Not many are aware that the Indian Postal department is issuing photo ID cards as ‘Address Proof’ through their huge network of Post Offices. If you are in need of address proof with photo ID card, you know where to go now! But remember, the validity
period is three years from the date of issue. Here is more information if you are thinking of getting such an address proof identity card.
Postal Department will send a postman to the address furnished by the applicant and gets it confirmed. They also enquire with the neighbors of the applicant about residence. After getting the address confirmed, they will issue a photo identity card. Postal Department will collect a nominal fee for providing this service. There was no clarity from the officials when I enquired about it today. Many working people often shift their houses and it is difficult to produce an address proof issued by Government agency for many purposes(including passport) with latest address. In such cases it is always better to get this identity card. Hold on… there is a requirement of a current address proof to obtain this id card. It can be any document from your employer or house rent agreement etc., Also, be informed that not all post offices issue such an ID card, it is issued only in selected head post offices. So, go figure out which is the nearby post office close to your locality.
Looks like I have been dating post office related services very frequently off late! This week I filed my tax returns online through the official income tax department website. Upon online submission, they will email form ITR-V which we need to print out and mail them through ordinary post for acknowledgement within 120 days from the date of submission. This is required if you are filing at individual capacity and do not have digital signature. So, I was in search of a post box in order to drop ITR-V form through a stamped envelop and the image attached is what I saw! Couldn’t recognize this post box that easily… thanks to all the dirty posters on it. Can I request the appropriate authorities to levy heavy penalty on cults of such a hasty practice of maligning the glittery RED box?
Oh yes, today I was at a nearby post office to collect my Passport. Though the post man came home to deliver the same, I was not at home. They seem to have stricter rules towards the passport delivery process. They deliver the passport only to the applicant in person upon furnishing a photo ID proof. Since I was at work when he arrived, I had to go to post office to collect the same. He double confirmed the identity by asking me to cut open the passport to verify the photo inside is that of the intended recipient. By the way, Passport dept Seva Kendra website status site indicated that I would receive an email and SMS when the passport is dispatch. That never happened in my case! Yet another feather of goof up in the cap of Passport Seva Kendra site maintained by TCS!!!
Mohan Kumar says
Dear Sir
If Postal ID is not useful for any purpose then what is the necessity of getting this ID.
Hameed says
Dear Sir,
Can you plz list out the benefits from our Postal ID Card. Can we get new gas connection, can we open a new bank account, can we use to get new sim card, can we use to get train/flights tickets, can we apply for new passport, can we apply for pan card, can we apply for bsn/mtnl phone connection. can we use for any online transaction. can we use while traveling in train or government buses. plz revert me at the earliest. can we use this id card all over our country for various purposes.
Regards,
Hameed
Binod Choudhary says
Address card issued by the post ofiice is the valid document for renewal of passport or not. Please suugest me. Because one agent told me that this is not valid document for passport as address proof
praveen says
Can some one tell me how to check the status of proof address, almost 2 months have passed but i dint get till now.
Girish says
Hi praveen,
If your are from chennai. U can raise your query through their face book page +. All you queries will be responded without fail.
regards,
Girish
riyazdeen says
Mohan,
Please if possible send me this Postal ID Card application form.
Thank you so much in advance
Mohan says
Sorry, I don’t have. You should be able to find it at a post office near your place! But one question still lingering around for me… even after reading some of the comments by other readers on this article about how useless this card is, you still want to go for it?
T.R.Venkataramani says
Govt.issues ration card to people without any charge. That card is accepted as proof by all. while post office is colecting rs.250 for id proof, there should be any reason. while none is accepting as a proof and postal authorities are silent by not issuing any instructions to banks,passport office(they also central govt.institutions)etc., why people rush to get this card.utter waste. Mohan, pl.dont continue to get comments in this blog.
TS Raghavan says
Dear Sir,
Very Informative blog. Thanks for the social service.
I need a information about the postal id card. Recently I have booked a flight tiket for my relative in her nick name. At present there is no photo-id proof in her nick name, but the marriage invitation only contains her nickname. Is it possible for the postal-id with her nick name, by submitting the only available proof of marriage invitation?
Jayaram Singh says
Dear all
I am one of the Address proof card holder. valid up to 29.06.2013.
While, marketing Address proof card by postal dept, it was informed me, this card is, can be used for address proof for various transaction. But I am facing still same difficulty for this card is accepted by anywhere.
