AP Residence Certificate Re-introduced by Tahsildars (G.O.MS.No. 592)

Residence Certificate is Back: Andhra Pradesh Re-introduces Issuance Through Tahsildars (G.O.MS.No. 592)

If you've tried applying for a Residence Certificate in Andhra Pradesh anytime over the last decade, you probably ran into a dead end. Since 2015, Tahsildars stopped issuing them altogether, and citizens were told to rely on Aadhaar Cards or Ration Cards instead. That's changed now. Through G.O.MS.No. 592, Revenue (Ser.II) Department, dated 16-09-2026, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has restored the issuance of Residence Certificates by Tahsildars, with immediate effect.

Here's what the order says, why it was needed, and what it means for you.

A Quick Look Back: Why Residence Certificates Stopped in 2015

Back in 2015, through G.O.RT.No. 581 (Revenue Ser.II Department, dated 20.06.2015), the state government did away with Residence Certificates issued by Tahsildars. The reasoning at the time was straightforward — Aadhaar Cards and Ration Cards were considered sufficient proof of residence, so a separate certificate seemed redundant.

For ten years, that held. But on the ground, citizens kept running into situations where Aadhaar or Ration Cards alone weren't accepted or weren't enough — job applications, school and college admissions, and various government schemes often specifically asked for a Residence Certificate.

What Changed: G.O.MS.No. 592

Two developments pushed the government to reverse course:

1. A request from the SGSW Department (Scheduled Tribes/Welfare administration) for a digitally signed, QR Code-enabled Residence Certificate to serve as a Proof of Identity (POI) document for Aadhaar enrolment and updation — particularly for PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) households, who often lack other standard identity documents.
2. Growing public need for Residence Certificates for employment, education, and — notably — the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out by the Election Commission of India.

After reviewing proposals from the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) and the Special Chief Secretary, the government decided to:

• Repeal G.O.RT.No. 581 (2015) with immediate effect.
• Restore the power of Tahsildars to issue Residence Certificates.
• Direct the CCLA to inform all District Collectors and ensure the order is implemented right away.

How the Process Works Now

Under the new order, applying for a Residence Certificate is fairly simple:

• Submit your application to the Tahsildar of your area, along with any supporting documents you have (Aadhaar, Ration Card, voter ID, utility bills, etc., are typically accepted as supporting proof).
• No supporting document? No problem. If you can't furnish one, the Tahsildar is required to conduct a local enquiry to verify your residence before issuing the certificate.
• The certificate is expected to be issued in a digitally signed, QR Code-enabled format, as requested for Aadhaar-related use cases — meaning it should be easy to verify electronically wherever it's submitted.

An Annexure with the official format of the Residence Certificate has been enclosed with the order for Tahsildars to follow.

Who This Matters Most To

• PVTG households and tribal communities who need a valid Proof of Identity document for Aadhaar enrolment or updation, especially where other ID documents are hard to come by.
• Job seekers and students who need local residence proof for employment applications or admissions.
• Voters whose names are being verified as part of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, where residence proof is often required.
• Anyone who previously struggled to prove local residence using only Aadhaar or Ration Card and was turned away by an office insisting on a formal certificate.

Key Takeaways

• G.O.RT.No. 581 (2015), which had stopped Residence Certificate issuance, is repealed.
• Tahsildars can once again issue Residence Certificates, with immediate effect.
• Applications go to the Tahsildar, with supporting documents where available; a local enquiry substitutes when documents aren't available.
• The push behind this reversal: Aadhaar/PVTG needs and the electoral roll revision (SIR), though the certificate is now available to the general public for any legitimate purpose.
• The CCLA and District Collectors are responsible for rolling this out across the state.

If you need a Residence Certificate for a job application, admission, Aadhaar update, or voter roll verification, you can now approach your local Tahsildar's office directly.

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This article is based on G.O.MS.No. 592, Revenue (Ser.II) Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, dated 16-09-2026.