On this page 9 sections
- Ways to Join Pak Army: Every Route at a Glance
- PMA Long Course: Eligibility in Detail
- Soldier (Sipahi): Can You Join After Matric?
- Physical Standards: Height, Chest, Eyesight and Running
- How to Join Pak Army: The Selection Journey
- PMA Officer vs Soldier: Which Route Fits You?
- Documents You Need
- Mistakes to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Pakistan Army takes officers and soldiers through several different routes, and the right one depends on your age, education and gender. This guide covers every route, the eligibility rules, the physical standards, and the tests in order. Registration is free, and the only official portal is joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Anyone asking you for money to arrange selection is a fraud.
Ways to Join Pak Army: Every Route at a Glance#
There is no single way to join the Pakistan Army. Pick the route that fits your qualification. The PMA Long Course is the main officer route. The soldier route is the largest intake. Women join through the Lady Cadet Course and the AFNS (nursing).
| Route | Who can apply | Education | Age limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| PMA Long Course | Male, unmarried | Intermediate (FA/FSc) or A-Level | 17–22 (inter), 17–23 (2-year degree), 17–24 (4-year degree) |
| Graduate Course | Male | Bachelor’s degree | 17–25 |
| Lady Cadet Course (LCC) | Female | Bachelor/Masters | 17–28 |
| DSSC | Male/Female | Bachelor/Masters | Up to 28 |
| Soldier (Sipahi) | Male | Matric or above | 17.5–23 |
| AFNS (Nursing) | Female, unmarried | FSc (Pre-Medical) | As per the AFNS notice |
| Technical Cadet Course (TCC) | Male | FSc Pre-Engineering | As per the TCC notice |
| Naib Khateeb (JCO) | Male | Dars-e-Nizami | As per the notice |
You must be a Pakistani citizen to join. Dual nationality holders must withdraw their foreign nationality first. Domicile holders of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are eligible. Serving soldiers can also apply for the PMA Long Course up to age 25. See the latest Pak Army jobs for the posts open right now.
PMA Long Course: Eligibility in Detail#
The PMA Long Course is the flagship officer route: two years of training at the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, after which cadets are commissioned as Second Lieutenants. It is announced twice a year.
Education: minimum 60% marks in FA/FSc or equivalent. Candidates who are domiciled in, and actually studied in, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Kohistan, Tharparkar or Rajanpur need 55%. If your second-year result is pending, apply with a hope certificate from your college.
Age: counted on 1 May of the joining year. For the 159 PMA Long Course: 17–22 years for intermediate candidates, 17–23 for two-year graduation holders, and 17–24 for four-year degree holders (BS, BBA, BA Hons and equivalents). A maximum relaxation of up to 3 months may be granted on the upper or lower age limit in specific cases. Fresh candidates must be unmarried. Married candidates are considered only if they are serving personnel of the armed forces above 20 years of age.
Current window: the 159 PMA Long Course registration ran from 14 September to 23 October 2026 and is now closed. Initial tests run from 5 October to 15 December 2026. The next course will be announced on joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Always confirm the exact age, qualification and deadline in the official notice before applying, because the limits can change from one course to the next.
Soldier (Sipahi): Can You Join After Matric?#
Yes. A Matric pass can join as a soldier. Soldier recruitment is the Army’s largest intake. The general duty (GD) soldier needs Matric. Clerks need Intermediate. Cooks and sanitary workers can apply with a Middle pass under special quotas, including Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan. The age limit is 17.5–23 years, with a 1-year relaxation for graduates and 2 years for families of Shuhada and war-wounded personnel.
Current window: soldier and Naib Khateeb (JCO) registrations are open as of early November 2026, with the soldier window closing on 23 November 2026 per the current notice. Confirm the deadline on joinpakarmy.gov.pk before you travel to a centre. Soldiers train at regimental training centres and can later rise through the ranks, with routes to Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and even officer courses for the outstanding.
Physical Standards: Height, Chest, Eyesight and Running#
The Army checks your body at the AS&RC during the initial medical. The standards are strict, and failing one measurement ends the attempt.
| Standard | PMA / Officer | Soldier |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum height | 5 ft 4 in (162.5 cm) | 5 ft 6 in (167.5 cm) often required |
| Chest | 79 cm (31 in) before expansion, 84 cm (33 in) after | 32 in normal, 33 in expanded |
| Weight | As per Army BMI standards | As per Army BMI standards |
| Eyesight | 6/6 with or without glasses | 6/6 with or without glasses |
| Running | 1.6 km run | 1.6 km run, usually 7–9 minutes |
A BMI below 17.5 or significantly above the Army’s chart causes medical rejection, however fit you are. Flat feet, knock knees, colour blindness, tattoos and certain medical conditions can also disqualify you. The physical test also includes push-ups, sit-ups and chin-ups. The exact run time and exercise counts are in the course notice, because they vary between courses.
How to Join Pak Army: The Selection Journey#
Almost every Army route follows the same sequence. Here it is for the officer routes.
