Independent guide · Not UIDAI · We never ask for your Aadhaar number, OTP or fingerprints.
What Documents Are Required for Aadhaar (Aadhar)?
For a new adult Aadhaar you need one proof of identity (with your name and photo) and one proof of address, plus a date-of-birth proof if you have one. An Indian passport covers all three. Children under 5 need a birth certificate and a parent's Aadhaar. For an update, bring proof only for what you change. PAN is not accepted.
- New Aadhaar
- Free
- Document update
- Free online till 14 Jun 2027 · ₹75 at a centre
- Bring
- Originals
- List in force
- 6 May 2026
- Not accepted
- PAN
On this page
What are the four kinds of proof?
| Proof | Short name | Must show | Needed for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof of identity | PoI | Your name and photo | New adult Aadhaar; name change |
| Proof of address | PoA | Your name and an address in India | New adult Aadhaar; address change |
| Proof of date of birth | DoB | Your name and date of birth | A "verified" date of birth; DOB change |
| Proof of relationship | PoR | Your name and the Head of Family's name | Children's Aadhaar; Head-of-Family address update |
One document can count for more than one proof. An Indian passport, for example, is proof of identity, address and date of birth.
Which documents do you need?
- Is this a new Aadhaar?No, an update: bring proof only for the field you change (filter "Update")
- Is the person 18 or older?No: see the children's rules
- Do you have an Indian passport?No: pick one PoI + one PoA from the list
- Add a date-of-birth proof (birth certificate, marksheet…) if you have one
- Take the originals to an Aadhaar centre
| Your situation | Bring |
|---|---|
| New Aadhaar, adult (18+) | 1 PoI + 1 PoA (+ DoB proof if available). Adults enrol only at designated centres such as Aadhaar Seva Kendras |
| New Aadhaar, child under 5 | Birth certificate + a parent's Aadhaar (Head of Family) |
| New Aadhaar, age 5–17 | Birth certificate + parent's Aadhaar; or PoI + PoA + DoB documents |
| Address change | 1 PoA, or the Head-of-Family route (the HoF can be your mother, father, legal guardian, spouse, child/ward or sibling, aged 18+). Address update guide |
| Name change | 1 PoI with the new name (marriage certificate, gazette notification for a full change). Name change guide |
| Date-of-birth change | DoB proof; under 18 only a birth certificate. DOB change guide |
| Mobile, email, photo, fingerprints | No document |
Not sure a document will pass? Check it with the Aadhaar document checker.
Which documents are accepted for adults?
This is UIDAI's current list for adults: List III (new Aadhaar, 18+) and List IV (updates, any age). ✓ means it counts for that proof. Use the buttons to filter.
| Document | PoI | PoA | DoB | PoR | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian passport | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (update) | Covers everything for a new adult |
| Ration / PDS photo card, e-ration card | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (update) | Must carry your photo | |
| Voter ID / e-EPIC | ✓ | ✓ | UIDAI requires it to show online on the ECI site; in our experience centres accept it by looking at it | ||
| Driving licence | ✓ | Identity only | |||
| Government / PSU / statutory body service photo ID | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Pensioner or freedom-fighter photo ID, Pension Payment Order | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (update) | |
| CGHS / ECHS / ESIC / medi-claim card | ✓ | ||||
| MGNREGA job card with state domicile certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (update) | The job card alone is not accepted | |
| SC / ST / OBC certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (update) | ||
| 10th/12th marksheet, board or university certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (update) | Not proof of address | |
| Transgender identity card or certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (update) | Also for gender and full-name change |
| RPwD shelter-home certificate (head of home + district social welfare officer) | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Prisoner Induction Document | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Certificate in UIDAI's format (MP, MLA, MLC, councillor, Gazetted officer A/B, EPFO officer, Tehsildar, village head, head of institution for students) | ✓ | Address only, valid 3 months. Details | |||
| Certificate in UIDAI's format from a NACO / State Health / AIDS Control Society official | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Electricity, water, gas, landline, postpaid or broadband bill | ✓ | At most 3 months old | |||
| Rent, lease or leave-and-licence agreement; registered sale deed or gift deed | ✓ | Rent agreement may be registered or unregistered | |||
| Government accommodation allotment letter | ✓ | At most 1 year old | |||
| Life or medical insurance policy | ✓ | Valid up to 1 year from issue | |||
| Birth certificate | ✓ | ✓ (update) | Compulsory for anyone born on or after 1 Oct 2023 | ||
| Kisan photo passbook | ✓ | ✓ | Updates only | ||
| Bank passbook with name and photo (scheduled commercial or state co-operative bank) | ✓ | Updates only. Must be signed and stamped by the bank | |||
| Bank, credit card or post office statement | ✓ | Updates only; at most 3 months old | |||
| Property tax receipt | ✓ | Updates only; at most 1 year old | |||
| Marriage certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Updates; for a surname change after marriage | |
| Divorce decree (family court) | ✓ | Updates; proof of identity for a name change | |||
| Gazette notification | ✓ | For a first-name or full-name change | |||
| Self-declaration by an immediate family member at the same address | ✓ | Only to borrow their address for an address update | |||
| Legal guardianship document | ✓ | For people under legal guardianship |
Every document must be currently valid, in your own name, and verifiable at its source. Foreign nationals, OCI cardholders and citizens of Nepal or Bhutan have separate entries in UIDAI's list.
