Life certificate 2026 (Jeevan Pramaan): submit from home with face authentication
Central Government and most bank-paid pensioners must submit a life certificate once a year. For 2026 the window is 1–30 November, and pensioners aged 80 or above can submit from 1 October. The easiest way is free face authentication from home: install the AadhaarFaceRD and Jeevan Pramaan apps, enter your Aadhaar and PPO details, and scan your face. The certificate is valid for one year.
Key facts Last verified: 25 Sep 2026
| Item | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Submission window | 1–30 November 2026 | Jeevan Pramaan (MeitY) |
| Early window for 80+ | From 1 October 2026 | DoPPW practice / pension-disbursing banks |
| Cost of face authentication | Free, from your own smartphone | Jeevan Pramaan |
| Validity | One year from the date of submission | Jeevan Pramaan |
| Apps needed | AadhaarFaceRD (UIDAI) + Jeevan Pramaan Face App | Jeevan Pramaan |
Who has to submit a life certificate?
Anyone receiving a pension through a bank or post office — Central Government pensioners and family pensioners, defence pensioners (via SPARSH), most State Government pensioners, and EPS (EPFO) pensioners — must prove every year that they are alive. If the certificate is not received in time, the pension can be paused until you submit it. It is then restarted, usually with arrears.
Method 1 — Face authentication from home (free)
- On an Android phone (5 MP front camera or better), install AadhaarFaceRD (by UIDAI) and the Jeevan Pramaan Face App from the Play Store.
- Open Jeevan Pramaan. Register your details as the operator (the person holding the phone — can be a family member) using Aadhaar and OTP.
- Enter the pensioner’s Aadhaar number, name, mobile, PPO number, pension type, sanctioning and disbursing authority, and bank account number.
- Scan the pensioner’s face in good light: plain background, no glasses glare, eyes open. Blink when asked.
- On success, a Pramaan ID is shown and sent by SMS. The certificate reaches your bank automatically. You can download it from jeevanpramaan.gov.in.
Your pension account must have your Aadhaar recorded with the bank, and the Aadhaar mobile number must be active for the OTP. If not, update these first — see Aadhaar seeded vs linked and update mobile number in Aadhaar.
Other ways to submit
| Method | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Face authentication (Method 1) | Your phone | Free |
| Fingerprint/iris device | Bank branch, Jeevan Pramaan centre or CSC | Free at bank; CSC may charge a small fee |
| Doorstep service | India Post Payments Bank postman, or bank doorstep banking | Small service fee |
| Paper certificate | Your pension-paying bank branch (signed in front of the officer) | Free |
| Defence pensioners | SPARSH portal / service centres | Free |
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| “Face not matched” | Try in daylight, remove glasses, keep the face centred, and update the Aadhaar photo if it is very old. Or use fingerprint at the bank. |
| OTP not received | Aadhaar mobile number is inactive. Update it at an Aadhaar centre, or use biometric authentication at the bank. |
| “Aadhaar not seeded with pension account” | Ask your bank to seed Aadhaar in the pension account, then try again. |
| Pension stopped in December | The certificate was not received. Submit it now; the pension restarts and missed amounts are normally paid. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date for life certificate 2026?
30 November 2026 for most pensioners. Pensioners aged 80 and above can submit from 1 October 2026.
Can I submit the life certificate from home?
Yes. Use face authentication with the AadhaarFaceRD and Jeevan Pramaan apps on an Android phone. It is free.
How long is a life certificate valid?
One year from the date of submission.
My pension stopped because I missed the deadline. What now?
Submit the life certificate as soon as possible. The pension is restarted after the bank receives it, and the missed months are normally paid.
Do EPS (EPFO) pensioners also need Jeevan Pramaan?
Yes. EPS pensioners submit a digital life certificate once a year; it is valid for one year from the date of submission.
Official links
Use only these government websites. HumainOne is not connected to any of them.
- Jeevan Pramaan (Digital Life Certificate)Download apps, find centres, download your certificate
- UIDAI — AadhaarFaceRD informationAadhaar face authentication
- Department of Pension & Pensioners’ WelfareCentral Government pension rules and orders
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