Independent guide · Not UIDAI · We never ask for your Aadhaar number, OTP or fingerprints.
Is Your Document Accepted for Aadhaar (Aadhar)? Check It Here
Choose new Aadhaar or update, pick what the document must prove, then pick your document. The checker tells you if UIDAI's 2026 list accepts it, on what conditions, and what to use instead if it doesn't. It also shows why our counter sees that document rejected. PAN is never accepted, and bills must be at most 3 months old.
- Documents in the checker
- 36
- List notified
- 6 May 2026
- Bill age limit
- 3 months
- Bring
- Originals
- Never accepted
- PAN
On this page
Is your document accepted? Check it here
Answer three questions. Without JavaScript, the table below shows every document and what it proves.
| Document | New Aadhaar (18+) | Update | Conditions and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian passport | PoI · PoA · DoB | PoI · PoA · DoB · PoR | NRIs: the only identity proof accepted. If it has no Indian address, bring another address proof too. |
| Voter ID (EPIC) or e-voter ID printout | PoI · PoA | PoI · PoA | UIDAI's list says it must show online on the Election Commission site; in our experience centres accept the card by looking at it (this can vary). In our experience an e-voter ID printout is accepted only if it shows a valid digital signature (green tick). |
| Ration / PDS photo card or e-ration card | PoI · PoA | PoI · PoA · PoR | It must carry your photo. In our experience an e-ration card printout is accepted only if it shows a valid digital signature (green tick). |
| Driving licence | PoI | PoI | Identity only: not accepted as address or date-of-birth proof. In our experience a DigiLocker e-DL on your phone is not accepted at the centre. |
| Electricity, water, gas, landline, postpaid or broadband bill | PoA | PoA | At most 3 months old. In your name; in our experience a bill in your father's or family's name also works, a landlord's does not. |
| Rent, lease or leave-and-licence agreement | PoA | PoA | UIDAI accepts registered or unregistered agreements; in our experience it must be notarised (this can vary). In our experience the landlord's ID proof is not needed with it (this can vary). |
| Bank photo passbook (scheduled commercial or state co-operative bank) | ✗ Not accepted | PoA | It must show your name and photo, cross-stamped by the bank. Updates only under the 2026 list. For a new Aadhaar, bring another address proof. |
| Bank, credit card or post office account statement | ✗ Not accepted | PoA | At most 3 months old. Updates only. |
| 10th/12th marksheet, board or university certificate | PoI · DoB | PoI · DoB · PoR | Never address proof. In our experience centres accept it by looking at the paper. |
| Birth certificate | DoB | DoB · PoR | The only date-of-birth proof for anyone born on or after 1 Oct 2023. |
| Government, PSU or statutory body service photo ID | PoI · PoA · DoB | PoI · PoA · DoB | |
| Pensioner or freedom-fighter photo ID, Pension Payment Order | PoI · PoA · DoB | PoI · PoA · DoB · PoR | |
| SC / ST / OBC certificate | PoI · PoA | PoI · PoA · PoR | |
| CGHS / ECHS / ESIC / medi-claim card | PoI | PoI | Identity only. |
| MGNREGA job card together with a state domicile certificate | PoI · PoA | PoI · PoA · PoR | Only together with a state domicile certificate. In our experience centres don't take the job card; UIDAI's 2026 list does, with the domicile certificate. Carry a second proof to be safe. |
| Transgender identity card or certificate (2019 Act) | PoI · PoA · DoB | PoI · PoA · DoB · PoR | |
| RPwD shelter-home certificate (head of the home + District Social Welfare Officer) | PoI · PoA | PoI · PoA | |
| Prisoner Induction Document | PoI · PoA | PoI · PoA | |
| Certificate in UIDAI's format (MP, MLA, MLC, councillor, Gazetted officer A/B, EPFO officer, Tehsildar, village head, head of institution) | PoA | PoA | On UIDAI's own format, issued within the last 3 months. Colour photo, cross-signed and stamped; no overwriting. The officer's name, designation, address and phone number on it. Address proof only. Our team has seen it taken as identity proof too, but UIDAI's list says address only, so bring another identity proof. |
| Certificate in UIDAI's format from a NACO, State Health or AIDS Control Society official | PoI · PoA | PoI · PoA | Issued within the last 3 months. |
| Government accommodation allotment letter | PoA | PoA | At most 1 year old. |
| Sale deed or gift deed | PoA | PoA | |
| Insurance policy | PoA | PoA | Valid up to 1 year. |
| Kisan photo passbook | ✗ Not accepted | PoI · PoA | Updates only. |
| Property tax receipt | ✗ Not accepted | PoA | At most 1 year old. Updates only. |
| Marriage certificate | ✗ Not accepted | PoI · PoA · PoR | Updates only; used for a surname change after marriage. |
