Key points
- Tenant information orders are usually issued under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (section 144 of the old Code of Criminal Procedure).
- Disobeying such an order can be an offence under section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (formerly section 188 IPC).
- The landlord usually submits the form; the tenant provides identity documents, photographs and addresses.
- Most state police forces accept the form online or through their citizen apps; use only the official police website or app.
- A foreign national's accommodation must be reported separately through the Bureau of Immigration's Form C system.
The short answer
Tenant police verification means the landlord gives the local police the tenant's identity and background details when a home is let. In many cities it is required by an order of the police commissioner or district magistrate; elsewhere it is advisable. Most state police forces accept the form online through their website or citizen app, and some still take it at the local police station.
The landlord usually submits the form; the tenant provides identity documents, photographs, permanent and previous addresses, workplace and emergency contacts. Keep the acknowledgement. If the tenant is a foreign national, the person providing the accommodation must also report it through the Bureau of Immigration's Form C system.
Why it is required
There is no single national law that says every tenancy must be verified. The requirement usually comes from orders that police commissioners and district magistrates issue for their area, under the power to make orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger. Since 1 July 2024 that power is in section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023; before that it was section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. Such orders are issued for a limited period and renewed, so check whether one is in force in your city.
Disobeying an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant can be an offence under section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for acts before 1 July 2024). Some orders also cover domestic help, drivers and paying guests, and some put duties on brokers.
Even where no order applies, verification is cheap protection. For the landlord, it creates a record of who is living in the property. For the tenant, it is a record of lawful occupation from a known date.
Who does it, and what is needed
The landlord, or the landlord's authorised agent, normally submits the form; police orders usually name the owner as responsible. The tenant should cooperate and provide accurate details.
Typically required: the tenant's full name, parents' or spouse's name, date of birth, photograph and identity proof (Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence); permanent address and previous address; workplace or college with address; names of family members or others who will live there; two references or emergency contacts; the landlord's name, address and identity proof; the address of the rented property; and a copy of the rent agreement where the form asks for it.
Forms and fields vary by state. Fill in exactly what the official form asks; do not invent information to complete a field.
Where to file in the main states
Delhi: Delhi Police accepts tenant registration online through its citizen services and app.
Maharashtra: Mumbai Police accepts tenant information online through its website; other police units in the state use the Maharashtra Police citizen portal or their own online forms.
Uttar Pradesh, including Noida and Ghaziabad: UP Police offers tenant verification through its UPCOP app and citizen portal.
Haryana, including Gurugram and Faridabad: Haryana Police offers tenant verification through its Harsamay citizen portal.
Karnataka, including Bengaluru: Karnataka State Police offers citizen services, including tenant verification, through its app and website.
Elsewhere: search your state police's official website for 'tenant verification' or 'tenant registration'. Service names, apps and addresses change; always start from the state police's own site. Never pay a third-party website that offers to 'get police verification' for you; the official process is either free or carries only the fee the police publish.
How the online process usually works
1. Register on the police portal or app with a mobile number. 2. Choose tenant verification or tenant registration. 3. Enter the landlord's and tenant's details and the property address. 4. Upload the tenant's photograph and identity proof, and any other documents the form asks for. 5. Submit and download the acknowledgement or request number. 6. Track the status; the local police station may call or visit to confirm details.
Keep the acknowledgement with the rent agreement, and give the tenant a copy. An acknowledgement records that the information was given; it is not a character certificate.
Foreign tenants
If the tenant is a foreign national, whoever provides the accommodation, including a landlord or PG operator, must report the stay to the immigration authorities through the Bureau of Immigration's online Form C, within the time the rules set (24 hours of arrival). This is separate from and in addition to any local tenant verification order. Check the Bureau of Immigration's portal for the current procedure.
Protecting the tenant's data
Verification involves sensitive personal data. Share it only through the official police portal or at the police station. Where Aadhaar is used, the tenant can provide a masked Aadhaar, which shows only the last four digits of the number, if the form accepts it. Mark any photocopy with its purpose and date, store copies securely, and do not circulate them on group chats or to brokers who do not need them.
Brokers and property portals that collect tenants' documents are bound by the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and its Rules, whose main duties for organisations apply from May 2027.
For tenants: what to expect and what to ask for
Expect the landlord or the broker to ask for your identity document, a photograph, your permanent address and your workplace details before you move in. That is normal where a police order applies. Ask which official portal or police station the details will go to, and ask for a copy of the acknowledgement once it is filed.
If you are asked for documents that the official form does not need, such as bank statements or an unmasked Aadhaar where a masked one is accepted, you can politely decline and offer what the form requires. If a broker wants to keep copies of your documents, ask why and for how long.
A local police officer may call or visit to confirm the details. Answer accurately. If you move out, tell the landlord the date in writing so that the record of your stay has a clear end.
PGs, renewals and common mistakes
Paying guest and co-living operators should verify each resident, not just the first person who signs. When a tenancy is renewed with the same tenant, check whether your city's order requires a fresh submission; when a new tenant moves in, file afresh.
Common mistakes: letting the home before filing; filing through an unofficial website; giving incomplete or invented details; not keeping the acknowledgement; forgetting the Form C report for a foreign tenant; and sharing unmasked identity documents more widely than necessary.
Common questions
Is tenant police verification compulsory?
In many cities, yes, under an order of the police commissioner or district magistrate issued under section 163 of the BNSS (formerly section 144 CrPC). Where no order applies, it is still advisable. Check your city police's website.
Who has to do tenant verification, the landlord or the tenant?
Police orders usually make the landlord responsible. The tenant must provide accurate details, photographs and identity documents.
Can I do tenant police verification online?
In most states, yes, through the state police's website or citizen app, such as UPCOP in Uttar Pradesh and Harsamay in Haryana. Use only the official police site or app.
What is the penalty for not doing tenant verification?
Where an order is in force, disobeying it can be an offence under section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (section 188 IPC earlier). The punishment depends on the facts and is decided by a court.
Do I need to report a foreign tenant?
Yes. Whoever provides accommodation to a foreign national must report it through the Bureau of Immigration's Form C system, in addition to any local tenant verification.
Sources
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, section 163, and Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, section 144 (orders in urgent cases), indiacode.nic.in; checked 9 October 2026
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, section 223, and Indian Penal Code, 1860, section 188 (disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant), indiacode.nic.in; checked 9 October 2026
- Official tenant verification services of Delhi Police, Mumbai Police and Maharashtra Police, Uttar Pradesh Police (UPCOP), Haryana Police (Harsamay) and Karnataka State Police; checked 9 October 2026
- Bureau of Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs, Form C (reporting accommodation of foreigners), indianfrro.gov.in; checked 9 October 2026
- Unique Identification Authority of India: masked Aadhaar (uidai.gov.in); Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and Rules, 2025 (MeitY); checked 9 October 2026
Last checked 2026-10-09.