What is a Domicile Certificate?

Domicile certificate meaning remains the same as that of a Residence certificate. It is a crucial document issued by the government to prove that an individual is living in a specific state or union territory for a defined time period. It provides proof to the government that a person is living permanently in that region for a given duration. This certificate of domicile helps an individual to access a lot of benefits from the government, like employment, education, property transactions, etc., which are usually made for the citizens of that state or union territory. You can apply for the Domicile certificate online through many official government portals, like the official e-district or revenue department website of the state you are living in. 

Types of Domicile Certificates

There are three types of domicile certificates, which are issued under different situations: 

1. Domicile by Birth: This type of domicile certificate is issued by the state in which an individual is born. The validity of this type of domicile is lifelong or until the individual decides to permanently move to a differnt state. If an individual just temporarily moves his/her address for education or business purposes, then the domicile will remain valid.

2. Domicile by Choice: This type of domicile is issued to those individuals who move out of their birth state or home state and settle down in a new state permanently. The individuals have to meet all the criteria for the domicile by choice of the new state they are moving to. All states have their own different requirements for residency, so you need to make sure that you meet all the criteria for citizenship in the new state. 

3. Domicile by Dependence: This type of domicile certificate is issued to the dependents, such as it is issued to the wife and children of the person who already has the domicile certificate of a particular state/UT. For Example, if an individual has a domicile certificate in Karnataka, then his children and wife will also be granted the domicile certificate of Karnataka as they are dependent on him.  

Documents Required for Domicile Certificate

 There are a few documents that an applicant requires to submit if they are applying for the domicile certificate. These documents can be different depending on the state for which they are applying. 

Here is the list of a few of the general documents that will be required in most cases, irrespective of the states or union territories:

• A domicile certificate form with complete information filled out, along with the self-declaration.
• All the identity proof documents, such as Aadhar card, voter ID, PAN card, passport, driving license, etc., are required to establish the identity of the applicant. 
• Birth Certificate of the applicant.
• Two recent passport-sized photographs. 
• School Leaving Certificate.
• An affidavit from the tahsildar or the court.
• The applicant also needs to submit the documents for address proof, such as a rental agreement, a bank passbook, and utility bills. 

Cost of Domicile Certificate

The fees for the domicile certificate completely depend on the state where you are applying. But one important thing is that the charges are pretty minimal, and they range between INR 15 and INR 100.

There are also some of the states and union territories in India which do not changes anything for the domicile certificate, such as Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. 

Purpose of Domicile Certificate

There are three main purposes of the Domicile Certificate documents, which are: 

• It helps to establish a permanent residence officially. 
• It helps in accessing the state or central government schemes. 
• It helps in availing the benefits that are given under employment or education quotas. 

Benefits of Domicile Certificate

More than a proof, a domicile certificate plays an important role in an individual's professional and personal life. Some of the benefits of this certificate are given below:

1. Educational Benefits: It provides you access to the scholarships provided by the state and makes you eligible to take admissions under the domicile quotas in many educational institutions. It can also help get a concession on the fee for students. 

2. Legal Benefits: It can be used to claim inheritance rights and ancestral property ownership. This can also be used to act as proof of residence in legal disputes, court cases, and property transactions. 

3. Employment Opportunities: It is often used to apply for state government jobs. There are also reserved benefits for the domiciled candidates in the employment sector.