1. Bank ac opening / change of address.
Both govt owned banks / as well as private banks are NOT accepting for a resident proof , says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
2. Appling telephone connection / mobile connection.
Both BSNL and other mobile operators like…Airtel, reliance, tata Indicom etc… NOT accepting for a resident proof, says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
3. Appling Ration card – NOT accepting for a resident proof , says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
4. Appling voter ID card – NOT accepting for a resident proof , says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
5. Appling Driving license – NOT accepting for a resident proof , says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
6.passport office also NOT accepting YOUR CARD FOR A ADDRESS PROOF…
Totally absolutely USE LESS… AND WASTE OF MONEY….
In general, NO PLACE WILL ACCETING THIS CARD FOR A VALID ADDRESS PROOF. Then what is the use of obtaining this?
I requested tamilnadu post master general to issue a circular to all the public / private Dept /govt dept especially public dealing dept to accept this card A VALID ADDRESS PROOF
but ,no responce , and no use….
any one planing to apply for the same, think twice……
Thank you,
Jayaram Singh
Awdhesh says
File RTI to know action taken on you application or search for some central govt dept circular on this or file RTI with appropriate ministry or postal dept to know any central govt issued direction in this regard
Satish Mohan says
Not many institutions accept this as Proof of Address/Residence. But if you are applying for Aaadhar, this is valid enough. And no need to carry imp. documents. This is a good enough ID on trains/flights. No problem if lost/pickpocketed. I learnt from personal experience.
Raju Singh says
sir iwant to apply for proof of address card from post pffice. can i aaply n how. i m stay at ghatampur patara kanpur nagar plz help me sir……..hw can i aaply . i asked abut POA in sub post offfice in patara but they told me tht go kanpur POA aaply
Prathiba says
i heard a information that is, in post office itself they are issuing the ration card application form. and we should fill it and submit it in the post office itself, and we will get the ration card with in 60 days, is it true? Pls give the information regarding this soon…..
Seema says
Hi,
I want to create a photo id for my maid. She is from a remote village and does not have any proof.. She has neither any school certificates nor voter card nor ration card. Appraently lost during some fire accident…
Can i get her an id with my address? I need to take her along with me on a trip and the airport security insists . Going back to the village is not a feasible option right now.. Pls suggest
A V Rao says
Hi,
Go to the nearest post office of your place. They give an application at a cost of Rs.10 for Photo I.D Card. Fillup the form by incorporating your servant maid name with your address and submit the same to the Post office with a pass port size photo of your maid. Pay Rs.240/ to the post office towards the fee. A Post man will be deputed to your address for verification and later the Postal department will issue a Photo ID card to your maid. If you properly follow up with the post man of your area, the work will be done very quickly. This ID card is sufficient for all purposes.
faizan ali says
hello sir
i live in pali-marwar(rajasthan). mera ID card bana hua tha jo sirf 3 year ke liye hi valid hai jo ab invaild ho gaya hai jis ke reneval ke liye maine 2009 since january main pali post office Dist pali state rajasthan. reneval ke liye apply kiya tha bt pali ke post office main ID CARD ke form nahi hone per unhone meri formulti (original Id card),2 photo,ration card unke pass hi rakh liya aur kaha abhi aage se form nahi aa rhe hai aane per card bana diya jaiyga.maine kafi try ki bt rpy koi nahi mila.
T.R.Venkataramani says
My son has got postal identity card. When he went to passport office for reissue of passport,they wont even touch this for proof of address. Even for ration card, they insist the particular person’s photo in the ration card even he is one of the members only. Further Banks also wont accept the postal card for opening an acount. Thus this card is just not useful for anything
T.R.VENKATARAMANI
Vyasamoorthy says
The Postal ID Card is issued mainly to make it easy for postal transactions and address proof and personal identification. If you are out of town and someone sends you say Registered letter parcel or Money order etc in a place where you no one to identify you the post man can hand over the material / cash if you have postal id. Such situations have become rare as we have ATMs for drawing cash, courier to deliver parcels etc. It is accepted as proof of ID and Age while travelling in trains using senior citizens concession. Postal department does not claim that it is accepted as Personal Id proof or Age Proof or as Address proof etc. Well, they being a govt organisation can move various agencies and make it valid everywhere. Knowing Post offices everywhere they have not even bothered to popularize this ID card among postal users!! Moreover the guys in banks are plain idiots, there is nothing preventing them accepting Postal ID (It has an expiry date), and keep a photocopy duly attested by customer concerned. But they won’t do it.
