The general guide on RTI for domicile certificate covers the full template, decision steps, case law and FAQs. This page focuses on the Kerala-specific bits: which office to file at, what fee mode the state accepts, the online portal (if any), and where to escalate.

1. Identify the office. Tehsildar / SDM is the standard target; in Kerala, this is typically located at the district/tehsil headquarters.
2. Pay the fee as per state norms: Rs. 10 IPO or online; Kerala has India's lowest second-appeal backlog.
3. File: online via https://kerala.gov.in/rti OR by Speed Post to the office, with acknowledgment.
4. Track: 30-day clock starts from the date of receipt by the public authority.

1. Day 31: file First Appeal under §19(1) to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) — typically the office one rung above the PIO.
2. Day 75-76: file Second Appeal to the Kerala State Information Commission.
3. Parallel pressure: file a CPGRAMS grievance (pgportal.gov.in) and (where the state has one) a state-level grievance helpline.

“Application under §6 RTI Act 2005 — domicile certificate in Kerala (give specific application/file number, dates, and the 5 specific questions).”

For the complete template including the 5 questions, illustrations, common mistakes and FAQ, read the full RTI for domicile certificate guide.

• All RTI schemes for Kerala
• RTI for domicile certificate across all states
• State portals directory

• RTI Act 2005 §§6, 7, 19.
• Typically 15-year residence required; varies by state.
• Kerala state RTI rules (latest revision).

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.