Tamil Nadu makes online registration mandatory for first sale of plots and flats

The Tamil Nadu government has made online, presence-less registration mandatory for the first sale of plots and flats in the state, a move aimed at improving transparency and reducing visits to sub-registrar offices, according to ETRealty, which cited a government press release through PTI.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay launched the initiative at the state Secretariat on Monday. The system forms the first phase of the Registration Department's transition to the STAR 3.0 ecosystem.

Under the new framework, first-sale documents for plots in layouts and apartments must be registered exclusively online. Builders, developers and applicants must create login credentials on the Registration Department's TNREGINET portal to submit the required documents.

Aadhaar and biometric verification move online

The new process removes the requirement for executants, claimants and witnesses to physically visit a sub-registrar office.

Instead, they must upload their Aadhaar details and complete biometric authentication using fingerprint or iris verification. This is intended to allow the entire first-sale registration process to be completed without an in-person visit.

For homebuyers and developers, the change could make the registration process more convenient by moving document submission and identity verification into a single online workflow.

Applications to be processed within 24 hours

Registering officers have been directed to process applications within 24 hours. An application can be approved, returned for corrections or rejected during this process, according to ETRealty's report.

If documents are returned for rectification, applicants can resubmit them within 30 days.

The government has also introduced digital features intended to make registered documents easier to authenticate and verify.

QR codes and digital signatures added to documents

Registered documents will carry the sub-registrar's digital signature, a dynamic five-colour endorsement and a QR code on every page. The QR code will contain the registration details, allowing the document to be checked electronically.

Users will also be able to download verified copies of their registered documents through their accounts for 60 days.

The move marks a significant shift in how first-sale property transactions are registered in Tamil Nadu. Instead of completing the process through physical visits to sub-registrar offices, builders and applicants will use the TNREGINET platform for document submission, identity verification and access to registered documents.

For buyers purchasing a newly developed plot or flat, the immediate change is that the first-sale registration process will be handled through the state's online system rather than through a physical registration appointment.