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A Roshan Digital Account is for those abroad. Open it via web, add cash from abroad, use PKR or FX; no trip to a bank.
Short answer Non-resident Pakistanis can apply with a Pakistani passport, NICOP, POC or CNIC, and SBP now also lists eligible foreign individuals and overseas entities. Apply on a participating bank’s own website, upload the identity and source-of-funds documents it requests, and complete its checks. SBP asks banks to finish customer due diligence within 48 hours for individuals and five days for entities; a bank may ask for more evidence where its risk checks require it.
At a glance
- Who can apply: eligible non-resident individuals and entities (SBP RDA page ↗ · checked 2026-10-11)
- Currencies: foreign currency or Pakistani rupees (SBP ↗ · checked 2026-10-11)
- Application: online, through a participating bank
- SBP due-diligence target: 48 hours for individuals; five days for entities
- Funding: transfers from abroad; eligible investment income may also be credited
- Repatriation: funds may be remitted out of Pakistan without separate bank or SBP approval
- Rule update: scope widened on 24 March 2026 (BPRD Circular Letter No. 09 of 2026 ↗ · checked 2026-10-11)
SBP’s public RDA page lists:
The 24 March 2026 amendment expanded the framework to non-resident natural and juridical persons that fall within the definition of non-resident person under Pakistan’s Income Tax Ordinance. It did not change the existing opening process for non-resident Pakistanis or POC holders.
Eligibility is still a regulatory category, not an automatic approval. The bank must identify the applicant, verify the documents and complete its own customer due-diligence checks.
| Choice | Options shown by SBP |
|---|---|
| Currency | Foreign currency or Pakistani rupees |
| Ownership | Single or joint |
| Operation | Current or savings |
| Banking model | Conventional or Shariah-compliant |
Source: SBP, Roshan Digital Accounts ↗ · checked 2026-10-11
A foreign-currency RDA and a rupee RDA do not remove exchange-rate risk. If money is converted between currencies, ask the chosen bank what rate and charges it will apply before sending.
SBP publishes a standard list for participating banks. An individual applicant should be ready to provide:
For source-of-income evidence, SBP gives examples rather than one universal document. A salaried applicant may use an employment letter, salary slip or bank statement. A business owner may use business-registration evidence, a business letterhead or a bank statement.
A bank may request extra information based on the customer’s risk profile. That is why the list on one bank’s form can be longer than the standard list.
An overseas entity should expect identity and ownership checks plus its constituent documents. The 2026 amendment says banks may verify entity documents through the relevant authority’s website where available, and may obtain apostilled, consularised or notarised documents where applicable.
The same amendment also allows a regulated entity, where the rules permit, to rely on customer checks performed by another regulated financial institution, including a foreign correspondent, parent bank or overseas branch. That does not remove the applying bank’s responsibility for the account.
Source: Annexure to BPRD Circular Letter No. 09 of 2026, PDF ↗ · checked 2026-10-11
SBP says the process is fully digital and asks banks to complete customer due diligence within 48 hours for individuals and five days for entities. Treat those as regulatory service targets, not a promise that every application will be approved within that time. Missing, inconsistent or hard-to-verify documents can extend the review.
SBP says funds may be transferred into an RDA from abroad. The account may also receive income generated by investments made from those funds, such as permitted property income or returns on an investment bought through the RDA.
Because the account is repatriable, local funds generally cannot be deposited into it. SBP says funds in the account can be remitted out of Pakistan without separate approval from the bank or SBP.
If someone abroad is paying an ordinary Pakistani account rather than funding an RDA, see receiving money from abroad. The sender will normally need the beneficiary’s IBAN and bank details.
There is no single RDA price list. SBP says charges for products such as a debit card or cheque book vary by bank and links to each bank’s schedule of charges. Before applying, check:
A bank’s account-opening page is not a substitute for its current schedule of charges.
Warning Open an RDA only from a participating bank’s official website reached from the SBP page. Do not send identity documents, an OTP or money to an agent who contacts you through social media or a messaging app.
Before funding the account:
For the details an overseas sender needs for a normal bank credit, use our Pakistan remittance guide. To understand the identifiers on a bank transfer, see SWIFT codes of Pakistani banks.
Can a foreign national open a Roshan Digital Account? SBP’s current RDA page says eligible foreign individuals and companies may apply. The bank must still verify that the applicant meets the non-resident rules and its customer checks.
Can I open an RDA without visiting Pakistan? Yes. SBP describes the application as fully digital and says it does not require a branch visit.
How long does an RDA application take? SBP asks banks to complete due diligence within 48 hours for an individual and five days for an entity. Extra checks can make an individual case take longer.
Can I fund an RDA from a Pakistani local account? SBP says the account is funded from abroad, apart from eligible income earned on investments made through RDA funds.
Is every RDA free? No. Charges differ by bank and service. Read the chosen bank’s current schedule of charges before applying.
