Life certificate: Non-Resident Indians are facing significant hurdles in submitting their Jeevan Pramaan digitally. Issues such as Aadhaar authentication failures and mobile number complications obstruct online life certificate submissions.
The Jeevan Pramaan system allows eligible pensioners to submit a Digital Life Certificate (DLC) online, but it’s not possible for most Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) as they face some practical issues while completing the process from outside India. As a result, they have to rely on offline submission of their Jeevan Pramaan.
For pensioners living abroad, submitting the annual life certificate online becomes difficult many times as they face issues such as Aadhaar authentication failure, lack of an Indian mobile number for receiving one-time password (OTP), dependency on family members.
Here are the six key problems that NRIs face while submitting their Jeevan Pramaan online as per letter to the central government by the Bharat Pensioner Samaj (BPS), a body claiming to have 10 lakh central government pensioners. Also know the solution suggested by the government.
1. Biometric and facial-authentication failures
Elderly pensioners may sometimes have difficulty completing biometric or facial authentication. For pensioners, changes in fingerprints with age, poor image capture, inadequate lighting or technical issues with the device can cause the authentication to fail.
2. No access to an Aadhaar-linked Indian mobile number
An NRI pensioner may not always have an active Indian mobile number linked to Aadhaar. This can create problems when an OTP is required during the submission process.
3. Dependence on family members for digital submission
Many elderly pensioners may not be comfortable using mobile apps, websites or digital authentication services on their own. They may need help from children, relatives or other trusted persons to enter details, complete authentication and submit the life certificate. For those living abroad and away from family members, getting such assistance can be more difficult.
4. Long distance to the nearest Indian mission
If digital submission is not possible, an NRI pensioner may have to approach an Indian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate for assistance. In some countries, the nearest Indian mission may be several hours away. Travelling to submit a life certificate can be particularly difficult for elderly pensioners or those with limited mobility.
5. High cost of sending original certificates to India
When a physical life certificate has to be sent to India, an international courier or registered post can be expensive. Delivery can also take several days or weeks depending on the country from which the document is being sent and the destination in India.
6. Risk of loss, delay in reaching the pension-disbursing bank
Even if the pensioner sends the certificate well before the deadline, there can be delays at different stages of delivery. When documents are sent from a different country, it may take longer than expected to reach the pension-disbursing bank branch, also there is a risk of loss of documents during transit.
How NRIs can submit their life certificate
For NRI pensioners and family pensioners who find it difficult to submit their Jeevan Pramaan online, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), in an office memorandum (OM) dated October 31, 2025, had suggested four different ways to submit their Jeevan Pramaan.
Life certificate submission through a bank agent
Pensioners who live abroad and receive pension/family pension from a bank listed in the second schedule of the RBI Act, 1934, can have their life certificate signed by a designated officer of that bank. The submission of this certificate exempts them from personal appearance.
Life certificate submission through authorised agent
If the pensioner/family pensioner does not reside in India, a life certificate signed by a magistrate, notary, banker, or diplomatic representative of India and produced by a duly authorised agent will be accepted. Personal appearance in this case is also not required.
Life certificate submission through Embassy or Consulate
For NRI pensioners/family pensioners unable to travel to India, the life certificate can be issued by an authorised official of an Indian Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate in the country of residence.
This can be based on verification through the Pension Payment Order (PPO), passport photograph, or any similar valid document.
Life certificate submission by post
If a pensioner or a family pensioner is unable to visit the Indian Embassy or Consulate in person, they may send the necessary paperwork via post, along with a doctor's certificate certifying their inability to appear in person. The Embassy/Consulate or High Commission may assist with the processing and the transmission of such certifications.
Can NRIs submit their life certificate via their registered mail?
The BPS has urged the government to change the current rules so that overseas/NRI central government pensioners and family pensioners can submit their duly authenticated life certificate via their registered email addresses.So, NRIs don't have an online submission facility through their registered email.
What is a life certificate (Jeevan Pramaan Patra)?
A Jeevan Pramaan Patra (life certificate) is a biometric-enabled Aadhaar-based digital life certificate for pensioners and is generated for individual pensioners using his/her Aadhaar number and biometrics.
For Jeevan Pramaan Patra (DLC), the pensioner is not required to present himself/ herself personally before the pension disbursing officer. The DLC does not have to be submitted physically to the pension disbursing agency as it can get it digitally.
