Uttarakhand Green Card for Char Dham Yatra 2026: Online Apply, Documents and Fees

The Uttarakhand Transport Department issues the Green Card as a mandatory permit for every commercial tourist vehicle that operates on the Char Dham Yatra route. Without this card, no taxi, maxi cab, tempo traveller, or bus can legally carry pilgrims to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, or Badrinath. The department runs the entire process online through its official portal greencard.uk.gov.in, which also handles Trip Card applications and Hill Endorsement on driving licences. 
 

This guide walks you through every detail of the Green Card, who needs it, what documents you require, how much you pay, and exactly how you apply online.

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Green Card is an official digital permit issued by the Transport Department, Government of Uttarakhand to commercial public service vehicles that operate during the Char Dham Yatra. The department launched this system to regulate vehicle movement on hilly routes, verify driver competency, and ensure passenger safety during the pilgrimage. 
 

The Green Card compiles the complete documentation of a public service vehicle in one digital record. It consolidates the Registration Certificate, Fitness Certificate, Uttarakhand State Road Permit, Road Tax Deposit Certificate, Insurance Certificate, and Pollution Control Certificate into a single verified permit. Once a driver carries a valid Green Card, transport officers at check posts do not demand separate papers during the journey.
 

The Green Card is mandatory only for public service vehicles, Bus, Taxi Cab, and Maxi Cab, engaged in the Char Dham Yatra. Goods vehicles and private cars do not need a Green Card. However, every commercial vehicle must generate a Trip Card for each journey along with the Green Card.
 

The card remains valid until 30th November of each year or until the validity of any document listed on it, whichever is less. During this period, the vehicle can make unlimited trips on the route, but the owner must generate a fresh Trip Card for every single journey.
 

The Transport Department issues the Green Card only after a physical inspection of the vehicle at any Regional Transport Office (RTO) or Sub-Regional Transport Office in Uttarakhand. The department allows Green Cards only for buses with a wheelbase up to 4500 mm, overhang not exceeding 60% of the wheelbase, and overall width within 2570 mm. Larger buses do not qualify for Green Cards on Char Dham routes.
 

Every driver must also carry a valid commercial driving licence with Hill Endorsement. As per Rule 195 of the Uttarakhand Motor Vehicles Rules, 2011, no person can drive a public service vehicle or goods vehicle on a hill road unless the registering authority has endorsed the licence for hill driving. This rule applies even to drivers holding private licences who wish to drive a taxi on hill routes, they must also get the Hill Endorsement before starting commercial hill driving.
 

The Green Card system covers four sacred shrines, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, and a single Green Card works for all four Dhams. The card is valid only within the state of Uttarakhand and only for religious pilgrimage purposes. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) developed and hosts the portal for the Transport Department.

Green Card Benefits

• Grants legal permission to operate on the Char Dham Yatra route
• Combines all vehicle documents into one digital permit
• Valid for the entire yatra season with unlimited trips
• Speeds up clearance at transport check posts
• Confirms vehicle fitness and driver competency for hill driving
• Removes the need to carry multiple papers during the journey
• Helps avoid on-spot fines and penalties
• Enables smooth Trip Card generation for every journey

Eligibility Requirements

• Vehicle must be a public service vehicle, Bus, Taxi Cab, or Maxi Cab
• Vehicle must hold a valid Uttarakhand State Permit
• Driver must hold a valid driving licence with Hill Endorsement
• Vehicle must pass physical and technical inspection at an RTO
• Tyres, brakes, lights, steering, and wipers must be in working condition
• Bus wheelbase must not exceed 4500 mm, overhang within 60%, and overall width within 2570 mm
• Vehicle must carry a first aid box, wooden wedge, dust bin, and vomiting bags
• Valid insurance, PUC, and road tax payment are mandatory

Required Documents

For Green Card:

• Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC)
• Uttarakhand State Road Tax Deposit Certificate
• Fitness Certificate
• Uttarakhand State Permit
• Vehicle Insurance Certificate
• Pollution Control Certificate (PUC)

For Trip Card:

• Valid Driving Licence
• Hill Endorsement on Driver's Licence
• Uttarakhand State Permit
• Tax Payment Certificate of Uttarakhand State
• List of Passengers in the Prescribed Format

Steps to Apply for Char Dham Yatra Green Card Online?

The Uttarakhand Transport Department accepts Green Card applications only through the online portal. Manual applications submitted at transport offices are no longer accepted. Follow these steps carefully to get your Green Card:
 

Step 1: Open the official Green Card website at https://greencard.uk.gov.in/. The home page displays the Char Dham Yatra Green Card and Vehicle Registration options.
 

Step 2: Under the Online Yatra Services menu, select the "Green Card / Vehicle Registration" link or tap on the "Apply Green Card" from the home page. This opens the Green Card application form.

Step 3: Type the vehicle registration number along with the last five digits/characters of the chassis number and click the Submit button. The portal fetches your vehicle details directly from the Vahan database and displays them on the screen. The system shows vehicle owner name, vehicle type, permit details, insurance validity, PUC validity, fitness status, and tax status.

Step 4: If the system shows any expired documents on the screen, such as fitness certificate, insurance, PUC, or road tax, upload the renewed documents. The portal allows document upload for expired or missing certificates. If all documents are valid, skip this step and proceed to the next.
 

Step 5: Pay the applicable Green Card fee through the integrated online payment gateway. Save the payment receipt for future reference. After successful payment, contact the Transport Office (RTO/ARTO) for physical inspection of the vehicle along with the vehicle type details.
 

