Indialends, 07 Jun 2026

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Encumbrance Certificate

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The Encumbrance Certificate is one of the most important documents that you need while selling or buying a property or while applying for home loan or a loan against property. It is a legal document that ensures title on the property is free and without any liability.

What is a Nil Encumbrance Certificate?

The charges or for getting an Encumbrance Certificate varies from one state to another. Below given is the list of fees for getting an encumbrance certificate in some popular states:

Fees applicable to get the Encumbrance Certificate

The charges or for getting an Encumbrance Certificate varies from one state to another. Below given is the list of fees for getting an encumbrance certificate in some popular states:

Ways to apply for an Encumbrance Certificate-

The application process of applying for an Encumbrance Certificate is fairly a simple task. One can apply for the same either online or offline as per convenience.

Online process-

Following are the steps to apply for the Encumbrance Certificate online:

• Firstly, you need to visit the official website of the respective state’s land registration portal and click on the option of “Apply EC”.
• Then, fill the citizen login form by putting your username and password. After that, enter the captcha code and click on the 'login' button.
• If you have not yet registered, click on the 'Register' option which will direct you to a new page. Fill in the required details and save it.
• Then, enter the search period for which you require the EC and then click on ‘Calculate Fee’.
• After paying the required application fee, you will be directed to the ‘Acknowledgment’ window. Click ‘View Acknowledgement’ and you will be able to take a print of the acknowledgment.
• An inspection will be carried out by an inspector from the land records department and check for all information for the said property for a period.
• After the inspection is completed, an Encumbrance Certificate will be issued with all the transactions that occurred during the specified period. If there were no transactions during the period, then a nil encumbrance certificate will be issued.

Offline process

You need to follow the below-mentioned process to apply for the Encumbrance Certificate offline-

• Firstly, you need to visit the respective Sub-Registrar's Office.
• Then, submit Form 22.
• After that, you need to enter details such as the names of the seller and buyer, property details, the type of document you are requesting.
• Pay the required fees.
• After filing your application, you will receive a reference/acknowledgment number. Use this number to track your application status.

The process to track Encumbrance Certificate Status

The steps of tracking the application for an encumbrance certificate differ from one state's website to another. The states which allow you to apply for an Encumbrance Certificate online will let you easily track the status of your application.

For example, the official Kerala Government’s website allows its users to check the status online. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Choose “EC Status” under the “Encumbrance Certificate” option available under the “Certificate” menu.

Step 2: Now, enter the Transaction ID provided to you on applying. Then, enter the captcha, and click on “Check Status”. The certificate will be displayed on the screen and you will be able to download it in PDF format.

How long will it take to get an Encumbrance Certificate?

As the process to obtain an Encumbrance Certificate differs from one place to another. If you apply for the certificate in person at a Sub-Registrar's Office, you will get the certificate within 15 to 30 days. However, if you apply for it online, you will get it faster. Online applications usually take 2 to 3 working days to be processed.

The process to download Encumbrance Certificate for your property

To download an Encumbrance Certificate, you need to visit the official website of your respective state and track your encumbrance certificate application online. Once it is issued, you will be able to download it. The process of tracking the encumbrance certificate applications differs for each state’s website.

Documents required to get an Encumbrance Certificate

To get an Encumbrance Certificate, you would need the below-given documents-

• The title deed and property details.
• Registration copy of the property.
• The deed number of property registration which contains the date and book number along with the applicant's signature.
• Applicant's address proof.

Note: Please note that you need to visit your nearest Sub-Registrar's Office to know more about the Encumbrance Certificate in your region.