How to Book SRO Appointment (Token) Online on TNREGINET — 2026 Guide
One thing catches a lot of first-time property buyers completely off guard in Tamil Nadu — you can't just walk into the Sub-Registrar Office (Pataivala Aluvalakam — பதிவாள அலுவலகம்) and get your deed registered on the spot.
This guide explains how to Book SRO Token Online. To use the service directly, visit the official government portal below.
Visit Official TNREGINET Portal →ⓘ This is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with the Tamil Nadu government or TNREGINET.
You need a token. And you book that token online, in advance, through TNREGINET.
If you show up without one, the SRO staff will simply turn you away and ask you to come back after booking a slot. It's happened to a lot of people — especially those coming from other states who aren't used to this system. This guide tells you everything you need to know about the token booking process so you're not one of those people.
What Is the SRO Token System?
The token system is TNREGINET's appointment scheduling mechanism. When you're ready to register a property, a sale deed, a gift deed, or any other document at the Sub-Registrar Office, you first book a specific date and time slot online. The SRO then allocates a token number to you.
On the day of your appointment, you go to the SRO at the booked time and present your token. The staff processes your registration in the order of tokens.
This system replaced the old walk-in queues that used to start forming at 6 AM outside busy SRO offices. Now, at least in theory, you know exactly when you'll be seen.
Before Booking a Token — What You Need Ready
Token booking on TNREGINET happens after you've already drafted and submitted your document online. You can't book a token without first completing the document creation and payment steps.
So before you attempt to book a token, make sure you've already done this:
- Created your document on TNREGINET (Sale Deed, Gift Deed, or whichever document type applies)
- Paid the Stamp Duty and Registration Fee online via the e-payment gateway
- Received the Application Number for your registered document — you'll need this for token booking
If you haven't done these steps yet, complete them first. This guide focuses on the token booking step specifically.
Step-by-Step: How to Book SRO Token on TNREGINET
Step 1 — Log In to TNREGINET
Go to tnreginet.gov.in and log in with your registered credentials. Token booking requires login — you cannot do this without an account.
Step 2 — Go to E-Services
Click on "E-Services" in the top navigation menu.
Step 3 — Click on "View Token Availability"
From the E-Services dropdown, look for "View Token Availability" and click on it. This section shows you which SROs have open slots and on which dates.
Step 4 — Select Your SRO
You'll see a District and SRO selection screen. Choose:
- District — the district where the property is located
- SRO (Sub-Registrar Office) — the specific SRO where your document needs to be registered
Important: The SRO you select here must match the SRO where your property falls under jurisdiction. If you're not sure which SRO handles your area, search by the village or locality name on the portal — it will map to the correct SRO.
Step 5 — Check Available Slots
The calendar will show available dates with the number of open slots. Dates with zero slots will be greyed out. Most busy SROs in cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai fill up 3 to 5 days in advance, so don't wait until the last minute.
Click on an available date to see the time slots for that day.
Step 6 — Select a Time Slot
Available time slots are shown in 30-minute or 1-hour blocks, typically between 10 AM and 4 PM on working days. Select a slot that works for you.
Keep in mind that all parties to the transaction — buyer, seller, and witnesses — must be present at the SRO at the chosen time. Book a time when everyone can make it.
Step 7 — Enter Your Application/Document Number
You'll be prompted to enter your Document Application Number (the number generated when you created and paid for your document on TNREGINET). This links the token to your specific document.
Step 8 — Confirm and Download the Token
Review the details and click "Book Token" to confirm. The system will generate a token with:
- Token Number
- Date and Time of Appointment
- SRO Name and Address
- Document Details
Download or print this token. You'll need to carry it (physical or digital) to the SRO on the day of your appointment.
What to Carry on the Day of Registration
When you visit the SRO on the appointed date, bring:
- Token printout (or screenshot on phone)
- Original property documents — the deed you're registering
- Aadhaar card of all parties (buyer, seller)
- PAN card of all parties
- Two witnesses (sakshi — சாட்சி) with their Aadhaar cards
- Passport-size photographs of buyer and seller
- E-payment receipt showing stamp duty and registration fee paid
The SRO staff will verify all documents, collect biometric fingerprints from all parties, capture photographs, and then register the deed. The entire in-office process usually takes 30 to 60 minutes if everything is in order.
Can't Find a Slot? Here's What to Do
During peak property registration periods — especially March and September when financial year deadlines drive a surge in transactions — SRO slots fill up days or weeks in advance. If your preferred SRO shows no availability:
Check early in the morning. Slots are sometimes released or freed up as cancellations happen. Checking the token system between 8 AM and 9 AM often shows recently freed slots.
Try an adjacent SRO. If a neighbouring SRO falls within the jurisdiction of your property, you may be able to use that instead. Verify this with the Registration Department's helpline first.
Reschedule your transaction timeline. If you're buying property, build at least 2 weeks of buffer between payment and the planned registration date. This gives enough time to find an SRO slot comfortably.
How to Reschedule or Cancel a Token
Life happens. If your plans change after booking a token, TNREGINET allows rescheduling within certain limits.
To reschedule:
1. Log in to TNREGINET
2. Go to E-Services → View Token Availability
3. Find your booked token in the list
4. Click on "Reschedule" and select a new date and time slot
To cancel:
Cancellation is possible from the same section. However, check the cancellation policy — the portal may not allow last-minute cancellations (within 24 hours of the appointment) as a no-show protection measure.
Common Issues With Token Booking
"No slots available" on all dates
This usually means the SRO is fully booked. Keep checking daily — cancellations do happen. Also check if the SRO has any declared holidays that week (viluppu naal — விலுப்பு நாள்).
Token booked but no confirmation received
Log in and check under E-Services → View Token Availability → My Bookings. If the booking appears there, it was successful even without an email confirmation.
Wrong SRO selected
Unfortunately, you cannot change the SRO after booking. You'll need to cancel the existing token and book a new one under the correct SRO — assuming your document was created for the correct SRO in the first place.
All parties can't make it on the booked date
Reschedule as early as possible. The slot is allocated to your document and cannot be transferred to a different document or person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate token for buyer and seller?
No. One token covers the entire transaction. All parties (buyer, seller, witnesses) attend the same appointment together.
Can I book a token without completing payment first?
No. The token booking system is linked to your document application number, which is only generated after payment is completed.
Is there a fee for booking a token?
No. Token booking itself is free. You only pay the Stamp Duty and Registration Fee, which is done during the document creation step.
What happens if I miss my token appointment?
The slot is forfeited. You'll need to reschedule and book a new token. The document fee already paid remains valid — you don't pay again, but you do need a new slot.
Can I book tokens for multiple documents on the same day?
Yes, but each document requires its own token. Book them at different time slots within the same SRO on the same day if possible.
The token system has genuinely made property registration in Tamil Nadu less chaotic than it used to be. Once you understand the sequence — document creation, payment, then token booking — the rest of the pataivuppu (பதிவுப்பு — registration) process is fairly predictable.
Ready to get started? All steps described in this guide are performed on the official Tamil Nadu government portal.
Visit Official TNREGINET Portal →ⓘ This is an independent guide. We are not affiliated with the Tamil Nadu government or TNREGINET.
