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Kerala RTI Online Portal Help: Sign-up, Department Not Listed, eTreasury Payment, First Appeal and Offline Filing

Note: FileMyRTI is not a government website. This guide helps citizens use the official RTI portal correctly. If the portal does not support your department or filing route, FileMyRTI can help you file through the correct online or postal method.

Quick answer

You can file an RTI or First Appeal online for Government of Kerala departments and public authorities through the Kerala RTI portal at rtiportal.kerala.gov.in. You must sign up / log in first, and pay the prescribed fee through the eTreasury payment gateway. The request text is limited to 3000 characters (attach a PDF if longer). Do not use this portal for Central Government offices or other States. If your Kerala office is not available, file by post to the concerned PIO.

Go to rtiportal.kerala.gov.in > Fee: The RTI application fee (Rs. 10 as prescribed under the RTI Rules) is paid through the eTreasury payment gateway and its associated banks. BPL applicants are exempt (attach the BPL card). Confirm the current fee on the portal.

CoversDepartments and public authorities of the Government of Kerala available on the Kerala RTI portal. The portal lets Indian citizens file RTI applications and First Appeals online.

Does NOT coverCentral Government offices and public authorities of other States. For Central Government RTIs, use rtionline.gov.in; for another State, use that State's route.

Before you start, keep these ready

A mobile number and email (to sign up and receive updates)
Your full postal address
The Kerala department / public authority you want information from
Your RTI questions, in plain text within 3000 characters (attach a PDF if longer)
A payment method supported by the eTreasury gateway (net banking / associated banks)
Your BPL card, if claiming the fee exemption (do not upload other ID documents)

Good to know: The Kerala portal requires you to sign up / create an account before filing - after signing up, click "New RTI" to start. Do not upload Aadhaar, PAN or any other personal identity document (except a BPL card).

How filing works

Open rtiportal.kerala.gov.in and sign up / log in (an account is required).
Click "New RTI" and select the concerned Kerala department / public authority.
Enter your applicant details and postal address.
Write your RTI request in plain text within the 3000-character limit; attach the rest as a PDF if longer.
Do not upload Aadhaar/PAN or other personal ID - only a BPL card if claiming the exemption.
Pay the prescribed fee through the eTreasury payment gateway (BPL applicants are exempt).
Submit and save the registration / acknowledgement number - you need it to track and to file a First Appeal (free).

If your department is not listed (the most common problem)

Look for the parent Kerala department - the office may sit under a larger public authority.
If it is a Central Government office, use the Central RTI portal (rtionline.gov.in) - see our Central portal help.
If it is another State's public authority, use that State's RTI route.
If a Kerala office is not available on the portal, file by post to the concerned PIO - see our guide to filing RTI offline.
Use Section 6(3) transfer only after a reasonable effort to identify the correct public authority. See Section 6(3) explained.
Not sure which office or PIO? Use FindMyPIO, or let FileMyRTI identify it and file for you.

Common portal errors and how to fix them

Sign-up / login not working

Check the email/mobile you registered with and retry; clear the browser cache or try another browser. If it keeps failing and your matter is time-sensitive, file by post so you do not lose time.

eTreasury payment failed, or amount debited but not confirmed

Do not pay again immediately. Save the bank/transaction reference and check the application status. If it is debited but not confirmed, keep the reference and retry only after confirming.

Your RTI is longer than 3000 characters

The portal limits the request text to 3000 characters. Keep a short summary in the box and upload the full application as a PDF attachment.

Portal rejects special characters in your RTI text

Remove bullets, emojis, smart/curly quotes and copied formatting. Paste your draft into Notepad first, then use simple punctuation.

Supporting document / upload issue

Use a small PDF and remove spaces/special characters from the file name. Do not upload Aadhaar, PAN or other personal ID - only a BPL card if claiming the exemption.

Department / public authority not found

Look for the parent Kerala department. If it is a Central Government office, use rtionline.gov.in. If a Kerala office is not available on the portal, file by post to its PIO.

Filing a First Appeal

The Kerala portal supports First Appeals online - click "Submit First Appeal" using your registration number, and there is no fee for a First Appeal. If your RTI was filed by post, file the appeal physically to the First Appellate Authority of the same office. For a Second Appeal or complaint, approach the Kerala State Information Commission.

When to use a State portal or file offline instead

The Kerala office is not available on the portal.
Sign-up/login or eTreasury payment is repeatedly failing.
The office is a Central Government body or another State's authority - use the Central portal (rtionline.gov.in) or that State's route.
You want a Speed Post trail as documentary proof, or you already know the PIO address.

For the postal route, see how to file an RTI offline (by post), including how to attach the fee.

Postal RTI packet checklist

Signed RTI application
Correct fee instrument or BPL proof
Supporting document, if needed
Envelope addressed to the PIO / public authority
Your return address
A photo or photocopy of the full packet before dispatch
The Speed Post or registered post receipt

Not sure whether to file online or by post? FileMyRTI can identify the route and file it for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to sign up to file Kerala RTI online?

Yes. The Kerala portal requires you to sign up / create an account; after signing up, click "New RTI" to file.

What is the RTI fee in Kerala and how do I pay?

The prescribed RTI fee (Rs. 10 under the RTI Rules) is paid through the eTreasury payment gateway. BPL applicants are exempt (attach the BPL card).

Is there a limit on the RTI text?

Yes - 3000 characters. If your RTI is longer, keep the box short and upload the full application as a PDF.

Can I file a First Appeal online in Kerala?

Yes, using "Submit First Appeal" - and there is no fee for a First Appeal. For a Second Appeal, approach the Kerala State Information Commission.

Can I file Central Government RTI on the Kerala portal?

No. Use it only for Kerala State public authorities; for Central Government RTIs use rtionline.gov.in.

Can FileMyRTI file a Kerala RTI for me?

Yes. FileMyRTI can draft the RTI, identify the correct Kerala public authority or PIO, and file it through the correct online or postal route.

Stuck on the portal? FileMyRTI can file it for youWe draft it, identify the correct PIO, and file via the right online or postal route - from Rs. 399

I only need help finding the correct PIO >

Last verified: June 2026 against the official Kerala RTI portal guidelines (rtiportal.kerala.gov.in) - sign-up required, eTreasury payment, 3000-character limit, free First Appeal. Reconfirm the current fee and instructions before filing. See also: the national RTI online guide, the Fee Calculator, and more portal help guides.