Who can open one
Non-resident Pakistanis holding a NICOP, a POC, or a non-resident CNIC. The account is opened entirely online through a participating Pakistani bank — you upload your documents and there is no branch visit and no need to travel.
Most of the major Pakistani banks participate, and the account can be held in rupees or in foreign currency depending on what you intend to do with it.
When it makes sense
When you are moving money to invest rather than to spend. An RDA gives access to rupee and dollar certificates, and lets you hold funds in Pakistan without converting them the moment they arrive, which matters if you think the rate will move in your favour.
It also makes sense if you are handling property, tax or family financial matters in Pakistan from abroad and need a Pakistani account in your own name rather than relying on a relative’s.
When an ordinary transfer is better
For regular family support, use the comparison on this site and send straight to your recipient’s existing account or wallet. Routing through an RDA adds a hop without adding value, and the money still has to get from your RDA to them afterwards.
Coverage on this page will be thinner than on the corridor pages, because funding an RDA generally happens through the bank’s own channel rather than through the international transfer services we compare. Where we cannot obtain a live quote we show nothing rather than an estimate.
Common questions
Do I need to visit Pakistan to open a Roshan Digital Account?
No. That is the point of the scheme — the account is opened remotely with a NICOP, POC or non-resident CNIC, entirely online.
Is an RDA cheaper than sending money normally?
Not for ordinary transfers to family. It is designed for holding and investing money in Pakistan, not for reducing the cost of a monthly remittance. For that, compare services on the corridor pages.
Can I hold foreign currency in one?
Yes, participating banks offer both rupee and foreign-currency variants, which is much of the appeal if you would rather not convert on arrival.
Guidance last reviewed 2 Sept 2026. Rates above are live; this guidance is not, and wallet limits in particular are revised periodically.