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Aadhaar (Aadhar) Card: What Do You Need to Do? Complete Guide
Aadhaar is a 12-digit identity number issued by UIDAI after you give your details and biometrics at an Aadhaar centre. Getting one is free. Updating your details costs ₹75, and a biometric update costs ₹125. You can download e-Aadhaar online with an OTP. Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship. This guide shows where to go for each task.
- New Aadhaar
- ₹0
- Demographic update
- ₹75
- Biometric update
- ₹125
- PVC card
- ₹75
- Helpline
- 1947
On this page
What is Aadhaar, and what is it not?
Aadhaar is a 12-digit number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It is linked to your name, date of birth, gender and address, and to your biometrics. For anyone aged 5 or more, that means a photo, all 10 fingerprints and both irises. Children under 5 give only a photo.
- One person, one Aadhaar. You enrol only once. A second enrolment is rejected, and Aadhaar numbers are never reused.
- In person only. There is no online or postal enrolment. Your original documents are scanned and handed back.
- The EID is not your Aadhaar number. The 28-digit enrolment ID on your slip lets you track the enrolment and, once the Aadhaar is generated, download e-Aadhaar.
- Card or PDF, both count. The e-Aadhaar PDF is as legally valid as the printed letter or the PVC card.
What Aadhaar is not: it is not proof of citizenship (section 9 of the Aadhaar Act). News reports say it is also not proof of date of birth, after a 2024 Supreme Court ruling. EPFO is reported to have stopped accepting it as DOB proof in January 2024.
"Aadhaar" is the official spelling. Many people search for "Aadhar" or "Adhar card"; it is the same thing. Unsure about a short form like EID, URN or VID? See our Aadhaar glossary.
What do you want to do with your Aadhaar?
Pick your task. Two taps take you to the right guide. Without JavaScript, use the table below. Not sure what to carry or pay? Try our "What do I need?" wizard.
| I want to… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Get a new Aadhaar (adult or child 5+) | Apply for a new Aadhaar |
| Enrol a child under 5 | Baal Aadhaar |
| Check a new enrolment | Enrolment status |
| Download my Aadhaar | Download e-Aadhaar |
| Order a plastic card | PVC card |
| Find a lost number or EID | Forgot Aadhaar number |
| Change address, mobile, name, DOB or photo | Aadhaar update: fees and limits |
| Lock my Aadhaar or biometrics | Lock Aadhaar and biometrics |
| Deal with a scam or fraud | Fraud and scams |
| Link PAN, bank, ration or EPF | Linking master table |
| Call UIDAI or complain | Helpline 1947 |
Which Aadhaar services are online, and what do they cost?
Fees are UIDAI's official rates for 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2028. UIDAI says they are the same at every centre. Times come from UIDAI (Citizen's Charter, app FAQ, online services page) or from our counter, as marked.
| Service | Where | Official fee | Time | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Aadhaar (enrolment) | Centre only. Adults: designated centres | ₹0 | Session up to 20 minutes. Generated within 30 days (under 18) or 180 days (adults, 90% of cases), says the Charter | New Aadhaar |
| Download e-Aadhaar | myAadhaar, Aadhaar App; OTP on registered mobile | — | — | Download |
| Biometric-authenticated e-Aadhaar print | Centre | ₹30–₹40 | UIDAI's own Seva Kendras list ₹40 (download + colour print) | No mobile |
| PVC card | myAadhaar; in our experience also the Aadhaar App | ₹75 | UIDAI's order page: up to 30 days by Speed Post. In our experience 15–30 days | PVC card |
| Demographic update: name, gender, DOB, address, mobile, email | Centre. Address also on myAadhaar and in the app; mobile and email in the app | ₹75 | App updates: up to 30 days. In our experience changes usually show on e-Aadhaar in about a week, sometimes up to 30 days | Update hub |
| Email update in the Aadhaar App | Aadhaar App | ₹0 | Free until 31 Dec 2026, then ₹75 | Mobile & email |
| Biometric update: photo, fingerprints, iris | Centre only | ₹125 | — | Biometrics |
| Child's biometric update: mandatory at 5–7 and 15–17; also ages 7–15 | Centre | ₹0 | Ages 7–15 free until 30 Sep 2027. Due date: child update calculator | Child update |
| Document update (proof of identity and address) | myAadhaar, or a centre | ₹0 online until 14 Jun 2027; ₹75 at a centre | After 14 Jun 2027, ₹75 online too, unless UIDAI extends it again | Document update |
| Lock or unlock Aadhaar or biometrics; VID | UIDAI website, SMS to 1947; also in the Aadhaar App | — | — | Lock & VID |
| Appointment at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra | bookappointment.uidai.gov.in (listed centres) | ₹0 | Reschedule up to 24 hours before | Appointments |
| Complaint | 1947, email, myAadhaar | — | UIDAI's Charter sets 30 days to resolve it | Complaints |
"—" means UIDAI's fee chart or Charter gives no figure for it. Demographic changes made together with a ₹125 biometric update are included free. Full list, with home service and refunds: Aadhaar fees. Work out your own total with the fee calculator.
