The Punjab domicile fee has been increased significantly as the provincial government introduces a new digital system aimed at streamlining public services. The Punjab cabinet approved a 175% hike in the cost of obtaining a domicile certificate, raising the total fee from Rs. 200 to Rs. 550.
Officials say the move is part of a broader shift toward a fully digital, paperless governance model designed to reduce manual processing and improve efficiency for citizens across Punjab.
New fee structure and breakdown
Under the revised system, applicants will now pay a combined fee of Rs. 550. This includes Rs. 200 as the base fee, Rs. 300 for the e-affidavit, and Rs. 50 as a service charge.
The Punjab Information Technology Board will retain the Rs. 50 service fee, while the remaining amount will be deposited into the government treasury. Punjab Information Technology Board has been assigned a key role in managing and expanding the digital infrastructure for the service.
Officials also confirmed that the e-affidavit fee has been increased from Rs. 100 to Rs. 300, making it a mandatory part of the application process.
Shift to a fully digital application system
The government has made it compulsory to pay all charges through e-Pay Punjab. Authorities have discontinued manual payment methods to modernize administrative procedures.
Citizens will now be able to apply for domicile certificates through an online portal or mobile application. Once processed, the certificate will be delivered to applicants’ homes through a courier service.
Authorities say the system will function with a NADRA-style digital verification process, ensuring faster and more secure data handling similar to systems used by NADRA.
Faster processing but higher costs
Officials designed the updated system to reduce processing time to two to three days. They claim that digital verification, automated tracking, and centralized data management will significantly improve service delivery.
The new structure also includes additional operational costs. Courier delivery will cost Rs. 60 per certificate, security paper Rs. 40, and data hosting, SMS alerts, and system maintenance around Rs. 50 per application.
Despite these improvements, the increase in the Punjab domicile fee has sparked concerns among citizens. Critics argue that raising the total cost from Rs. 200 to Rs. 550 places extra financial pressure on the public at a time when inflation is already high.