Which documents are needed for children?
| Age | Route | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 (Baal Aadhaar) | Head of Family (parent) route is compulsory | Birth certificate (proof of relationship and DOB) + the Aadhaar of the mother, father or legal guardian (aged 18+) as Head of Family. One of them confirms with a fingerprint or iris scan |
| 5 to 17 | Head-of-Family route encouraged | Birth certificate + parent's Aadhaar; or, if that's not possible, documents such as an Indian passport, state domicile certificate, SC/ST/OBC certificate or guardianship document |
| Born on or after 1 Oct 2023 | Any | Birth certificate is compulsory |
NRI children may use an Indian passport in place of a birth certificate (reported); for a child born on or after 1 Oct 2023, carry the birth certificate too. Baal Aadhaar guide
What is the certificate in UIDAI's format, and when does it work?
If you have no other address proof, an official can certify your address on UIDAI's standard form. You can get the form at an Aadhaar centre, from the UIDAI website, or at a cyber café or CSC.
- Who can sign: an MP, MLA, MLC or municipal councillor; a Group A or B Gazetted officer or EPFO officer; a Tehsildar; the head of your school or college (for its students); in villages, the panchayat head or village revenue officer.
- Address proof only. UIDAI's form says it can be used only as proof of address. (A certificate from a NACO or state AIDS control official also counts as identity proof.)
- Valid 3 months from the date of issue. Our counter sees older ones rejected every time.
- It needs a recent colour photo, cross-signed and stamped, no overwriting, and the officer's name, designation, address and phone number.
Which documents are not accepted?
| Document | Why |
|---|---|
| PAN card / e-PAN | Not on UIDAI's 2026 list at all, for new Aadhaar or updates |
| MGNREGA job card on its own | Accepted only together with a state domicile certificate |
| Bank passbook for a new Aadhaar | The 2026 list accepts it for updates only |
| Marksheet or degree as address proof | Counts for name and date of birth, not address |
| Bill older than 3 months, or in a landlord's name | Too old, or not in your or your family's name |
| DigiLocker copy shown on your phone | Centres want originals. A printout of an e-document works only if it shows a valid digital signature (green tick) |
| Disability (UDID) card on its own | Not on the list; only an RPwD shelter-home certificate is |
| Photocopy only | Take the original; it is scanned and handed back |
Do the names on your documents have to match?
Yes. UIDAI requires your name and date of birth to match on all the proofs you give. Your name is entered exactly as written on the document, without titles like Mr, Shri or Dr.
- Small spelling differences (Mohd / Mohammad): in our experience sometimes accepted, sometimes rejected. Don't risk it; fix one document first.
- Father's or husband's name different between two documents: the application gets rejected.
- Married women with documents in the maiden name: UIDAI's list accepts them together with proof of the name change, such as a marriage certificate. For an address update, the husband can also be your Head of Family.
Mismatches between Aadhaar, PAN and bank records? See fix a name or DOB mismatch. On the PAN side, see PAN–Aadhaar link problems (name or DOB mismatch).