Which Aadhaar rules changed recently?
The rules have changed a lot in the last year. These are the changes our readers ask about most. Items marked "reported" come from news or secondary sources, not yet from UIDAI's own pages.
All dates and deadlines in one place: Latest Aadhaar rules and deadlines.
What happens when you visit an Aadhaar centre?
New Aadhaar, name, date of birth, gender and biometric changes all need a centre. The visit follows the same pattern each time.
- Check the official fee and the original documents you need
- Is your centre listed on the appointment portal?No: walk in during working hours
- The operator scans any original documents, hands them back, and takes your fingerprints, iris or photo
- You get a slip with a number: the EID for a new Aadhaar, or the number on your update slip. Keep it
- Does the status show it is done?No: check the reason and fix it
- Download the new e-Aadhaar, or order a PVC card
-
Check what you need
Look up the fee in the table above and your documents in Documents required or the document checker. In our experience, centres don't accept DigiLocker copies, so carry the physical originals.
-
Book a slot or walk in
Booking is free at bookappointment.uidai.gov.in. In our experience, only centres listed there take bookings; the rest are walk-in only. Find a centre on UIDAI's Bhuvan centre locator.
-
Keep your slip
The slip shows the number you need to track the request: the EID for a new Aadhaar, or the number printed on your update slip.
-
Track the request and download
Check the status on myAadhaar. When it is done, download the new e-Aadhaar.
You'll know it worked when the status shows it is complete and your new e-Aadhaar shows the right details.
When must you visit an Aadhaar centre?
Go to an Aadhaar centre for any of these. They cannot be done online:
- A new Aadhaar for anyone, adult or child.
- Name, date of birth or gender changes. UIDAI says the app may add them "in phases".
- Photo, fingerprint or iris updates, including a child's updates at 5 and 15.
- A mobile update when you no longer have the old number.
- A biometric-authenticated print (₹30–₹40) when you can't get an OTP.
Some cases go to the UIDAI Regional Office instead of, or after, a centre. These include an update limit already used up, twins with mixed-up biometrics, and a living person marked dead.
- Timings: Aadhaar Seva Kendras usually open on Sundays too. They close on about 10 holidays a year, such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti. Most work from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm with a lunch break from 1 to 2 pm. Check your centre before you go.
- Which centre: in our experience, a normal CSC or cyber café can only download and print e-Aadhaar and order PVC cards. Updates need an authorised Aadhaar operator. See Aadhaar centres: what to expect.
- Can't travel? In our experience, home service can be arranged for eligible senior citizens and disabled people, with the full fee. See Elderly, disabled and bedridden.
Find a centre bhuvan-app3.nrsc.gov.in
Where are all our Aadhaar guides?
Every guide in this section, grouped by topic. The first link in each group is the topic's main page.
Start here
New Aadhaar
- Apply for a new Aadhaar
- Documents required · Aadhaar without documents
- Baal Aadhaar for children · Aadhaar for NRIs and OCI
- Book an appointment · Aadhaar centres: what to expect
- Aadhaar form, field by field · Enrolment status and Aadhaar not received
- Elderly, disabled and bedridden
Download and card
- Download e-Aadhaar
- Find a lost Aadhaar number or EID · Download without registered mobile
- Order a PVC card · e-Aadhaar vs PVC vs masked
- The new Aadhaar App · Lost Aadhaar: 5-step plan
Update and correction
- Aadhaar update: fees and limits
- Address · Mobile number · Name · Date of birth
- Photo and biometrics · Child biometric update (5 and 15)
- 10-year document update · Update status and rejection fixes
- Fix a name or DOB mismatch · Fingerprints not matching · Aadhaar services at home (IPPB)
Security and fraud
- Aadhaar fraud and scams
- Lock Aadhaar and biometrics, VID · Aadhaar deactivated? · Aadhaar of a deceased person
Verify
Linking
- Aadhaar linking: master table
- PAN · Bank seeding and DBT · Ration card · EPF/UAN
- PAN itself (apply, correct, inoperative PAN): our PAN guide
Help and complaints
Reference and tools
Aadhaar for NRIs, OCI cardholders and foreigners
- NRIs don't need the 182-day stay. You can enrol on arrival in India. A valid Indian passport is the only identity proof accepted, and an email address is mandatory.
- OCI cardholders and other foreigners can enrol at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra after 182 days' stay. For OCI cardholders the Aadhaar is valid for 10 years.
- Online services such as download and address update need an OTP on your registered mobile. Keep that number active, or update it on your next visit.
- Biometric updates need a visit to an Aadhaar centre in India. They can't be done online, and reports say there is no embassy route.
- PAN: non-residents are exempt from PAN–Aadhaar linking.
- Became a foreign citizen? UIDAI says you don't need to "convert" your Aadhaar for now. More: Aadhaar for NRIs and OCI.
Region not right?
Aadhaar scams we see most
- Fake links: SMS or WhatsApp links promising "update your Aadhaar from home". Use only sites ending in uidai.gov.in, the official Aadhaar App or a centre.