| Divorce decree (family court) | ✗ Not accepted | PoI | Updates only; for a name change after divorce. |
| Gazette notification | ✗ Not accepted | PoI | Updates only; needed for a major or complete name change. |
| Self-declaration by an immediate family member at the same address (Head of Family) | ✗ Not accepted | PoR | Only for an address update through the Head-of-Family route. UIDAI's 2026 forms: for an address update the Head of Family must be 18 or older and your mother, father, legal guardian, spouse, child/ward or sibling. |
| Legal guardianship document | PoR | PoR | For people under legal guardianship. |
| PAN card or e-PAN | ✗ Not accepted | ✗ Not accepted | Not on UIDAI's 2026 list at all, for a new Aadhaar or for updates. |
| MGNREGA job card on its own | ✗ Not accepted | ✗ Not accepted | Accepted only together with a state domicile certificate. |
| School or college ID card | ✗ Not accepted | ✗ Not accepted | It was on older UIDAI lists; as we read the 2026 list, it is no longer on it. Students can ask the head of their institution for a certificate in UIDAI's format (address proof only). |
| DigiLocker copy shown on your phone | ✗ Not accepted | ✗ Not accepted | In our experience only physical originals work at the centre, and a printout of an e-document is accepted only if it shows a valid digital signature (green tick). |
| Disability (UDID) card on its own | ✗ Not accepted | ✗ Not accepted | Not on UIDAI's list; only an RPwD shelter-home certificate is. Use another listed proof. |
| Photocopy without the original | ✗ Not accepted | ✗ Not accepted | Take the original: it is scanned and handed back. |
PoI = identity, PoA = address, DoB = date of birth, PoR = relationship. Children have their own rules: see the Baal Aadhaar guide. The full list with filters is in Documents required for Aadhaar.
How does the document check work?
The checker uses UIDAI's "List of Acceptable Documents for Enrolment and Update", which we checked line by line on 15 Oct 2026. It has one list for a new Aadhaar (18+) and one for updates. Some documents, such as a bank photo passbook or a marriage certificate, are on the update list only.
- Accepted: the document is listed for that proof and service.
- Accepted, if…: it is listed, but has conditions. A bill must be at most 3 months old, for example.
- Not accepted for this: it isn't listed for that proof. You see up to six documents that are.
Relationship proof (PoR) is mainly for updates through the Head of Family. As we read the list, a legal guardianship document is the only relationship proof for a new adult Aadhaar. The relationship-proof ticks for updates also follow our reading of UIDAI's list; if your case depends on one, confirm it at the centre. Want to change your address with a family member's help? See the address update guide.
Where our counter team's experience differs from the official list, we follow the list and say so. For example, our team has seen bank passbooks used for a new Aadhaar and officers' certificates used as identity proof; the 2026 list allows neither. The centre operator makes the final decision.
What should you check before you go to the centre?
Most rejections can be caught at home. Run this check first; it can save you a second trip.
- Pick new Aadhaar or update and what each document must prove
- Is your document on UIDAI's list for that proof?No: pick one of the alternatives
- Is it recent enough: bill within 3 months, UIDAI-format certificate within 3 months?No: get a fresh one first
- Do your name, father's or husband's name and date of birth match on every document?No: fix the mismatch first
- Do you have the physical original, or a printout with a valid digital signature?No: a phone copy won't do
- Take the originals to the Aadhaar centre; they are scanned and handed back
- Originals: in our experience DigiLocker copies on a phone are not accepted at the centre, and a printout of an e-voter ID or e-ration card works only if it shows a valid digital signature (green tick).
- Names: in our experience a small spelling difference (Mohd / Mohammad) is sometimes accepted and sometimes rejected, and a different father's or husband's name gets the application rejected.
- Bills: at most 3 months old. In our experience this is strictly enforced, and a bill in your father's or family's name works, but a landlord's does not.
- Rent agreement: registered or unregistered both count. In our experience a simple notarised one is enough, but the notary stamp is a must (this can vary).
- Certificates in UIDAI's format: UIDAI's own form, cross-signed photo, used within 3 months of issue.
Book a slot to avoid the queue: book an Aadhaar appointment. For what happens at the counter, see Aadhaar centres: what to expect.
Which documents get rejected most at our counter?
