Documents required for CGHS card / membership — 2026

Documents required for CGHS card / membership — 2026 — RTI Wiki

Quick Reply: Documents for CGHS card — central govt employees and pensioners. HoO sponsorship + identity + family details. Plus city transfer documents.

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

Nearest CGHS Wellness Centre with HoO Form 1 (or PSA for pensioners). Online application at cghs.gov.in.

→ Official source: https://cghs.nic.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=2&sublinkid=2161&lid=1493

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

  1. Gather mandatory documents above before applying — saves a re-visit
  2. Apply via official portal (link above) — no agent needed
  3. Track status: see our status-check guides
  4. If rejected for “documents inadequate”: request specific deficiency under §4(1)(d) RTI Act
  5. For state-specific guidance: see state portals directory

All RTI Wiki tools (free, no login)

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.

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