Step 1: Register online. Open joinpakarmy.gov.pk during the announced registration window and fill in the online form with your CNIC. Download your exam roll number slip. For the PMA Long Course, registration is online only. There is no fee to register.
Step 2: Initial tests at the AS&RC. Appear at your nearest Army Selection and Recruitment Centre on the date on your slip. The initial test is computer-based: an intelligence test (verbal and non-verbal reasoning), an academic test, and basic English. Only candidates who pass this test proceed further.
Step 3: Physical and medical at the AS&RC. Height, chest, weight, eyesight and a general medical check, plus the running and exercise tests. Candidates found medically unfit are eliminated at this stage.
Step 4: Initial interview at the AS&RC. A short interview with Army officers at the centre.
Step 5: ISSB. The Inter Services Selection Board runs a four-day residential assessment at Kohat, Gujranwala, Malir or Quetta: psychological tests, group tasks, individual obstacles, command tasks, debates and a final interview. You can appear in ISSB a maximum of 2 times in your lifetime.
Step 6: Final medical at CMH. A deeper medical check at a Combined Military Hospital after you pass ISSB: eyesight, heart, spine, dental health and more.
Step 7: Final merit list and selection. The final merit list is prepared after ISSB and medical clearance. Selected cadets report to PMA Kakul for two years of training. Soldiers follow a shorter route: online apply or register at the nearest AS&RC, a written test at Matric level, the 1.6 km running test, an AS&RC interview, medical, then training at a regimental centre.
PMA Officer vs Soldier: Which Route Fits You?#
The two routes lead to different careers. Choose by your education and your ambition, not by what sounds better.
| What | PMA Long Course (Officer) | Soldier (Sipahi) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry rank | Second Lieutenant after training | Sipahi, then promotion by service |
| Education | Intermediate, 60% marks | Matric |
| Age | 17–22 (intermediate) | 17.5–23 |
| Training | 2 years at PMA Kakul | Regimental training centre |
| Selection | Initial tests, ISSB, final medical | Written test, running, interview, medical |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in minimum | 5 ft 6 in often required |
Documents You Need#
Keep these ready before registration opens, so you are not rushing at the last minute. Bring your CNIC or B-Form, your Matric and Intermediate certificates and DMCs, your domicile certificate, and recent photographs. Soldier entries need the documents listed in the current registration notice. Our domicile certificate guide explains how to get one, our documents checklist covers everything a government application needs, and our birth certificate guide covers the document that starts the chain.
Mistakes to Avoid#
- Paying anyone for selection. Army recruitment is strictly on merit. Registration is free. Anyone asking for money to arrange your selection is a fraud.
- Applying on the wrong portal. The only official site is joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Other sites with similar names are not the Army.
- Missing the registration window. PMA registration opens twice a year and closes on a fixed date. The 159 course closed on 23 October 2026. Mark the next window when it is announced.
- Ignoring the physical standards. Height, chest, BMI and eyesight are checked on the day. Prepare your fitness at least three months before the tests.
- Applying with the wrong age. Age is counted on 1 May of the joining year for the PMA Long Course, not on the day you apply. Check your age against the notice date.
- Wasting your ISSB attempts. You can appear in ISSB a maximum of 2 times in your lifetime. Do not go unprepared.
- Forgetting your documents. A missing CNIC, domicile or certificate at the AS&RC can end your attempt before it starts.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Can I join Pak Army after matric?
Yes. A Matric pass can join as a soldier (Sipahi). The general duty soldier needs Matric, clerks need Intermediate, and cooks and sanitary workers can apply with a Middle pass under special quotas. The age limit for soldiers is 17.5–23 years. If you want to become an officer, you need Intermediate with 60% marks for the PMA Long Course.
What is the age limit to join Pak Army?
It depends on the route. For the PMA Long Course: 17–22 years for intermediate candidates, 17–23 for two-year graduation holders, and 17–24 for four-year degree holders, counted on 1 May of the joining year. For soldiers: 17.5–23 years. For the Lady Cadet Course: 17–28 years. For DSSC: up to 28 years. Always confirm the exact limit in the current official notice, because it can change from one course to the next.
How many tests are there in army selection?
For officer routes there are seven stages: online registration, initial tests at the AS&RC (intelligence, academic and English), physical and medical tests, an initial interview, the four-day ISSB assessment, a final medical at CMH, and the final merit list. For soldiers the route is shorter: a written test at Matric level, the 1.6 km running test, an AS&RC interview and a medical.
Is there a fee to register?
No. Registration on joinpakarmy.gov.pk is free, and the Army never charges for registration or selection. Army recruitment is strictly on merit. Anyone asking you for money to arrange your selection is a fraud.
Can girls join Pak Army?
Yes. Women join through the Lady Cadet Course (LCC) as commissioned officers, with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and an age limit of 17–28 years. Women also join through the AFNS (Armed Forces Nursing Service) with FSc (Pre-Medical), and through the DSSC as specialist officers. The PMA Long Course and soldier entries are for males only.