These are the documents and reasons our counter team sees rejected most often.
| What gets rejected | Why | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|
| Gazetted-officer, MLA or Tehsildar certificate | Wrong format, or older than 3 months | Use UIDAI's own form, issued within the last 3 months |
| Village-head (gram pradhan) certificate | Often rejected in our experience | Use a bill, rent agreement or another listed proof if you can |
| Electricity or water bill | Older than 3 months, or another person's bill | A bill from the last 3 months in your or your family's name |
| Bank passbook | No photo or no bank stamp | Ask the bank for a passbook with your name and photo, cross-stamped (updates only) |
| Rent agreement | No notary stamp | Get it notarised |
| Any document | Name spelt differently from Aadhaar or your other document | Correct the document first |
| Any document | No signature or stamp on it | Get it signed and stamped by the issuer |
| Any scan uploaded online | Blurred or cropped | Rescan in colour with all four corners showing |
Your document was refused. What do you do?
| Problem | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bank passbook refused for a new Aadhaar | The 2026 list accepts it for updates only | Use a bill, rent agreement, voter ID or ration card for address |
| Driving licence refused as address proof | It proves identity only | Add a separate address proof (check one) |
| No address proof in your own name | The list wants a proof in your own name | For an update, use the Head-of-Family route (how); or see Aadhaar without documents |
| Name or father's name differs between documents | In our experience a different father's or husband's name gets the application rejected; a small spelling difference sometimes does | Correct one document first (how) |
| Date-of-birth proof is in your maiden name | Name changed after marriage | UIDAI accepts it with proof of the name change, such as a marriage certificate |
| Online update rejected | Blurred scan, wrong document, or address typed differently | Fix and apply again; see update status and rejection fixes |
Documents for NRIs
- A valid Indian passport is the only accepted proof of identity for NRIs. It also covers address and date of birth.
- Address in India not in the passport? Another address proof from the list can be used. With an address outside India, you use Form 2, and the passport is your only identity and address proof.
- An email address is compulsory. You enrol in person at an Aadhaar centre in India; you can do it on arrival.
- A non-Indian mobile number gets no SMS from UIDAI.
Aadhaar for NRIs and OCI cardholders
Region not right?
Never use fake documents, and ignore "no documents needed" offers
- Every Aadhaar form carries a declaration: if the information is false, the Aadhaar may be deactivated and legal action taken. A DTP centre in Bengaluru was reported (Nov 2024) to be making Aadhaar with fake rent agreements.
- In our experience fake links and websites promising Aadhaar services from home are a common scam. Use only uidai.gov.in sites and UIDAI's own Aadhaar App.
- Never share an OTP with a caller, and never install a screen-sharing app because someone asks.
- A new Aadhaar is free. At a centre, a demographic or document update costs ₹75 and a biometric update ₹125 (children's biometric updates are free at set ages; check yours with our fee calculator). Document update on myAadhaar is free until 14 June 2027. Report overcharging on 1947. More on Aadhaar fraud & scams.
Frequently asked questions
Is PAN card accepted for Aadhaar?
No. PAN and e-PAN are not on UIDAI's 2026 document list, for a new Aadhaar or for updates. Linking PAN with Aadhaar is a separate job on the income-tax portal: see our PAN guide on how to link PAN with Aadhaar.
Can I use my bank passbook for a new Aadhaar?
Not under the 2026 list. A bank passbook with your name and photo, cross-stamped by the bank, is accepted as address proof for updates only.
Is a driving licence address proof for Aadhaar?
No. UIDAI's list accepts a driving licence as identity proof only. Bring a separate address proof.
Is an unregistered rent agreement accepted?
Yes, UIDAI accepts registered or unregistered agreements. In our experience it must be notarised and the landlord's ID is not needed (this can vary).
Will a bill in my father's name work?
UIDAI's rule is a document in your own name. In our experience a bill in your father's or family's name is accepted, but a landlord's is not. It must be at most 3 months old.
Are DigiLocker documents accepted at the Aadhaar centre?
In our experience, not as a copy on your phone, and a printout of an e-document is accepted only if it shows a valid digital signature (green tick).
Is a marksheet valid as date-of-birth proof?
Yes. A 10th or 12th marksheet counts for identity and date of birth, but never for address.
Is this checker official?
No. We are an independent guide. The checker follows UIDAI's official list, but the centre operator and UIDAI make the final decision.
Bottom line
Check each document against the proof it must give, carry originals, use a bill from the last 3 months, and make sure your name matches everywhere. Leave PAN at home. Unsure what you need overall? Try the "What do I need?" wizard or read common Aadhaar mistakes. 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 on staffnews.in) (accessed 15 Oct 2026)
- UIDAI – Enrolment and update forms 1–8, 2026 (accessed 16 Oct 2026)
- UIDAI – Aadhaar Enrolment & Update charges (PDF) (accessed 13 Oct 2026)
- Anika Digital Seva counter team: expert answers C01, C02, C03, C06, C07, C08, C09, C10, C11, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, G01, G05, G19, Z17, Z18 (14–15 Oct 2026)
Page history: 16 Oct 2026, first version. 16 Oct 2026: accuracy and link review.