Imtiaz Ahmed says
sir,
Please reply some following quaries :
1. I wish to deposite ID Card application form in any post office, is it possible? or Not.
2. I am not desire to deposite application form in concerend P.O. that time what I will do?
3.Suppose I deposite an application form in respective adress & another application form same name but diffrent address I wish to deposite for issuing both ID card in paralal Process, is it possible? or Not.
Vishnu Vardahn says
Sir,
I am recently Transfer from Hyderabad, I am staying in Vivekananda nagar near Borabonda at Hyderabad, Kindly inform the near post office of apply of address proof card
paresh nath chakraborty says
sir,
I am working in bangalore for last 7 years. I take one girl from my native place but she has not photo id card. pl let me know how i get photo ID card for her.
thanks
Paresh
vyasamoorthy says
The postal ID card costs Rs 240/-
In epostoffice there is a facility for emo – electronic money order. You can send money to your friend using online credit card based emo. The post man will deliver the money next day. The MO charges are extremely cheap. This is the best way to send small amounts – say subscription to a newsletter etc
HOWEVER THE SITE DOES NOT WORK.
Has anyone tried it successfully?
If yes please write to me.
srinivasan says
Hi mohan
many of govt & non govt organisation not aware of the circular that “issuing of Address proof by Head Post offices”. and they are not consider this is not a valid address proof & this address proof which is provided by HPO is not in their verify documents list
Please suggest
regards
srinivasan
Narayana Rao says
Hi Mohan,
Do you think that this Postal ID cas is serving our purposes?
Mayank says
Can I use my Voter ID Card as address proof while applying for the Post Office ID card. I only have one ID proof (Voter Card) and usually banks and other services ask for 2 proofs.
So will Voter Card help me in obtaining Post Office ID Card.
divakaran says
U no need to submit any id proofs for getting postal id. I ve got my id without submitting any proofs. If u pay 240 u ll get ur id within 45 days. and by tatkal they charge 600, and u ll get ur id within 5 days.
Narayana Rao says
I am one of the Address proof card holder. valid up to 23.01.2014.
While, marketing Address proof card by postal dept, it was informed me, this card is, can be used for address proof for various transaction. But I am facing still same difficulty for this card is accepted by anywhere.
1. Bank ac opening / change of address.
Both govt owned banks / as well as private banks are NOT accepting for a resident proof , says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
2. Appling telephone connection / mobile connection.
Both BSNL and other mobile operators like…Airtel, reliance, tata Indicom etc… NOT accepting for a resident proof, says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
3. Appling Ration card – NOT accepting for a resident proof , says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
4. Appling voter ID card – NOT accepting for a resident proof , says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
5. Appling Driving license – NOT accepting for a resident proof , says that this is NOT valid proof / NOT in our list Documents
6.passport office also NOT accepting YOUR CARD FOR A ADDRESS PROOF…
Totally absolutely USE LESS… AND WASTE OF MONEY….
In general, NO PLACE WILL ACCETING THIS CARD FOR A VALID ADDRESS PROOF. Then what is the use of obtaining this?
Now I am requesting tamilnadu/Chennai post master general to issue a circular to all the public / private Dept /govt dept especially public dealing dept to accept this card A VALID ADDRESS PROOF
nagini says
hi i have applied for postal id on 24th jan when will my id be issued?is there any any way to check the status please reply me
Mohan says
I think the only way to find out is by checking with the post master of the office where you applied for the ID.
bvk prasad says
hi i have applied and got the card too…
here is the procedure for the people in hyderabad..
1) collect the application from nearest post office. if not available collect it from GPO ABIDS. you can easily access the rest after reading the application.
but i got doubt what will be the status after renewal of the card does it will be useful or it can be put in dustbin?
provide the information if any body has…
govind says
hi,
i,govind kumar mundada have applied for proof of address card on august 24,2010,and the inspection was done on november 3,2010.it was said that address proof would be delivered witnin one month,but till now i have not received,i dont have anu identity proof any as i have changed the address ,i thought that poa card will be very useful to me..so i applied for it.please tell me how to get the proof for address card now.enqiring from post offices prove to be useless.
g.suresh says
Hai
Generally if you apply for a postal photo id for proof first you have to get the signature of the postman of your area in the prescribed form and you have to submit ihe same in the area post office. from there Public Relation Officer will visit your address for verification and after address verification by PRO the card will be issued from Post Office in the presence post master duly signed by us in the register. This is the general process of getting the id card from post office and now they are charging Rs.10/-for application and Rs.250/-for issuing the id card.
aravind says
Hi,
this information is for people residing in chennai. I am not sure of the details in other cities.
