Public Services & Topic Guide

Certificates

Community, income, nativity, and legal-heir certificates

Key Certificates & Public Services

Official guidelines for issuing authority, government fees, required supporting documents, and service delivery timelines.

Community Certificate

Government Fee: ₹60Processing Timeline: 15 working daysValidity Period: Permanent / Lifetime validity
Issuing Authority

Tahsildar / Zonal Deputy Tahsildar

Required Supporting Documents:
  • Applicant passport photo
  • Smart Family Ration Card
  • Aadhaar Card
  • Parents community certificate or School TC
  • Signed Self-Declaration form

Income Certificate

Government Fee: ₹60Processing Timeline: 15 working daysValidity Period: 1 Year from date of issue
Issuing Authority

Tahsildar / Zonal Deputy Tahsildar

Required Supporting Documents:
  • Applicant photo
  • Smart Ration Card
  • Aadhaar Card
  • Salary slip / Employer certificate or Income declaration
  • PAN Card (if available)

Nativity / Residence Certificate

Government Fee: ₹60Processing Timeline: 7 working daysValidity Period: Permanent validity
Issuing Authority

Tahsildar

Required Supporting Documents:
  • Applicant photo
  • Ration Card / Electricity EB bill
  • Aadhaar Card / Voter ID
  • School TC or proof of continuous residence in Tamil Nadu for 5+ years

Legal Heir Certificate

Government Fee: ₹60Processing Timeline: 15 - 30 working daysValidity Period: Permanent validity
Issuing Authority

Tahsildar

Required Supporting Documents:
  • Official Death Certificate of the deceased
  • Aadhaar of the deceased
  • Aadhaar and identity proofs of all legal heirs
  • Ration Card copy
  • Notarized Legal Heir Affidavit / Self Declaration

First Graduate Certificate

Government Fee: ₹60Processing Timeline: 15 working daysValidity Period: Entire course duration
Issuing Authority

Tahsildar

Required Supporting Documents:
  • 10th & 12th Marksheets / School TC
  • Joint family declaration that no one in the family holds a degree
  • School TC of parents and siblings
  • Family Ration Card and Aadhaar cards

Destitute Widow Certificate

Government Fee: ₹60Processing Timeline: 15 working daysValidity Period: Valid until remarriage
Issuing Authority

Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) / Tahsildar

Required Supporting Documents:
  • Husband death certificate
  • Family Ration Card and Aadhaar card
  • Income proof (annual income within ₹72,000)
  • Self-declaration of non-remarriage

How to Apply in 5 Simple Steps (Step-by-Step Guide)

Citizen application workflow for applying online via tnesevai.tn.gov.in or at local government e-Sevai centres.

  1. 1Step 1

    Prepare and Scan Supporting Documents

    Gather your Aadhaar, Smart Ration card, passport photo, School TC, and parent proofs. Keep scanned copies ready in PDF/JPEG format under 200 KB.

  2. 2Step 2

    Register 13-Digit CAN (Citizen Access Number)

    Register for a one-time 13-digit CAN number on tnesevai.tn.gov.in by entering your Aadhaar, name, and address details. CAN is mandatory for revenue services.

  3. 3Step 3

    Submit Application & Pay Government Fee

    Select the required certificate on the portal, upload supporting files, and pay the nominal ₹60 government fee to obtain your application tracking number.

  4. 4Step 4

    VAO & Revenue Inspector Verification

    Your application is routed to the local Village Administrative Officer (VAO) and Revenue Inspector (RI) for field inquiry before forwarding to the Tahsildar.

  5. 5Step 5

    Download Digitally Signed QR Certificate

    Once the Tahsildar approves, an SMS notification is sent. Download the digitally signed, QR-code verified certificate directly from the e-Sevai portal.

Government Departments in Charge

Frequently Asked Questions & Citizen Guides (FAQs)

What is a CAN Number and is it mandatory for certificates?

CAN (Citizen Access Number) is a unique 13-digit citizen profile generated by TNeGA. Registering a CAN number is mandatory for all Tamil Nadu revenue certificate applications.

How can I check the status of my certificate application online?

Visit tnesevai.tn.gov.in, navigate to "Check Status", enter your Application / Acknowledgement Number, and track the real-time processing stage.

What should I do if my certificate application is rejected?

Check the specific rejection remarks provided by the Tahsildar. You can re-apply with corrected documents at e-Sevai or appeal to the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) within 30 days.

How do I verify the digital signature on a downloaded certificate?

Scan the embedded QR code using any smartphone to verify authenticity directly on the Tamil Nadu Government portal, or open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat to see the green checkmark digital signature.

Does a Community Certificate have an expiry date?

No. Community certificates do not have an expiry date; they are permanent documents valid for a lifetime under Tamil Nadu Government rules.

Explore citizen search queries and trending topics across Tamil Nadu:

View all trending citizen questions

Helplines & Public Support

Welfare schemes & citizen services

No published schemes yet.