A domicile certificate is an essential certificate the proves resident of a particular state or UT issued by the state governments or administration of the respective state or Union Territory.
A domicile certificate is a crucial official document that verifies an individual’s residency within a particular state or union territory, sanctioned by the respective state government or union territory administration. This certificate holds significance as it enables individuals to access various government schemes, secure admission in educational institutions, and avail themselves of benefits, such as scholarships, subsidies and many more.
What is a Domicile Certificate
- Domicile certificates are issued by the state government to residents, regardless of caste, creed, language, or religion.
- The certificate confirms that the individual is a permanent resident of that particular state or union territory.
- Women can apply for a domicile certificate in the state they got married in case they are marrying permanent residents of that state.
- A domicile certificate serves as proof of permanent residence in a state or Union Territory (UT) in India.
- Authorities who can issue domicile certificate are:
- Tehsildar
- Revenue department officer
- District Magistrate (DM)
- Sub Divisional Officer (SDO)
- Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM)
- Or circle officer
- The certificate is required for accessing benefits and scholarship schemes provided by state governments.
- This certificate is required to avail resident or domicile quotas in government services, and educational institutions.
Types of Domicile Certiifcate
Domicile by birth: This is issued to persons born in the respective state. This is valid until the person chooses a permanent residence in any other state in India. It is valid even if the person moves out of state for education or work.
Domicile by choice: This is issued to persons who move out of the state they are born in and apply for the domicile certificate of another state after fulfilling the required conditions for obtaining a domicile certificate in that state.
Domicile of dependence: This is issued to the children or wives of the person with a domicile certificate in a state. The children or wives are eligible to get the domicile certificate as their parents or husband has the domicile of that state, respectively.
Benefits of Domicile Certificate
- Required for acquiring government-scheme properties like land or houses.
- Significant KYC Document that serves as valid proof of permanent residency for financial and official transactions.
- Acts as residential proof while applying for loans, especially home loans.
- Needed for setting up state-government funded businesses.
- Provides access to benefits of resident quota in government jobs and educational institutions.
- Local residents can avail themselves of their quotas using this certificate during admissions and scholarships in educational institutions.
- Required for claiming local resident quotas in government jobs and professional courses.
- Required while for applying to housing schemes or subsidies provided by state governments.
- Required for availing yourself of various government services, such as welfare programs and schemes launched by state governments.
- Required as residence proof for voter registration.
- Required for availing yourself of caste and community benefits, such as caste-based reservations and financial assistance.
- Needed for participation in social and cultural activities recognised by state authorities.
Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Domicile Certificate
- Parents of the applicant must be permanent residents, or the applicant must be resident of the state or UT for three to 15 years which may vary depending on the state.
- Applicants must have property in the state or UT.
- The state or UT’s voter list must have the applicant’s name.
- Female applicants can apply for a domicile certificate in the state or UT if their husband is a resident of that state.
Documents required for domicile certificate
- Identity proof, which can be any one of the below documents:
- Aadhaar card
- PAN card
- Voter card
- Driving license
- Passport
- Ration card
- Address proof, which can be any one of the below documents:
- Bank passbook
- Rent agreement or similar document
- Utility bills, such as telephone, gas, electricity bills, etc.
- Additional documents:
- Application form with self-declaration
- Birth certificate
- Two passport-size photographs
- School leaving certificate
- Affidavit from court or Tahsildar
How to Apply for Domicile Certificate?
Online Method –
Step 1: Visit the state of your residence’s main website.
Step 2: Select Apply Certificates Online from the homepage.
Step 3: Next, log in using your login and password. Create an account if you don’t already have one.
Step 4: Under the Apply Online option, choose Apply for Services.
Step 5: When you click Apply, an application page appears.
Step 6: Complete the registration form with all the necessary information. Once finished, select “Submit.”
Step 7: After properly submitting the application form, you will be given an acknowledgement number. To obtain the domicile certificate, keep the acknowledgement number.
Offline Method –
If a person wants to apply for a domicile certificate offline, they can do so at any of these authorities, based on the state of residence –
- Collector/deputy collector’s office
- District magistrate office
- Tehsildar’s office
- Revenue office
- Sub-divisional magistrate office
- Citizen service centres
FAQs
What is a Domicile Certificate?
A Domicile Certificate is an official document issued by the government that confirms an individual’s residence in a specific state or union territory of India. It serves as proof that a person has been residing in that region for a specific period and is considered a legal resident.
Why is a Domicile Certificate needed?
- Admission to educational institutions: Especially for state quota reservations.
- Job opportunities: For state government job eligibility.
- Availing government schemes: Specific state government welfare schemes require domicile proof.
- Property-related matters: In some cases, a domicile certificate may be needed to buy or inherit property in a state.