Join Pakistan Army as a Commissioned Officer — 159 PMA Long Course (September 2026) Online Registration
Pakistan Army has officially announced online registration for the 159 PMA Long Course, offering young Pakistani men the opportunity to join as Regular Commissioned Officers. This is one of the most prestigious career paths in the country, leading to a commission after two years of rigorous training at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), Kakul.
Below is a complete, organized guide covering eligibility, dates, tests, documents, and the full selection procedure for candidates interested in applying.
Key Dates to Remember
| Activity | Timeline |
| Online Registration | September 14, 2026 – October 23, 2026 (including Saturdays & Sundays) |
| Preliminary Tests | October 5, 2026 – December 15, 2026 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays & holidays) |
| Repeater Candidates Reporting | October 12–23, 2026 at concerned AS&RCs |
| Overseas Pakistanis’ Application Deadline | December 26, 2026 |
Basic Eligibility Criteria
- Gender: Male
- Marital Status: Unmarried (married serving Armed Forces personnel above 20 years of age are eligible)
- Minimum Height: 5’4″ (162.5 cm)
- Weight: As per Body Mass Index (BMI) standards
- Nationality: Citizens of Pakistan and domicile holders of Azad Kashmir / Gilgit-Baltistan. Dual nationals, Green Card holders, and Iqama/residence permit holders must surrender all other nationalities upon final selection.
Age & Education Criteria
| Education | Age Limit (as on May 01, 2027) | Age Relaxation |
| Intermediate or equivalent | 17–22 Years | 3 months (upper & lower) |
| 2-Year Graduation / Serving PN & PAF Personnel | 17–23 Years | 3 months (upper & lower) |
| 4-Year Graduation (BS/BA-Hons/BBA/BPA) | 17–24 Years | No relaxation |
| Serving Army Soldiers | 17–25 Years | No relaxation |
Who Is NOT Eligible?
Candidates falling under any of the following categories will be considered ineligible:
- Rejected twice by the Inter Services Selection Board (ISSB)
- Failed Initial Tests (Intelligence/Academic) three times
- Appeared in ISSB within the last 120 days (unless waived by competent authority)
- Previously dismissed, removed, or debarred from any Government service, including the Armed Forces
- Convicted in a court of law for a heinous offence
- Declared Permanently Unfit (PUF) by the Appeal Medical Board
- Declared unfit due to Hepatitis B or C (no appeal permitted in this case)
- Withdrawn/discharged/resigned from any Armed Forces training institution on disciplinary or other grounds
- Involved in tempering academic certificates, forgery, or concealment of facts
- Tested positive in a drug test at any CMH/Military Hospital/AFIP
- Trained at any private ISSB coaching center — this alone makes a candidate ineligible
Important Note: The ISSB evaluates a candidate’s natural officer potential. Coaching centers can distort personality traits and reduce genuine selection chances — and using one disqualifies the applicant entirely.
Registration & Preliminary Selection Procedure
Step 1: Online Registration
Candidates must register through the official website: www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk
- The computerized Roll Number Slip is generated within 5–7 working days after successful registration.
- The reported test date and time are final and cannot be changed.
- Basic computer literacy is required, as both registration and tests are computer-based.
Step 2: Fee Deposit
Registration and examination fee must be deposited in: NBP GHQ Branch IBAN: PK46NBPA0330004256466227 Title: “Registration and Examination Fee – Personnel Administration Directorate”
Note: TCC candidates applying for the PMA Long Course will be treated as Repeater Candidates. However, anyone applying for the first time will be considered a Fresh Candidate, even if previously tested for Pakistan Navy or Pakistan Air Force.
Step 3: Preliminary Selection (Module-Based)
This stage carries assigned weightage across the following components:
- Written Test – Intelligence Test + English & Urdu Essay Writing
- Medical Examination
- Physical Test
- Interview – Conducted by the Selection & Recruitment Officer (S&RO)
Physical Test Standards
| Test | Requirement |
| 1 KM Run | 8 Minutes |
| Push-Ups | Qualify |
| Sit-Ups | Qualify |
The Interview
Before the interview, candidates write a 10-line essay in both English and Urdu. The S&RO evaluates each candidate out of 20 marks; scoring below 10 results in disqualification from proceeding to ISSB.
Interview panels assess:
- English & Urdu expression and confidence
- Current affairs knowledge
- Geography and Pakistan Studies knowledge
- Overall personality and outlook
- Extracurricular activities (sports, hobbies)
- Any other trait deemed relevant by the panel
All interviews are recorded via CCTV and shared with the Personnel Administration Directorate weekly.
Post-Interview Requirements
- Candidates must download and submit a Character Certificate, verified by a gazetted officer and school/college principal, within 5 working days.
- Successful candidates receive Form ‘D’, signed physically by the S&RO in the candidate’s presence.
Further Selection Procedure
- AS&RCs enter Physical Test and Interview scores into the selection module.
- Merit-based nomination for ISSB (Inter Services Selection Board) testing is done by the Personnel Administration Directorate.
- ISSB-recommended candidates undergo a detailed medical examination at the nearest Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
- Final selection is made at General Headquarters (GHQ) based on overall performance.
- Selected candidates undergo 2 years of training at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA).
Documents Required at AS&RC
Candidates must submit the following at their Army Selection and Recruitment Centre:
- Original certificate/detailed marksheet of Matric/FA/FSc or equivalent
- CNIC (for 18+) or Form ‘B’ with guardian’s CNIC (for under-18 candidates)
- One set of attested photocopies of the above documents
- 3 attested passport-size colored photographs (front & back attested)
- For Repeater Candidates: Original + one photocopy of the ISSB “Not Recommended” letter
Note: Old (non-computerized) National Identity Cards and Form ‘B’ are not accepted.
Special Provision for Overseas Pakistanis
Pakistani nationals residing abroad are exempted from the Preliminary Selection stage. Instead:
- Defence Attachés at Pakistani Embassies assess overall suitability, physical deformities, and speech issues.
- Candidates must apply through their nearest Pakistani Embassy (Military/Defence Attaché) by December 26, 2026.
- A Pakistani postal address must be provided for ISSB call-up notices and correspondence.
- No travel allowance is provided for travel to/from Pakistan.
Final Notes
- If the number of qualified candidates exceeds the required intake, surplus candidates will be considered for the next PMA Long Course entry, subject to continued eligibility.
- Applicants are strongly advised to prepare naturally rather than through private coaching, as ISSB specifically screens for authentic officer-like qualities.
Ready to serve your country as a leader? Visit the official portal at https://www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk/course/?com_type=reg_comission to begin your registration for the 159 PMA Long Course before October 23, 2026.
This post is based on the official recruitment notification published by Pakistan Army. Candidates are advised to verify all details on the official website before proceeding, as terms and dates are subject to change by the concerned authorities.