The photo ID/address proof can be obtained at the Mount Road/Anna Salai post office near tarapore towers, Opposite to the new secratariate building under a special Tatkal scheme.
1) get the application form in any head post offices for Rs 250
2) Fill the form and affix 2 STAMP size photographs on the space provided
3) There are 2 processing modes. Tatkal and regular. Under the regular mode it takes anywhere between 3-5 weeks for the card to get ready. For the regular mode the form can be submitted (along with the address proof copy) at any head post office including the one where it was bought.
4) Incase of tatkal the Id card gets ready within a weeks time. However in this case the form needs to be submitted along with address proof copy only at the Mount road post office. This PO is bang opposite to the new Secretariat building on the mount road and adjecent to the tarapore towers. One needs to get into the gate which leads to the office where the daily post office operations takes place. One can see multiple counters in the office. The forms can be submitted at the counter number 10 along with a fees of Rs 600. Upon submission, you will be provided with slip where the date of collection is mentioned. The slip needs to be preserved for the collection of the ID card.
5) On the given date the Id card/address proof can be collected at 5th floor of the same building.
Kind Regards,
Aravind
g.suresh says
Hai
Thanks for the valid information to obtain the postal photo id in tatkal. moreover for all cities the proceedure is same. Because i am using the postal photo id card f4rom 1983 at that time it is just Rs.6/-only . that also by way of stamp affixing in the form. Then postal department changed the stamp affixing of Rs.9/- now they are collecting Rs.250/- for the id card that also getting more delay. Because i applied for my wife a month ago all verification over but till the card not issued by the department.
sudhakar says
Dear friend,
why does not the matter of too much delay in issue of postal address proof is brought to the notice of GPO.
Joy says
Hii,
I have applied for this card 1 month back in bangalore…but i dont know when i will recieve it..in post office they said me to cum after 2 months…can i check the status of my card anywhere else…
Is it really takes two months???
Regards
Joy
Mohan says
That is sheer waste if it is going to take 2 months! I don’t understand why it takes such a long time.
navneet says
can i produce GAS CONNECTION CARD as address cum id proof for fresh passport???
kanchana says
Hi Navneet..
u cannot produce ur Gas connection card alone as a proof of address while applying passport. U should more than 1 address proofs. If u r submitting ration card as ur address proof,then u’ve to attach any one of the following along with it….
certificate from Employer of reputed companies on letter head, water /telephone /electricity bill/statement of running bank account/Income Tax Assessment Order /Election Commission ID card, Gas connection Bill, Spouse’s passport copy.
pramod says
great , it’s a very useful info;
bhavia says
main chale “Taak Ghar” 😛 🙂
Lakshmi rajan says
My father was telling about this card after reading it somewhere… It would be handy for many in many cases. Let me check with my neighbourhood post office.
hemal says
I read about this in a fwd email that landed up in my inbox and didnt believe it till i read it here on your blog. 🙂
I will try to get this photo ID and publish the ordeal i will have to go through (if any 😉 )
Rajesh says
This is news to me. I was not aware of this post office service of issuing ID cards. Thanks for sharing.
Kevin says
Thanks for the information, Mohan.
Is the photo ID card of the Post Office available across all of India or at least the metros?
Archana says
hai
thanks for ur kind information.
but i kindly to know whether a person(who wants a valid id proof) can apply for a postal id card who is residing in an area for last 10 years? and also this card can be used to apply for a fresh passports?
Udaya Kumar says
Hi Mohan,
All the informations are very useful and i had one question regarding the address proof. How many days they would took to provide us the address proof after registering in Post Office.
sharbori says
Hi Mohan, very informative article. In fact we have also applied for the Post Office photo i.d card. their representative came home and validated the information. I think it is a very useful service that they are providing as many people will not have either ration card or voter i.d cards.
Its very nice of you to provide this information to people here.
have added you to my blogroll.
