A Tamil worker in Dubai, Singapore or Mumbai can buy ₹5 lakh of accident cover for ₹395 plus GST, valid for three years, through the Tamil Nadu Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Board. Joining the board costs ₹200 and the identity card is issued online. If the member dies while working abroad, the card also opens up a one-time ₹1 lakh payment, a monthly pension and education help for the family back home, subject to income limits.
The board was set up under the Tamil Nadu Non-Resident Tamils’ Welfare (Amendment) Act, 2022, notified on 25 April 2022, and works from the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils at Chepauk. The commissionerate’s site says it has about 35,000 registered members. Here is who can join, what each scheme pays and how families in Chennai can get help.
Who can register and how
According to the commissionerate’s ID card page, anyone aged 18 to 55 who has worked outside Tamil Nadu, whether elsewhere in India or abroad, can register.
- Apply online through the OTP-based “Apply Here” link on nrtamils.tn.gov.in.
- Enter personal, address and employment details, and upload one identity document: Indian passport (compulsory if you are abroad), Aadhaar, driving licence, voter ID or PAN.
- Pay the ₹200 first-time fee.
- Once approved, download the digital card. Renew it every three years.
Families in Chennai can do this on behalf of a worker already abroad, as long as the worker’s documents are at hand.
Insurance: accident and critical illness
Card holders aged 18 to 60 can take group cover arranged with New India Assurance, the May 2024 government press release said. Premiums below exclude GST.
| Cover | Sum insured | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Personal accident (compulsory) | ₹5 lakh | ₹395 for three years |
| Personal accident | ₹10 lakh | ₹700 for three years |
| Critical illness (optional add-on) | ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh | ₹350 to ₹1,750 a year |
The insurance page says the accident policy pays the full sum for death or permanent total disablement, half for loss of one limb or eye, ₹50,000 towards repatriation costs, and an education grant of ₹1 lakh per child for up to two children if the member dies. Critical illness covers conditions such as cancer, kidney failure and stroke. One section of the page describes the accident premium as annual while the table says every three years, so confirm before paying. Read the policy wording, and speak to an insurance adviser if you already hold other cover.
Help for families if a member dies abroad
Three schemes support the family of a registered member who dies while legally employed abroad:
- One-time assistance of ₹1 lakh. The scheme page says the family’s annual income must not exceed ₹1.20 lakh, and the claim must be filed within nine months of death with the passport, foreign death certificate, visa, work permit, legal heir certificate, income certificate and Aadhaar. The District Collector’s recommendation is needed.
- Pension of ₹1,000 a month to a dependent family member, with the same income ceiling. It is not paid if anyone in the family is in government service, pays income tax or already draws a government pension, or if the member went abroad on a visit visa, according to the pension page.
- Education and marriage help. The 2024 press release lists education grants from ₹3,000 (Class 10) to ₹12,000 (postgraduate), and ₹20,000 towards a son’s or daughter’s marriage.
The commissionerate also lists services for bringing mortal remains home, help with repatriation of stranded workers through Indian missions, ambulance requests for families in Tamil Nadu, and police complaints over property disputes or fraud back home, on its home page.
Before you go: orientation and checks
The board runs pre-departure orientation training on labour laws, workers’ rights, safety and the culture of the destination country. The 2024 press release listed orientation centres in Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram, Perambalur, Kanyakumari, Sivagangai, Villupuram and Pudukkottai. It can also authenticate certificates for use abroad. Register with the board before you fly, since several family benefits depend on holding a valid card at the time of death.
Contacts
The commissionerate is at Ezhilagam Annex, 4th Floor, Chepauk, Chennai 600 005. Toll-free within India: 1800 309 3793. From abroad: +91 80690 09901, or a missed call to +91 80690 09900. Landlines: 044-28525648 and 044-28520059. Email: nrtchennai@tn.gov.in.
Quick answers
What is the NRT card registration fee?
₹200 for first-time registration, with renewal every three years. Applicants must be 18 to 55.
Can someone working in another Indian state join?
Yes. The board covers Tamils who have worked outside Tamil Nadu, in India or abroad.
What does the family get if a member dies abroad?
Eligible low-income families can claim ₹1 lakh once, plus a ₹1,000 monthly pension, along with any insurance the member bought.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- NRT ID card (Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils)
- Insurance and welfare schemes (Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils)
- Financial assistance to families of deceased members (Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils)
- Pension scheme (Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils)
- Press Release No. 680, 18 May 2024, on NRT Welfare Board schemes (DIPR, Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Board (Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils)
- Commissionerate home page and services (nrtamils.tn.gov.in)
