Documents required for CGHS card / membership — 2026
Direct answer. CGHS card is for central government employees, pensioners, and dependents — currently in 75 cities. Documents: HoO Form 1 + Aadhaar + family details + photos. Apply at nearest CGHS Wellness Centre. Free for serving employees; pensioners pay annual subscription Rs. 1,000-3,000 by grade pay.
Mandatory documents
Form 1 (CGHS Card Application) — Available at CGHS Wellness Centre OR cghs.gov.in
HoO (Head of Office) endorsement — Mandatory for serving employees; Pension Sanctioning Authority for pensioners
Aadhaar of applicant + family members — Identity for all
Pension Payment Order (PPO) — For pensioners
Bank statement — For pensioners (showing pension credit)
Photographs — Applicant + family members; 2 each, recent
Identity proof of family members — Aadhaar / Voter ID for all dependents
Date of birth proof — For all family members
Optional / situational documents
Marriage certificate — For spouse addition
Birth certificate — For child addition
Death certificate — For removal of deceased family member
Transfer order — For inter-city CGHS transfer
Disability certificate — For PwD child priority addition
Annual subscription payment receipt — For pensioners — annual renewal
Specifications + key rules
Eligibility: Central government employees + pensioners + dependents. Not state govt employees.
Cost: Free for serving employees. Pensioners: Rs. 1,000-3,000/year based on grade pay.
Family includes: spouse + dependent children (until 25 male, until marriage female) + dependent parents.
75 cities + select towns covered.
Empanelled hospitals searchable at cghs.gov.in — check before going.
Validity: Lifetime for pensioners (with annual subscription); lifetime for serving employees while in service.
Annual subscription for pensioners must be paid by 31 March; lapsed cards reactivated with arrears.
Where to apply
If you don't have all documents
If CGHS card is delayed OR claim is rejected, file RTI to AD-CGHS of your city for application status + claim reasoning under §4(1)(d).
→ Use our 🪄 AI RTI Drafter to generate a free §6(1) application asking for the rejection reason in 60 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Free for serving employees?
Yes — completely free. Pensioners: Rs. 1,000-3,000/year based on grade pay.
Family addition — what documents?
Marriage certificate (spouse) + birth certificate (child) + Aadhaar of new member.
What if I move to a new city?
Apply for transfer at new city's AD-CGHS office. Up to 6 months temporary attachment available.
Validity?
Lifetime for pensioners with annual subscription. Lifetime for employees while in service.
70+ — also Ayushman Bharat?
Yes — universal coverage announced 2024. Layers on CGHS.
Summary + next steps
Gather mandatory documents above before applying — saves a re-visit
Apply via official portal (link above) — no agent needed
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If rejected for “documents inadequate”: request specific deficiency under §4(1)(d) RTI Act
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🎤
AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
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Sources
Statutory references: as cited in Specifications above
Official portal: linked in “Where to apply” above
RTI Act 2005 §§4, 6, 7, 19
Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.