Dhakkanz says
Mohan,
I had received some forward email mentioning the same. That I didn’t give it any importance coz, u know how these forward emails are. But now you have mentioned about it and have also checked it for yourself, am sure this is gonna help so many people, including me. I myself am living in a city different from my original one.
I sure will be finding out the nearest post office that will help me get a ID Proof for myself.
Just in case you come across any in Mumbai, let me know. My email address is Mohit(dot)Khurana(at)Dhakkanz.com
suma says
Hi Mohan
Read your blog. Good one. I am planning to apply for a passport but the space provided for the address is insufficient. What should I do now? I have contacted through the toll free number but it was of no great help
praveen says
Hi Mohan,
I find your blog very informative. And as frustated citizen i was planning to open such a blog.
Mohan can you please include sections for.
1)Registering Marriage.
2)Taking DL and LL.
3)Voter ID card
4)Pan card
5)form 16
6)Ration card.
And other such things. Which is very much needed for most of the people but they don’t get proper information and end up paying brokers and agents.
Now a days most of the things are getting online still there need to lot of information provided. We can make your blog one place search for all these issues. As here we have very active users and blog is very well designed.
From my side i will provide all my exp. And we can ask our family,friends and colleagues to log in when they approach us for information on these.
Regards,
Praveen
Mohan says
Hi Praveen, Thanks for your kind words, encouragement and volunteering to share your experience on my blog. I do allow my blog readers to contribute by writing guest articles. All you need to do is mail me on mohan at mohanbn dot com or fill the form on contact page. I shall revert back to you and help you further. Let me know if you need any more information.
Sreekumar Sreedharan says
Hi Sir
Can we use this ID card for applying for a new gas connection (Indane gas).I have enquired about this with the gas agency but they are telling that ration card in mandatory for this.Pls clarify.
Mohan says
I am not sure Sreekumar, but I do remember while we applied for gas connection, they did insist on ration card.
Usha says
Hi sir,
Very useful information!Thanks.
Mohan says
You are welcome Usha!
umashankar says
Immensly informative post. Althought the Postal service has got to be the most odious experience I’ve had in my life, they appear to under reforms. Again, sticking poster and bills should be made a cognizable offence along with littering (and spitting and peeing…. Is there an end to the list?)
Mohan says
Can’t agree more on the punishment part!
keerthana says
Informative:) Thanks
Mohan says
You are most welcome!
zephyr says
Hey, that was one informative post. thanks for sharing. I would never have heard of the service of the POs making photo id cards but for this post! Looking forward to your next post!
Mohan says
It is out already! have you read it yet?
Deepak says
hey…. Mohan thanx 4 d information!!!!!
but there is also a scheme provided by government….. i.e. 14 digit UID (Unique identification Number)
hw about dat…… ???
Mohan says
Well, that UID project is still in nascent stages. It will take a couple more years when people can use it effectively.
Saumen says
Mr. Mohan, it was a moving email…I am providing info from that…..
The total cost for getting this ID card is Rs.250/ (Rs.10 for application and Rs.240/- processing fee).
Since the ID proof is issued by India post which is a Central Government organization, it is similar to other ID cards like Driving license, Voters ID etc. It can be used for opening bank accounts, for getting telephone and gas connections etc.
Mohan says
Yes, SR Ayyangar – a regular reader of my blog had forwarded me that email. So I did enquire about it and posted the information I got from the officials 🙂
vineeta says
good 🙂 I didnt knw that Postal office is of any use except for any KVPs but I am really surprised to hear of their service. Thanks for sharing it 🙂
Mohan says
I know.. you are a big fan of KVP… you may want to know about NPS too, check out my next post for more details on that!
Swaram says
Oh thatz nice!
Another goof-up – hw many more will they do 😛
Mohan says
I am still getting complaints from readers that they haven’t got their passports which were applied during first week of april!
Shilpa says
This is quite informative… can make use of this.
Mohan says
Thanks!
Shrinidhi Hande says
If one already has an address proof, then why would one worry abt postal ID card?
Mohan says
Shrinidhi… Photo ID card is different from address proof 😉
nithya says
Hey Shrinidhi,
You must undertsand that 1 address proof is NOT enough for every case. Take for instance, passport (fresh/re-issue), application, they ask you for 3 ID proof. Huh… amazing/frustrating isn’t it? Alas, i don’t have this POSTAL ID, else it would ve helped me to a greater extent today.
Thanx again to Mohan for this blog….