If you were paid in cash during a job in India and need to prove income/salary for a PR application:
- Get a salary certificate from your employer. This is a formal letter confirming your role, salary, and employment period — the strongest single document when there's no bank deposit trail.
- Gather your filed income tax returns (ITRs) for the relevant years, since these show your declared income to a government authority and add credibility.
- Collect salary slips, even though they were paid in cash — most employers still issue payslips as a record, and having them helps corroborate the salary certificate and tax filings.
Beyond salary proof specifically, be prepared to also provide standard employment reference documents (offer letter, joining letter, or a detailed experience letter) since salary proof alone doesn't establish job duties and NOC alignment — check current IRCC document checklists for the complete list required for your program.