- Scare calls: "Your Aadhaar will be blocked", then a request for your OTP or Aadhaar number. Hang up. Never share an OTP.
- Screen-sharing apps: never install an AnyDesk-type app because a caller asks.
- Fingerprint fraud: cash can be withdrawn with a copied fingerprint, without any OTP. Lock your biometrics and share only masked copies. If money goes, call 1930 or report on cybercrime.gov.in at once.
- Fake news: the 2025 stories that "every update is online from 1 November" were wrong. Check this page or uidai.gov.in.
More: Aadhaar fraud and scams.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aadhaar mandatory?
Only for some things. News reports of the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling say it can be required for PAN, income tax returns, and government subsidies and benefits. It is not mandatory for bank accounts, SIM cards or school admission. See Is Aadhaar mandatory?
Is Aadhaar proof of citizenship?
No. Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act says Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship. NRIs and some foreigners living in India can also hold one.
Is Aadhaar valid proof of date of birth?
News reports say no. The Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that it is not proof of date of birth, and EPFO removed it as DOB proof in January 2024. Use a birth certificate or another DOB document.
Is it "Aadhaar" or "Aadhar"?
"Aadhaar" is the official spelling used by UIDAI. "Aadhar" and "Adhar" are common spellings in searches. They all mean the same card and number.
Where can I download my Aadhaar card?
On myAadhaar or in the Aadhaar App, using your Aadhaar number, EID or VID and an OTP on your registered mobile. In our experience, e-Aadhaar from DigiLocker or UMANG also works and is accepted. Download with only a name and date of birth is not possible.
Is a downloaded e-Aadhaar as valid as the original card?
Yes. UIDAI says the e-Aadhaar is as legally valid as the physical card. In our experience, banks and the passport office want a printout with a validated digital signature.
How much do Aadhaar services cost?
A new Aadhaar is free. Updating details costs ₹75 and a biometric update ₹125. A PVC card costs ₹75. UIDAI says the fees are the same at every centre. Full list: Aadhaar fees.
How many times can I update my Aadhaar?
Your name can be changed twice in a lifetime, and your date of birth and gender once. After the limit, UIDAI's Regional Office has an exception route.
I lost my Aadhaar card. What should I do?
Download the e-Aadhaar, which is equally valid, or reorder a PVC card for ₹75. If you have lost the number too, retrieve it on myAadhaar with your registered mobile or email. Worried about misuse? Lock your biometrics. See Lost Aadhaar card.
Can I apply for a new Aadhaar online?
No. Enrolment is in person only, at an Aadhaar centre. Adults must use a designated centre, such as an Aadhaar Seva Kendra. You can book an appointment online for free at listed centres.
How long does it take to get a new Aadhaar?
UIDAI's Citizen's Charter says within 30 days for under-18s. For adults it says 180 days, in 90% of cases. A status SMS should come within 30 days.
Can a cyber café make or update my Aadhaar?
In our experience, no. A normal cyber café or CSC can only download and print e-Aadhaar and order PVC cards. Updates need an authorised Aadhaar operator, and new enrolment needs an Aadhaar centre.
What is the Aadhaar helpline number?
UIDAI's helpline is 1947. The automated line works 24x7. Agents answer Monday to Saturday 7 am–11 pm and Sunday 8 am–5 pm, in 12 languages. You can also email [email protected].
Bottom line
Start with what you want to do. Downloads, PVC cards, address and mobile updates can usually be done online with an OTP. A new Aadhaar, name, date of birth, gender and biometrics need a centre. Pay only the official fee, keep your slip, and never share an OTP. For help, call UIDAI's helpline 1947.
Sources
- UIDAI – Aadhaar Online Services (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- UIDAI – Aadhaar Enrolment & Update charges (PDF) (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- UIDAI – Citizen's Charter, January 2024 (PDF) (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- UIDAI – List of acceptable documents for enrolment and update (PDF) (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- UIDAI – Aadhaar App FAQ; Office Memorandum of 18 Jun 2026 (email update); DOB SOP of 24 Dec 2025; OM of 27 Apr 2019 (update limits) (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- Aadhaar Act, 2016, section 9; Supreme Court of India, Puttaswamy judgment of 26 Sep 2018, as reported in the news (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- News reports – PVC fee change (Business Standard), mAadhaar retirement, document lists of May 2026, name-update SOP of 18 Sep 2026 (Business Today, Outlook), Aadhaar as DOB proof (accessed 13–15 Oct 2026)
- News On AIR – biometric Aadhaar authentication for subsidised LPG from 1 Oct 2026 (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- Gujarat Cyber Crime – AePS fingerprint fraud advice (1930, cybercrime.gov.in) (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- UIDAI – Aadhaar Seva Kendra page (child update ages 7–15 free till 30.9.2027; print ₹40) and PVC order page on myAadhaar (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- Anika Digital Seva counter team: expert answers G19, G20, J07, J11, J21, J22, J24, Z06, Z07, Z08, Z10, Z13, Z14, Z29, Z30, C09 and field note F01 (14–15 Oct 2026)
Page history: 15 Oct 2026, first version. 16 Oct 2026: accuracy and link review.