Assam calls its permanent residence proof a PRC - Permanent Residence Certificate, not a domicile certificate. The PRC is issued by the Deputy Commissioner of the district under the Home and Political Department, Government of Assam. The rules for getting a PRC are notably strict: your parents or forefathers must have continuously resided in Assam for a minimum of 50 years, and you yourself must have been residing in Assam for a minimum of 20 years. Applications go through the Sewa Setu portal at sewasetu.assam.gov.in. One important Assam-specific requirement: for rural areas (especially NCHAC - North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council areas), a No Objection Certificate from the Gaon Burha is mandatory if parents' PRC does not exist. The application fee is Rs. 100 plus a Council Court fee stamp of Rs. 10. Once approved, the certificate is downloaded from the ARTPS portal after receiving an SMS and email notification. Validity is lifetime.
- Sewa Setu Portal: sewasetu.assam.gov.in
- PRC for Higher Education: sewasetu.assam.gov.in/PRC-Higher-Education
- PRC Application Form (Higher Education): sewasetu.assam.gov.in/PRC-Form
- General PRC: sewasetu.assam.gov.in/PRC-General
- Rural PRC (NCHAC areas): sewasetu.assam.gov.in/PRC-Rural-NCHAC
- Official PRC Guidelines: homeandpolitical.assam.gov.in/PRC-Guidelines
- Sewa Setu FAQ: sewasetu.assam.gov.in/faq
PRC Fee Structure in Assam
| Fee Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | Rs. 100 |
| Council Court Fee Stamp | Rs. 10 |
| Service Charge (via PFC/CSC) | Rs. 30 |
| Printing Charge (if printing at PFC/CSC) | Rs. 10 per page |
| Scanning Charge (if scanning at PFC/CSC) | Rs. 5 per page |
| Convenience Fee | Rs. 10 |
The 50-Year Ancestor Rule and 20-Year Personal Residence Rule
Assam's PRC eligibility rules are the strictest among all states - from the official homeandpolitical.assam.gov.in/PRC-Guidelines page:
- The applicant must be an Indian Citizen
- The applicant's parents or forefathers must have continuously resided in Assam for a minimum of 50 years
- The applicant must have been residing in Assam for a minimum of 20 years
- If both above conditions are fulfilled, the applicant can also apply for his or her children
The 50-year ancestor rule means that if your family has lived in Assam since at least 1976 (as of 2026), you qualify. Documents proving this - like old voter lists, land records with Khajna receipts, school leaving certificates showing Assam address - become critical evidence.
Three PRC Service Variants on Sewa Setu
Unlike most states with a single residence certificate, Assam's Sewa Setu portal has multiple PRC service variants:
| Service | Purpose | URL on Sewa Setu |
|---|---|---|
| PRC for Higher Education | Students applying for state quota college admissions, university seats under Assam resident quota | sewasetu.assam.gov.in/PRC-Higher-Education |
| General PRC | Government jobs, welfare schemes, competitive exams, legal verification | sewasetu.assam.gov.in/PRC-General |
| Rural PRC - NCHAC areas | Residents of North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (Dima Hasao district) rural areas | sewasetu.assam.gov.in/PRC-Rural-NCHAC |
Select the correct service. Applying under the wrong variant can delay processing or cause rejection.
What is the Gaon Burha NOC
For rural and NCHAC area PRC applications, a mandatory document is either:
- The PRC of parents (if it exists), OR
- A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Gaon Burha of the village
The Gaon Burha is the traditional village headman in Assam's rural administrative structure. A Gaon Burha NOC certifies that the applicant is a known and recognized resident of the village, serving as community-level verification of long-term residence when formal documents are unavailable.
Documents Required
For PRC for Higher Education (sewasetu.assam.gov.in):
- Address Proof of self or parent (any one): Aadhaar Card, Voter Card, Ration Card, Electricity Bill, LPG Bill, Passport, Bank Passbook, or Driving Licence
- Documents showing parents/forefathers continuously resided in Assam for minimum 50 years OR guardian continuously resided for minimum 20 years
- Records of Immovable Property (if any) with up-to-date Land Revenue (Khajna) receipt
- Certified copy of Voter List showing linkage
- Copy of HSLC certificate or admit card
- Recent passport-size photograph
For Rural PRC - NCHAC areas (additional mandatory documents):
- Land Khajna up-to-date receipt [Mandatory]
- PRC of parents if it exists, else No Objection Certificate from Gaon Burha of the village [Mandatory]
- Certified copy of council's electoral roll [Mandatory]
- If applicant is a minor: birth certificate along with parent's Council electoral roll [Mandatory]
- Recent passport-size photograph [Mandatory]
How to Apply Online at Sewa Setu
- Go to sewasetu.assam.gov.in.
- Click Register if you are a new user. Enter full name, mobile number, email ID (optional), state, and set a password.
- After registration, click Login on the top right. Choose Apply Online.
- Search for the correct PRC service:
- For college/university admissions: Permanent Residence Certificate for Higher Education
- For general purposes: Permanent Residence Certificate
- For NCHAC rural residents: Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC) in Rural Areas - NCHAC
- Fill in the application form: applicant details, address, family details, residency details, and purpose (Higher Education / Competitive Exam / Other).
- Upload all mandatory documents. Ensure documents are clear scanned copies within allowed file sizes.
- Pay the fee: Rs. 100 application fee + Rs. 10 Council Court fee stamp. Pay online through the portal.
- Submit. After successful submission, the APPLICATION FORM FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE is generated and available for download from the ARTPS portal. SMS and email notification are sent.
- Track application status at sewasetu.assam.gov.in/track.
How to Apply at PFC or CSC
- Visit your nearest PFC (Public Facilitation Centre) at Circle office, SDO office, or DC office, or a CSC (Common Service Centre)
- Carry all mandatory documents ready
- The operator applies on Sewa Setu on your behalf
- Pay Rs. 100 application fee + Rs. 10 Council Court fee + Rs. 30 PFC/CSC service charge + Rs. 5/page scanning + Rs. 10/page printing (if applicable)
- Collect the acknowledgement with your Application Reference Number
- Receive SMS/email when certificate is ready. Download from ARTPS portal
How to Apply Offline at Circle Office or DC Office
- Visit the Circle Office or Deputy Commissioner's Office of your district
- Collect the PRC application form or download it from the Sewa Setu portal
- Fill in all details and attach all required documents
- Submit along with Rs. 100 application fee and Rs. 10 Council Court fee stamp
- The Circle Officer, Village Administrative Officer (VAO), or Revenue Inspector verifies documents and issues an acknowledgement number
- The Deputy Commissioner of the district issues the PRC after final verification
Official Links
- Sewa Setu - sewasetu.assam.gov.in
- PRC for Higher Education - sewasetu.assam.gov.in
- General PRC - sewasetu.assam.gov.in
- Rural PRC NCHAC - sewasetu.assam.gov.in
- PRC Guidelines - homeandpolitical.assam.gov.in
- Track Application - sewasetu.assam.gov.in
- FAQ - sewasetu.assam.gov.in
Related articles:
Domicile Certificate in India - Complete Guide
Assam Income Certificate - Sewa Setu Guide
Assam Ration Card Process
Disclaimer: Always verify latest details at sewasetu.assam.gov.in and homeandpolitical.assam.gov.in before applying.
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