Why do documents get rejected?
| What we see rejected | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Gazetted-officer certificate in the wrong format | Use UIDAI's own form, signed within the last 3 months |
| Old electricity or water bill, or another person's bill | A bill from the last 3 months in your or your family's name |
| Bank passbook without photo or stamp | Ask the bank to paste a photo and stamp and sign it |
| Rent agreement without a notary stamp | Get it notarised |
| Name spelled differently from Aadhaar or another document | Correct the document first |
| Blurred or cropped scan (online) | Rescan in colour, all four corners visible |
| No signature or stamp on the document | Get it signed and stamped by the issuer |
What is the 10-year document update?
UIDAI recommends that anyone whose Aadhaar is 10 years old uploads a fresh proof of identity and address once, even if nothing has changed. It is free on myAadhaar until 14 June 2027 and ₹75 at a centre. After that date, in our experience, the online fee will be ₹75 unless UIDAI extends the free period. Aadhaar is not deactivated if you skip it, but some services and KYC can get stuck.
- Log in to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in with your Aadhaar number
- Enter the 6-digit OTP from your registered mobile
- Choose Document Update and check your details
- Upload one PoI and one PoA (clear colour scans)
- Submit and note the SRN; no fee until 14 Jun 2027
Documents for NRIs
- A valid Indian passport is the only accepted proof of identity for NRIs. It also covers address and date of birth.
- If the passport has no Indian address, another address proof from the list can be used.
- An email address is compulsory, and you enrol in person at an Aadhaar centre in India.
Aadhaar for NRIs and OCI cardholders
Region not right?
Never use fake documents
- Fake rent agreements, bills or certificates are a crime under the Aadhaar Act, with jail terms. Centres have been caught making Aadhaar with them.
- Nobody can "arrange" an Aadhaar without documents for money. Use the Head-of-Family route (for children, or for an address update) or a certificate in UIDAI's format instead.
- Enrolment is free. Most updates cost ₹75 (₹125 for biometrics; a child's biometric update at 5–7 or 15–17 is free). Work out your fee with the Aadhaar fee calculator. Report overcharging on 1947.
Frequently asked questions
Is PAN card accepted for Aadhaar?
No. PAN is not on UIDAI's 2026 document list, for new enrolment or for updates. Need the papers for a PAN instead? See documents required for PAN.
Which single document is enough for a new adult Aadhaar?
A valid Indian passport covers identity, address and date of birth. A ration photo card, voter ID or government service photo ID covers identity and address.
Is a bank passbook accepted?
For updates, yes: a passbook with your name and photo, signed and stamped by a scheduled commercial or state co-operative bank. The 2026 list does not include it for a new Aadhaar.
Is a rent agreement valid as address proof?
Yes, registered or unregistered. In our experience a notarised agreement is enough.
How old can an electricity bill be?
At most 3 months. Centres enforce this strictly.
Is the MGNREGA job card accepted?
Only together with a state domicile certificate. On its own it is not accepted.
Can I use a marksheet as address proof?
No. A marksheet counts for name and date of birth only.
Are DigiLocker documents accepted?
Not as a copy on your phone at the centre. A printout of an e-document with a valid digital signature is accepted.
What if I have no documents at all?
A child can enrol through a parent or legal guardian (Head of Family). Someone who already has Aadhaar can update the address through a family member as Head of Family. For a new adult Aadhaar, a certificate in UIDAI's format can serve as address proof. Aadhaar without documents
Do I need to update my documents every 10 years?
It isn't compulsory, but UIDAI recommends refreshing your proofs once if your Aadhaar is 10 years old. It is free online until 14 June 2027 and ₹75 at a centre.
Bottom line
Bring originals, make sure your name matches on every paper, and use a bill from the last 3 months or a document with your photo. Leave PAN at home. For help, UIDAI's free helpline is 1947.
Sources
- UIDAI – List of acceptable documents for enrolment and update (PDF) (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) First Amendment Regulations, 2026, notified 6 May 2026 (reproduction) (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- Outlook Money – Free document update extended to June 2027 (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- UIDAI – Aadhaar Enrolment & Update charges (PDF) (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- Anika Digital Seva counter team: expert answers C01–C18, Z16–Z21 (15 Oct 2026)
Page history: 15 Oct 2026, first version, checked against the official list. 16 Oct 2026: accuracy and link review.