rejection.
Metadata Loss: Screenshots strip away helpful data that some modern systems use for verification.

The Risk of 'Free Online Converters'

If you Google 'convert PNG to JPG', you will find a million websites. While they work, there is a privacy risk.

Most of these sites require you to upload your image to their server. Their server processes it and sends it back. Do you really want your biometric ID photo sitting on some random server in Russia or China? In the age of AI deepfakes, protecting your face data is as important as protecting your CNIC number.

This is why we built our tool with Client-Side Technology. When you use the converter on our homepage, the conversion happens inside your browser. Your photo never leaves your device. It is the safest way to convert sensitive documents.

Step-by-Step Conversion Guide

Ready to fix that error? Follow these simple steps. It takes less than 30 seconds.

Go to the Tool: Scroll up to the Converter Section at the top of this website.
Upload your File: Tap 'Upload Your Photo'. You can select a PNG, a WebP, or an iPhone HEIC file. The tool is smart enough to read them all.
Adjust (If needed): Since you are here, you might as well check if the photo fits the oval guide. NADRA requires a 350x467 pixel size. Use the zoom slider to fit your face perfectly.
Download: Click the green button. The tool automatically converts the image data into JPG format. It also compresses it to ensure it is under 60KB.

Final Verification Checklist

Before you go back to the NADRA tab, check your downloaded file details:

Extension: Does the filename end in .jpg or .jpeg?
Size: Is the file size smaller than 60KB?
Dimensions: Is it roughly 350x467 pixels?
Name: Rename it to something simple like 'cnic_photo.jpg'. Sometimes long filenames with special characters cause errors too.

That's it! You have successfully navigated the technical hurdles. Go ahead and upload that shiny new JPG. If you still get an error related to your face not being visible, read our guide on Solving the Face Not Detected Error. Good luck with your application!