How to Apply for TNPSC One Time Registration (OTR) 2026

What is TNPSC OTR and why is it mandatory?

The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) One Time Registration, popularly known as OTR, is a profile-creation system introduced to streamline the application process for every TNPSC examination. Instead of filling personal details, qualifications, and uploading photographs every time you apply for a Group I, Group II, Group IV, VAO, or any departmental exam, you complete OTR once — and then reuse the same profile for the next 5 years.

OTR is not an exam application. It does not register you for any specific post. It only stores your verified personal data, photograph, signature, SSLC details, and Aadhaar so that the Commission can pre-fill those fields whenever you apply for a notification.

From 2024 onward, OTR is compulsory. You cannot apply for any TNPSC exam without first completing it. This guide walks you through the entire process — what to keep ready, how to register, common mistakes that get applications rejected, and how to use our free TNPSC photo compressor to prepare a perfect 20–50 KB photograph and 10–20 KB signature.

Documents you must keep ready

Before you click "Register", gather the following. Missing even one will force you to log out and start over.

Aadhaar card — number must match name & date of birth exactly. Aadhaar linking is non-negotiable.
SSLC marksheet — register number, certificate number, year of passing, board name (TN State Board / CBSE / ICSE / others).
Recent passport-size photograph — taken within the last 3 months, JPG, 20–50 KB, 200 DPI, 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm with name & date strip at the bottom.
Signature — JPG, 10–20 KB, 200 DPI, signed with black/blue ink on plain white paper and scanned cleanly.
Active mobile number — used for OTP verification at every login.
Personal email ID — TNPSC sends every notification, hall ticket link, and result here. Do not use a friend's or institute's email.
Community certificate (if applicable) — keep PCN/permanent community number ready.
Net banking / UPI / debit card — to pay the Rs.150 OTR fee.

💡 Tip: Use our free TNPSC photo & signature compressor — it generates files in the exact KB range, 200 DPI, with the required name strip on the photo. No software install needed.

Step-by-step OTR application process

Visit the official TNPSC portal

Open www.tnpscexams.in in Chrome or Firefox. Click on the 'One Time Registration' button on the homepage. Avoid third-party links — phishing sites that steal Aadhaar details have been reported.

Click 'New Registration'

First-time users select 'New Registration'. Returning users with an old TNPSC account need to migrate by entering their old applicant ID — the system links the old data automatically.

Aadhaar verification

Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number. An OTP is sent to the mobile number linked with Aadhaar. Enter it to fetch your name, date of birth, gender, and address from UIDAI. These fields cannot be edited later, so ensure your Aadhaar data is up to date before starting.

Create login credentials

Set a strong password (8+ characters, mix of letters, numbers, symbols). Provide your email ID and active mobile number. You'll receive a TNPSC applicant ID — save it. This ID is your username for life.

Fill personal details

Father's/mother's/spouse's name, marital status, religion, community, mother tongue, nationality, differently-abled status, ex-servicemen status, PSTM (Persons Studied in Tamil Medium) status. Tick everything that applies — you cannot claim concessions later if you skip them now.

Educational qualification (SSLC)

Enter SSLC register number, certificate number, year of passing, name of the board, and total marks. The system cross-verifies with the TN State Board database, so the spelling must match the marksheet exactly.

Upload photograph and signature

Photo: 20–50 KB JPG, 3.5×4.5 cm, 200 DPI, with your name and date printed in the bottom 1.5 cm strip. Signature: 10–20 KB JPG, 6×3 cm, 200 DPI. If files are out of range, upload fails silently — use our compressor to avoid this.

Address and contact

Permanent address (as in Aadhaar), present address, district, taluk, PIN code. If both addresses are the same, click the checkbox to auto-copy.

Pay the Rs.150 registration fee

Choose net banking, UPI, debit card, or credit card. After successful payment a transaction reference number is generated. Save the receipt PDF — you'll need it if any payment dispute arises.

Preview, verify, submit

Read every field one last time. Once submitted, OTR is locked. Edits to most fields require uploading a proof document and going through TNPSC verification, which can take 7–15 working days.

OTR fee, validity & exam fees

• OTR registration fee: Rs.150 (one-time, non-refundable).
• OTR validity: 5 years from the date of registration. Renew once it expires.
• Exam application fee: Charged separately for each notification (typically Rs.100–Rs.150 + Rs.150–Rs.200 examination fee).
• Fee concession: SC, SC(A), ST, MBC/DNC, BC, BCM, destitute widows, differently-abled, and ex-servicemen receive a fee waiver for up to three free exam attempts per notification.

Top mistakes that get OTR rejected

❌ Photo without name & date strip — TNPSC accepts only photos with the candidate's name and the date the photo was taken printed in a 1.5 cm strip at the bottom.
❌ Photo over 50 KB or below 20 KB — uploads silently fail or the portal accepts the file but rejects it during verification.
❌ Signature in pencil or with name written in capitals — only signatures (cursive, in pen) are accepted.
❌ Wrong DPI — Indian govt portals require 200 DPI. A 72 DPI screenshot will be flagged. Our photo size guide explains DPI in plain English.
❌ Aadhaar name mismatch — even a missing initial causes the application to bounce.
❌ Old SSLC certificate number — TN Board reissued certificates after 2018 use a new format. Use the latest one.
❌ Sharing OTR ID and password — TNPSC permanently bans candidates whose accounts are accessed by agents.

Prepare your photo & signature in 30 seconds

Our 100% browser-based tool resizes your photograph to 20–50 KB and signature to 10–20 KB at exactly 200 DPI — with the required name strip — before you start your TNPSC OTR application.