Step 6: Take the vehicle to the nearest Regional Transport Office or Sub-Regional Transport Office for physical inspection. Technical officials at the transport office conduct the physical inspection and verify:

• Physical and technical condition of the vehicle
• Tyre condition and tread depth
• First aid box, wooden wedge, dust bin, and vomiting bags
• Lights, dipper, brakes, steering, wipers, and horn
• Fire extinguisher and emergency equipment
• Validity of all vehicle documents

Step 7: After the vehicle passes the physical inspection successfully, the competent authority at the transport office approves the Green Card application. The approval is done digitally through the system.
 

Step 8: Once the competent authority approves the application, the Green Card is issued digitally. Log in to the portal at greencard.uk.gov.in, download the Green Card, and take a printout. Keep the printout on the vehicle dashboard during every journey.

Step 9: After obtaining the Green Card, the applicant can apply for the Trip Card using the Green Card Number. The Trip Card must be generated before every journey and used along with the Green Card during the yatra.
 

Step 11: A Green Card alone does not allow yatra, the driver must carry a Trip Card as well. Before every trip, log in to greencard.uk.gov.in, enter driver details, passenger list, and required documents, and generate the Trip Card. Each Trip Card is valid for one return journey only, and a new Trip Card is required for every trip.

Steps to Apply for a Trip Card Online

The Trip Card is mandatory for every journey on the Char Dham route, whether the vehicle is commercial or private. Commercial vehicles need both a Green Card and a Trip Card, while private vehicles need only the Trip Card. The department issues the Trip Card free of cost through the online portal only. Follow these steps to generate your Trip Card:

• Open the official Green Card website at https://greencard.uk.gov.in/. The portal homepage displays various online yatra services.
• From the home page, click on the "Generate Trip Card". This opens the Trip Card application form. 
  
• Fill in the following information carefully:
  • Driver's Driving Licence Number (must have Hill Endorsement)
  • Date of Birth of the driver
  • Green Card Number (the number issued after Green Card approval)
  • Click the Submit button. The system fetches and displays the driver's information on the screen along with the Green Card validity status.
• Choose the Dham (shrine) you are travelling to:
  • Yamunotri
  • Gangotri
  • Kedarnath
  • Badrinath
• Select the journey duration (number of days for the trip as per the stipulated minimum time period). Click the Submit button after selecting these details.
• Enter the Pilgrim Group ID or Registration ID obtained from the Uttarakhand Tourism Department Portal after completing the Char Dham Yatra registration. This ID is mandatory as it links the vehicle trip with the registered pilgrim group. Click Submit after entering the ID.
• The system automatically fetches the complete passenger list from the Tourism Portal using the Group ID entered in the previous step. The passenger details, names, ages, and ID proof numbers, appear on the screen. Verify that all passenger details are correct. If the list is accurate, click the Submit button to confirm.
• Once the passenger list is verified, the system generates the Trip Card instantly. The Trip Card appears on the screen with all journey details. Download the Trip Card immediately and take a printout. Keep the Trip Card along with the Green Card on the vehicle dashboard during the entire journey.

Important Points About Trip Card:

• The Trip Card is valid for one return journey only
• A fresh Trip Card must be generated for every new trip
• The Trip Card is issued completely free of cost
• Trip Cards can be generated only if the Green Card is valid and active
• The passenger list is fetched automatically from the Tourism Portal; no manual upload is required
• The Group ID from Tourism Portal registration is mandatory before applying for a Trip Card
• Private vehicles need only Trip Card, not Green Card
• The driver must carry the Trip Card at all check posts
• Without a Trip Card, commercial vehicles cannot enter the Char Dham route even with a valid Green Card

Green Card Fee Structure

The Uttarakhand Transport Department charges the following fees for Green Card issuance. The vehicle owner pays this fee online only through the portal at the time of application. The Trip Card is completely free.

Note: The Green Card fee is non-refundable. If the owner cancels the yatra or does not travel, the department will not return the fee.

Yatra Check Posts on Char Dham Route

Transport officials verify Green Cards and Trip Cards at the following yatra check posts:

• Bhadrakali Check Post: Rishikesh-Tehri Route
• Brahmpuri Check Post: Rishikesh-Badrinath Route
• Kuthal Gate Check Post: Dehradun-Mussoorie-Yamunotri Route
• Damta Check Post: Vikasnagar-Yamunotri Route

Drivers must keep the Green Card and Trip Card ready for inspection at every checkpoint.

Border Check Posts for Tax & Passenger List Verification

Commercial vehicles entering Uttarakhand must pay the motor vehicle tax and verify the passenger list at these border check posts:

• Transport Tax Collection Centre, Narsan / Bhagwanpur / Chidiyapur (District Haridwar)
• Transport Tax Collection Centre, Asharodi / Kulhal (District Dehradun)
• Transport Tax Collection Centre, Kaudia (Kotdwar)
• Transport Tax Collection Centre, Rudrapur (Udham Singh Nagar)

Uttarakhand State Motor Vehicle Tax can be deposited online through the Check Post link on parivahan.gov.in or offline at these border centres by producing original vehicle documents.

Relevant Links

• Green Card Online Application Link
• Renew Green Card Online
• Green Card Online Application User Manual

Contact Information

• Yatra Cell Rishikesh
  • Contact Number: 7579005623
  • Email Helpdesk: artorishikesh.uk@gmail.com
• Yatra Nodal Office (Dehradun)
  • Contact Number: 0135-2743432
  • Email helpdesk: dehradunrto.gmail.com