Tamil Nadu govt makes online registration mandatory for first-sale plots, flats

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday made online and presence-less registration mandatory for the first sale of plots and flats, aiming to improve transparency and reduce physical visits to sub-registrar offices.Chief Minister Vijay launched the initiative at the Secretariat in Chennai. The move marks the first phase of the Registration Department's transition to the advanced STAR 3.0 system, according to a press release.Under the new system, first-sale documents for plots in layouts and apartments must be registered exclusively online. Builders, developers and applicants will have to create accounts on the Registration Department's TNREGINET portal and submit the required documents digitally, news agency PTI reported.A statement from the Chief Minister's Office read, "The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C Joseph Vijay, today (17.8.2026) at the Secretariat, on behalf of the Commercial Tax and Registration Department, launched the process of mandatory registration of first sale of land and first sale of house in apartments in Tamil Nadu only through online presenceless registration." Executants, claimants and witnesses must upload their Aadhaar details and complete biometric authentication through fingerprint or iris verification. This will eliminate the need for them to visit a sub-registrar office.Registering officers will have to process applications within 24 hours by approving them, returning them for corrections or rejecting them. Documents sent back for rectification can be resubmitted within 30 days. The system also includes safeguards against forgery. Registered documents will carry the sub-registrar's digital signature, a dynamic five-colour endorsement and a QR code on every page containing registration details, according to PTI.Users will be able to download verified documents from their accounts for 60 days.- Ends(with inputs from PTI)Published By: Prateek ChakrabortyPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 08:46 IST