The checklist
Use this list for any household worker: maid, cook, driver, nanny, caregiver, gardener or guard. Keep the papers together in one folder, and a scanned copy on your phone.
| Document | Why it matters | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| CNIC copy, both sides | Confirms identity and age | Everyone |
| Police character certificate | Shows no recorded criminal history | Strongly advised for all; essential for live-in staff, drivers and guards |
| Reference you have called | Tells you how they worked before | Everyone with past work |
| Next of kin name, phone and address | Who to contact in an emergency | Everyone |
| Recent passport-size photo | For police and society registration | Everyone |
| Police registration of domestic staff | Required by local police | Everyone working in your home |
| Society gate pass | Entry to gated communities | Staff in DHA, Bahria Town, Askari and similar |
| Driving licence, verified | Legal to drive your vehicle | Drivers |
| Nursing certificate or registration | Confirms clinical training | Home nurses |
| Signed one-page agreement | Duties, hours, pay, leave, notice | Everyone |
CNIC: what to check
Look at the original card, not only a photocopy. Check that the photo matches the person in front of you, that the card has not expired, and the date of birth. You can send the CNIC number by SMS to NADRA's 8008 service to see the name registered against it.
Keep a clear copy of both sides. Do not keep the original card; it belongs to the worker and they need it every day, including at police checkpoints and society gates.
Police character certificate
A character certificate is issued by the police for the district where the person lives. In Punjab, which includes Rawalpindi, apply through a Police Khidmat Markaz. In Islamabad, apply through Islamabad Police service centres. Processes and fees change, so check the current steps on the official police website.
The certificate shows only what is on police record. It is a useful check but not a guarantee, so always combine it with a reference call.
If a candidate is from another district or province, the certificate comes from that district's police. It can take longer, so ask early.
References: call, do not just collect
A reference letter tells you little; anyone can write one. A phone call tells you a lot. Ask the previous employer five questions:
- How long did they work for you, and in what role?
- What were their main duties?
- Were they reliable about time and days off?
- Did you ever have a concern about honesty or behaviour?
- Why did they leave, and would you hire them again?
Write down the name, number and date of the call in your folder. If the candidate has never worked before, ask for a reference from a teacher, a religious leader or a respected person in their community who has known them for years.
Next of kin and home address
Ask for the name, relationship, phone number and home address of a close family member. Call the number once in front of the worker to make sure it works. In an emergency, such as an accident or sudden illness, you will need it straight away.
Register staff with the police and your society
Police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi ask households to register domestic staff and tenants. You can usually do this at your local police station or a Police Khidmat Markaz, with a copy of the worker's CNIC and photo. Check the current method, as some services are now available online.
Gated societies such as DHA Islamabad, DHA Rawalpindi, Bahria Town and Askari issue gate passes for household staff. Apply before the first day, or the worker may be stopped at the gate.
The one-page agreement
Write the terms in plain language that the worker can read or have read to them, and both sign. Give them a copy. Our household staff contract basics guide has a full template, but at minimum include:
- Names, CNIC numbers and start date
- Duties and working hours
- Salary, pay date and method
- Weekly day off and Eid leave
- Notice period on both sides
- For live-in staff: room, meals and visitor rules
Keep their documents safe
The papers you collect contain personal information. Keep them in a closed folder, do not share them on family WhatsApp groups, and return or destroy copies when the person leaves, unless you need them for a dispute. Treating their documents with care is part of being a good employer.
Staff from outside the twin cities
Many domestic workers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi come from other districts and provinces. Their CNIC shows their permanent address, and a police character certificate has to come from that district, which can take a few weeks. Start the process early, and keep a reference call from a past employer in the twin cities as your main check meanwhile.
Ask for the address where they are staying locally as well as the permanent address. Both go in your file and on the police registration.
Papers the worker should keep
Good paperwork works both ways. Give the worker a copy of the signed agreement, a record of each salary payment, and a short letter of service when they leave, saying how long they worked for you and in what role. It helps them find their next job, and it is a simple courtesy that good employers offer.
If a document cannot be produced
Sometimes a good candidate has lost a CNIC or has never had a police certificate. Do not refuse automatically, but do not skip the check either. Ask for the NADRA token or receipt for a replacement card, agree a date by which the certificate will be ready, and make the reference call. Do not let anyone start a live-in job without a valid CNIC.
Questions
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