Domicile Certificate: Purpose, Benefits, and How to Obtain It
Domicile Certificate is an official document that confirms your local address or permanent residence. You cannot avail yourself of any scheme run by the central or state government, or any special benefits extended by them, unless you furnish this Domicile Certificate wherever required.
It is, in some cases, also required by the educational institutes to verify your legal status in a particular place, region, or area. You may also be required to furnish a Domicile Certificate for KYC purposes, purchase property under government schemes or allotments, and avail of the resident quota benefit in government jobs.
What does domicile certificate mean?
A Domicile Certificate is a piece of government paper that certifies you as a bona fide and permanent resident of a specific area of a state or Union Territory and a citizen of India. The domicile certificate’s meaning, in a greater official sense, is that it validates your identity as an Indian belonging to a particular geography of a state or Union Territory.
This certificate is issued to people of all regions, castes, creeds, communities, genders, and languages. If a woman is married to a person from a different state and living there permanently, the concerned woman can apply for a certificate of domicile for her new place (by surrendering the earlier Domicile Certificate).
How to Apply Online for a Domicile Certificate?
You should follow specific norms for domicile certificate online applications. This can be done by taking the following steps (online):
- Visit the e-District Portal for the domicile certificate of the concerned state or Union Territory.
- Create your account on the e-District Portal.
- Sign in to the e-District Portal.
- From the Services Menu, select Domicile Certificate.
- Fill in the columns or boxes.
- Attach electronic copies of documents required.
- Pay the application fee
- Once you have pressed the submission button, you will get an acknowledgement number, which you should use for different purposes subsequently.
These are the necessary steps to apply online for a Domicile Certificate.
How to Do Online Check of Domicile Certificate Status
The process of checking the domicile certificate online is very simple. You can do online checking in the following way:
- Go to the official site of the district of the concerned state or Union Territory where you have already applied online for a Domicile Certificate.
- Log in to your account (you can register if you have not already done so). You have to enter your user ID and password.
- After this, go to Revenue Services or Domicile Certificate status.
- Enter your acknowledgement number or application number to track the status.
- On meeting these official online requirements, you can easily check the latest status of your certificate and whether the same is under process or ready for download.
How to Download a Domicile Certificate?
If your domicile certificate is ready for download, it’ll be clearly mentioned on the website. You have to click on the download link to save it in your PC (Personal Computer) for later use. In case you are downloading it from cybercafé, ask the operator to provide you with a print out (hard copy) of the same.
The process for domicile certificate download is quite easy and hassle-free. You should go for the following system:
- The first step is to enter the application reference number.
- The second step is to select options like Download Certificate, Verify Certificate, or Certificate Verification.
- When the e-Certification appears online, you can click the Download button or option. You usually get the document in PDF format.
Read More: CERSAI: Full Form, Meaning, Function, Process and Benefits
When Is Domicile Certificate Needed Buying Property
If you’re buying an acre of land, a plot, or a flat under a government scheme, a domicile certificate is mandatory. Without presenting your domicile certificate, your application for purchasing the property will not be processed. Thus, this certificate is crucial as proof of residency in that particular state or UT.
KYC Verification
A domicile certificate serves as an official Know Your Customer (KYC) document. It confirms a person’s permanent residence and is therefore required for financial transactions, regulatory processes, and institutional interactions from time to time.
Loan Applications
When applying for loans, banks and financial institutions may ask for a domicile certificate as proof of your residential address.
Starting A Business
If you are a startup owner or an entrepreneur seeking funding or any form of financial assistance from the state or central government, you may be required to attach a copy of your domicile certificate with your application to be eligible under the scheme.
Conclusion
Every Indian citizen needs a Domicile Certificate not only to validate their legal domicile status. You practically cannot avail yourself of many government schemes unless you have this document. Additionally, you will need a Domicile Certificate for a host of other purposes, from getting admission to a local educational institute to obtaining benefits of special government schemes launched in your place of domicile.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, it is vitally important that you have this particular piece of government paper, as it certifies your home address and place of permanent stay.
You require a Domicile Certificate for a host of purposes. You can submit it to purchase a plot of land or real estate, KYC, secure admission in government-run schools and colleges, verify loan applications, and use it for business or trading purposes.
Yes! Both the documents are not the same. There are differences. A Domicile Certificate shows the permanent residence of a person, while a Resident Certificate only shows the current living status (not the permanent one).
No. This is a permanent document and meant for your lifetime. Due to this reason, it does not expire. It is valid forever, and you don’t need to renew it.
Yes. It is universal in India. Wherever you are, you have to apply for it and obtain it. You may face problems, including the legal ones, if you don’t have this essential government document.
