Punjab Announces 175% Increase in Domicile Fee

Punjab’s provincial cabinet has approved a significant increase in the cost of obtaining a domicile certificate, raising the fee by 175% as part of a broader move toward a fully digital and paperless system.

Under the revised structure, the total fee has increased from Rs. 200 to Rs. 550, including Rs. 200 as the base fee, Rs. 300 for the e-affidavit, and Rs. 50 as a service charge.

The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) will retain the Rs. 50 service fee, while the remaining Rs. 500 will be deposited into the government treasury.

The cabinet has also approved an increase in the e-affidavit fee from Rs. 100 to Rs. 300, meaning applicants will now pay all charges together when applying for a domicile certificate.

The government has decided that domicile fees will now be collected only through e-Pay Punjab, eliminating manual payments and shifting the process entirely to a digital system developed by PITB.

Officials say the new system will reduce paperwork and streamline the process through an integrated online platform.

Under the updated system, citizens will be able to apply through a web portal or mobile app and receive their domicile certificate at home via courier.

A NADRA-style digital verification and data management system is also being introduced, with authorities expecting the processing time to be reduced to two to three days.

The revised framework includes additional operational costs, with courier delivery set at Rs. 60 per certificate, security paper at Rs. 40, and data hosting, SMS alerts, and system maintenance estimated at Rs. 50 per application.

According to PITB, the average cost per application is Rs. 27.55, while the annual cost of running the system is expected to reach several crores of rupees.

Despite the focus on digital convenience, the increase in fees has drawn criticism. Critics argue that raising the cost from Rs. 200 to Rs. 550 places an additional financial burden on citizens, especially during a time of inflation.