Published Jun 29, 2026 | 11:21 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 29, 2026 | 11:21 PM
Eligible applicants may also apply online through the Seva Sindhu portal.
Synopsis: The Karnataka government has issued comprehensive guidelines for Permanent Residence Certificates and brought their issuance under the Karnataka Sakala Services Act to ensure time-bound, transparent service delivery through digital platforms and decentralised facilitation centres. The guidelines lay down a uniform framework for determining permanent residence, prescribe broad eligibility criteria and verification procedures, and clarify that existing domicile and residential certificates will remain valid.
The Karnataka government on Monday issued comprehensive guidelines for the issuance of Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) and notified an operational framework for their time-bound delivery through digital platforms and decentralised service centres across the State.
It has also decided to bring the issuance of PRCs under the Karnataka Sakala Services Act, 2011, to ensure transparent, accessible and time-bound service delivery.
Under the framework, every Gram Panchayat and every ward office of urban local bodies must establish Help Desk-cum-Facilitation Counters equipped with computers, internet connectivity, and printing and scanning facilities to assist citizens in applying for Permanent Residence Certificates and other government services.
Existing Atal Jana Snehi Kendras (Nadakacheris), Bengaluru One, Karnataka One, Grama One, Common Service Centres, and other authorised centres will continue to process applications.
Eligible applicants may also apply online through the Seva Sindhu portal, the Atal Jana Snehi Kendra portal, or any other government-notified portal. The facilitation counters are to become operational within seven days of the government order.
The government said authenticated databases such as Kutumba, educational databases, residence records, electoral rolls, and other notified government databases may be used to verify applications, reduce document submission requirements, and enable pre-filled online applications.
However, the competent authority must independently verify an applicant’s eligibility before issuing a Permanent Residence Certificate or any other government certificate.
The Directorate of Atal Jana Snehi Kendras will implement the digital platform with technical support from the National Informatics Centre, while the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (e-Governance) will coordinate database integration and interoperable workflows.
The guidelines state that Permanent Residence Certificates are intended to establish a uniform, transparent and legally sustainable framework for certifying permanent residence across Karnataka. They will serve as proof of permanent residence in the State wherever such proof is prescribed under applicable laws, government orders, notifications or scheme guidelines.
The guidelines clarify that the new framework complements, rather than overrides, specific eligibility conditions relating to residence or domicile prescribed under other laws, recruitment rules, admission rules or welfare schemes.
Existing Residential Certificates and Domicile Certificates that remain valid at the commencement of the guidelines will continue to be valid unless cancelled or declared invalid by the competent authority.
According to the guidelines, the issuing authority—comprising the Deputy Tahsildar, Tahsildar or any other officer authorised by the government or the Deputy Commissioner—may issue a Permanent Residence Certificate after enquiry and verification if satisfied that the applicant is a genuine and permanent resident of Karnataka.
While assessing eligibility, the issuing authority may consider one or more of the following factors:
The guidelines add that these factors are illustrative rather than exhaustive, and that the absence of any single factor will not automatically render an applicant ineligible. Decisions must be based on the totality of the evidence.
Where documentary evidence is insufficient, the issuing authority may consider local enquiries and other reliable evidence after recording reasons. Every order granting or refusing a Permanent Residence Certificate must be a reasoned speaking order.
The issuing authority may also seek reports from the Village Accountant, Revenue Inspector or other officers, and conduct local enquiries wherever necessary.
Applicants aggrieved by an order may appeal to the Assistant Commissioner within 30 days, while revision petitions may be filed before the Deputy Commissioner within 60 days.
The guidelines empower the issuing authority or any superior authority to cancel a Permanent Residence Certificate, either suo motu or upon receiving a complaint, after giving the certificate holder an opportunity to be heard and conducting an enquiry.
A certificate may be cancelled if it was obtained through fraud, suppression of material facts, misrepresentation, forged or fabricated documents, or by an ineligible person. Such cancellation will be without prejudice to any civil, criminal or departmental action.
Furnishing false information or forged documents will also render the applicant liable for prosecution and other action under applicable law.
The Revenue Department has been authorised to issue standard operating procedures, application forms, digital workflows, user manuals and other operational instructions for implementation.
It may also notify additional government certificates and citizen services to be covered under the operational framework in consultation with the concerned departments.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Department, will periodically review implementation, while Deputy Commissioners will monitor the functioning of the facilitation counters and ensure compliance with Sakala timelines.
