Historically, Non-Resident Pakistanis (NRPs) who wanted to open a domestic bank account had to physically visit a branch in Pakistan or complete time-consuming paperwork through overseas consulates. In 2020, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) streamlined this process by launching the Roshan Digital Account (RDA).
RDA allows overseas Pakistanis and resident Pakistanis with declared offshore assets to open, operate, and fund fully functional bank accounts entirely online without visiting an embassy or physical branch. The framework provides a gateway to Naya Pakistan Certificates (NPCs), the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), residential real estate financing (Roshan Apna Ghar), and direct Roshan Samaji Khidmat donations, backed by statutory repatriation rights.
Below is an itemized, step-by-step setup guide covering eligible partner banks, mandatory documentation, account types, and funding methods.
Participating Partner Banks
You can open an RDA through any of the State Bank’s authorized conventional or Islamic commercial banks:
- Islamic Banks: Meezan Bank, Faysal Islami, BankIslami, Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB).
- Conventional Banks (with Islamic Windows): HBL, UBL, MCB Bank, Bank Alfalah, Standard Chartered Pakistan, Allied Bank (ABL), Bank of Punjab (BOP), Habib Metropolitan Bank, and Samba Bank.
Account Classification: Choosing the Right Currency and Mode
Applicants must select two structural parameters during registration:
- Currency Choice:
- Foreign Currency Value Account (FCVA): Maintained in USD, GBP, EUR, AED, SAR, CAD, or CNY. Funds stay in your base foreign currency, shielding your capital from PKR exchange-rate volatility.
- Non-Resident Rupee Value Account (NRVA): Remitted foreign funds convert automatically upon arrival into Pakistani Rupees (PKR) at prevailing interbank rates. This account is mandatory if you intend to pay utility bills locally, fund day-to-day family expenses, or purchase PKR-denominated assets.
- Banking Mode: Choose between Conventional Banking or Shariah-Compliant Islamic Banking (operating on Mudarabah or Qard contracts).
Mandatory Document Checklist
Prepare clean, scanned color PDF or JPEG copies of the following documents before launching the application:
- Original CNIC / NICOP / POC: Scanned front and back.
- Original Passport: Scanned first two identification pages (Pakistani passport or foreign passport for POC holders).
- Proof of Non-Resident Status: Valid foreign residence visa, work permit, Iqama, or foreign citizenship certificate.
- Proof of Profession & Source of Income:
- Salaried Individuals: Recent stamped employment contract, official salary certificate, or latest 3 months’ pay slips.
- Business Owners / Self-Employed: Registered trade license, business bank statements, or tax filings from your country of residence.
- Overseas Bank Account Statement: Stamped 3 to 6 months’ account statement from your overseas bank (used to verify the originating remittance trail).
- Live Photograph & Signature Specimen: A live selfie captured via webcam/phone camera and a signature on plain white paper.
Step-by-Step Online Registration Roadmap
[1. Select Partner Bank] ──> [2. Complete Digital Form] ──> [3. Upload Scanned KYC] ──> [4. Biometric & Approval] ──> [5. Fund via SWIFT]
- Visit the Bank’s Official RDA Portal: Navigate to the dedicated Roshan Digital Account landing page of your selected bank (e.g.,
[meezanbank.com/rda](https://meezanbank.com/rda)or[hbl.com/rda](https://hbl.com/rda)). - Create Your User Credentials: Register using a valid email address and an active overseas mobile phone number with your international country code.
- Select Account Type: Pick your desired currency (USD, PKR, etc.) and branch jurisdiction (Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, etc.).
- Input Personal & Professional Details: Complete your demographic data, overseas residential address, tax residency declarations (FATCA/CRS), and next-of-kin nominee information.
- Upload Verification Records: Attach your scanned passport, visa/Iqama, salary slips, and signature card.
- Live Liveness & Identity Check: Complete the built-in automated facial liveness check via your device’s front-facing camera.
- Submit for Compliance Screening: Submit the application. Under SBP regulations, the bank’s dedicated RDA desk must complete compliance and AML screening to issue your account credentials within 48 banking hours.
How to Fund Your Roshan Digital Account
Once your account number and International Bank Account Number (IBAN) are generated, the account remains non-operational until its initial deposit.
- Mandatory Inward Cross-Border Wire: Under central bank rules, an RDA cannot be funded via local domestic cash deposits or local transfers. Initial and subsequent funding must originate from an offshore account.
- Funding Channels:
- Direct SWIFT Wire Transfer: Log into your local overseas online bank (e.g., in the UK, UAE, USA, or Saudi Arabia) and initiate an international SWIFT wire transfer directly to your Pakistani RDA IBAN.
- Fintech & Money Transfer Operators: Many banks allow direct funding via licensed cross-border payment processors (such as Wise or approved exchange companies) mapped to your RDA IBAN.
- Funding Window: Most partner banks require the initial wire transfer to land within 30 to 60 days of approval to keep the account active.
Repatriation: How to Send Money Back Abroad
A key feature of the Roshan Digital Account is unrestricted capital repatriation:
- Principal balances and net earnings generated inside your RDA can be remitted back to your overseas account without requiring prior approval or NOCs from the State Bank of Pakistan.
- The transfer is executed directly inside your Pakistani bank’s mobile app or internet banking portal under the “Repatriation / Outward Remittance” tab, routing funds back to your designated overseas account within 24 to 48 hours.