The Kerala Pravasi Welfare Fund pays a pension from age 60 to Keralites who work abroad or in other states and pay a small monthly contribution: at least ₹3,500 a month for category 1A (abroad, ₹350 a month) and ₹3,000 for 1B / 2A (₹200 a month). Every completed year of membership beyond 5 adds 3% of the minimum, up to twice the minimum. Someone who joins at 40 in category 1A pays for 20 years and gets ₹5,075 a month. Enter your category and joining age below to see your pension, the family pension, what you pay in total and how soon the pension pays it back.
Kerala Pravasi pension calculator
Pick your category and the age you joined; the pension and other benefits are shown.
Free tool; nothing you type is saved or sent. Built and checked on 1 November 2026 against the Kerala Pravasi Welfare Board website. Points marked * come from news or secondary sources; confirm with the Board before you act.
Pension for different joining ages
| Category | Joins at | Years paid | Pension at | Monthly pension | Total paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A abroad | 25 | 35 | 60 | ₹6,650 | ₹1,47,200 |
| 1A abroad | 35 | 25 | 60 | ₹5,600 | ₹1,05,200 |
| 1A abroad | 45 | 15 | 60 | ₹4,550 | ₹63,200 |
| 1A abroad | 55 | 5 | 60 | ₹3,500 | ₹21,200 |
| 2A other state | 30 | 30 | 60 | ₹5,250 | ₹72,200 |
| 1B returned | 50 | 10 | 60 | ₹3,450 | ₹24,200 |
| 1B returned | 58 | 5 | 63 | ₹3,000 | ₹12,200 |
The pension stops rising at twice the minimum (₹7,000 for 1A, ₹6,000 for 1B / 2A), which needs 39 or more years of membership, so only those who join by about 21 reach it. People who join between 55 and 60 must still pay for 5 years, so their pension starts at 60 plus the gap (joining at 58 means pension from 63) and is the minimum amount.
Who can join and how much you pay
| Category | Who | Contribution a month | Minimum pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | Keralites working abroad | ₹350 | ₹3,500 |
| 1B | Keralites who came back for good after at least 2 years abroad | ₹200 | ₹3,000 |
| 2A | Keralites working in another Indian state (at least 6 months)* | ₹200 | ₹3,000 |
- Age at joining: 18 to 60 years.
- Registration fee: ₹200 one time, for every category.
- Pay online on the Board’s portal or at a listed bank / Pravasi co-operative society; the auto-debit facility has been stopped, so set a monthly reminder.
- Contribution and pension were raised from 1 April 2022 (1A pension from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500; 1B / 2A to ₹3,000).
- If you miss contributions for more than 12 months in a row, membership is cancelled. You can renew it by paying the arrears with a penalty.
All benefits for members
| Benefit | Amount | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Pension | ₹3,500 (1A) / ₹3,000 (1B, 2A) + 3% a year beyond 5, max 2× | Continuous contribution up to 60 (or 5 years if joined after 55) |
| Family pension | 50% of the member’s pension | Spouse, children under 21, unmarried daughter, dependent parents |
| Invalid pension | 40% of the pension | Permanent disability, after 3 years of contribution; doctor + Medical Board certificate |
| Death assistance | ₹50,000 (1A), ₹30,000 (1B), ₹25,000 (2A) | Paid to one dependant if a member dies |
| Treatment assistance | Up to ₹50,000 over the whole membership | Original bills; Board-approved hospital; not for pensioners |
| Marriage assistance | ₹10,000, up to 2 times | For a daughter’s marriage, after 3 years |
| Educational grant | Up to ₹4,000* | Children’s higher studies (ITI to PG), after 2 years; apply 1 June to 31 December |
| Maternity assistance | ₹3,000 (₹2,000 for miscarriage), up to 2 times | Women members, after 2 years |
| Housing loan subsidy | 5% subsidy on loans up to ₹20 lakh | Members who take a home loan from a bank / financial institution |
Is it worth it? Contribution vs pension
A 1A member who joins at 40 pays ₹84,200 in 20 years (including the ₹200 fee) and gets ₹5,075 a month, so the pension pays back everything in about 17 months. A 2A member joining at the same age pays ₹48,200 and gets ₹4,350, paid back in about 12 months. The amount is fixed by the government, not linked to inflation, so treat it as a base pension and save separately (for example in NPS or a PPF account). People working in India who do not pay income tax can also compare the Atal Pension Yojana, which closes to new members at 40.
How to apply for membership and pension
- Membership: open the Board’s website (pravasikerala.org), choose the form for your category (1A, 1B or 2A) and register online with passport, visa / work proof (1A), proof of return after 2 years abroad (1B) or proof of work outside Kerala (2A), Aadhaar, photo and bank details. 1A members without Aadhaar can give a sworn statement instead.
- Pay the ₹200 registration fee and the first contribution online; you get a membership number.
- Keep paying every month; you can pay several months together, but never let the gap cross 12 months.
- At 60 (or after 5 years if you joined after 55), log in on the Board’s pension portal and apply online; online applications are compulsory since 1 August 2022.
- Every March, pensioners send a life certificate attested by a gazetted officer before 31 March, or the pension stops.
Help: toll-free 1800 890 8281 (from India), WhatsApp +91 77368 50515, head office NORKA Centre, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram (0471 278 5500). The Board has no agents; do not pay middlemen.
Related: Kerala welfare (Sevana) pension (you cannot draw both a welfare-board pension and a Sevana pension), KSFE chitty calculator, DTAA tax for NRIs (Hindi).
Kerala Pravasi pension: frequently asked questions
How much is the Kerala Pravasi pension? At least ₹3,500 a month for category 1A (abroad) and ₹3,000 for 1B (returned) and 2A (other states), plus 3% of the minimum for every completed year of membership beyond 5, up to twice the minimum.
What is the monthly contribution for the Pravasi welfare fund? ₹350 a month for 1A and ₹200 a month for 1B and 2A, plus a one-time ₹200 registration fee.
At what age is the Pravasi pension paid? From 60, if you contributed continuously. If you joined after 55, you must contribute for 5 years first.
What is the maximum age to join the Pravasi welfare fund? 60 years. The minimum is 18.
What happens if I stop paying the contribution? If you miss more than 12 months in a row, membership is cancelled automatically. You can renew by paying the arrears with a penalty.
Does the family get a pension if the member dies? Yes, a family pension of 50% of the member’s pension; while the member is still contributing, the family also gets death assistance of up to ₹50,000 (1A).
How do I apply for the Pravasi pension? Online on the Board’s login portal, after registering your mobile number and creating a user ID. Paper applications are not taken since August 2022.
Sources (checked 1 November 2026): Kerala Non-Resident Keralites’ Welfare Board, pravasikerala.org: Membership page (age 18-60, categories, ₹200 fee, ₹350 / ₹200 contribution) and Benefits page (pension ₹3,500 / ₹3,000, 3% a year beyond 5 years up to 2×, family pension 50%, invalid pension, treatment ₹50,000, marriage ₹10,000, maternity ₹3,000, death assistance ₹50,000 / ₹30,000 / ₹25,000, 5% housing subsidy, 12-month lapse rule); Board news on the 1 April 2022 revision, online pension applications from 1 August 2022 and the yearly life certificate. Kerala Non-Resident Keralites’ Welfare Act, 2008 and Scheme, 2009. Educational grant amount and 2A minimum stay from the Board’s Malayalam pages*.
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