Before you visit an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre or Aadhaar Seva Kendra, knowing exactly which documents to carry saves you the frustration of being turned away. UIDAI accepts four types of supporting documents for Aadhaar enrolment and update: Proof of Identity (PoI), Proof of Address (PoA), Proof of Relationship (PoR), and Proof of Date of Birth (PDB). The documents you need depend on your age, whether you are enrolling for the first time or updating existing details, and whether you are an Indian resident, NRI, or foreign national.
This guide covers the complete, current document list exactly as published by UIDAI at uidai.gov.in, organised by age group and purpose so you can find exactly what you need in minutes.
Understanding the Four Document Types
UIDAI uses four document categories. Each serves a different purpose and must contain specific information to be accepted.
| Document Type | Short Form | Must Contain | When Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proof of Identity | PoI | Your name and photograph | All enrolments and identity-related updates |
| Proof of Address | PoA | Your name and residential address in India | All enrolments and address updates |
| Proof of Relationship | PoR | Your name and the name of the Head of Family (HoF) | HoF-based enrolment for children and family members |
| Proof of Date of Birth | PDB | Your name and date of birth | When submitting a verified date of birth |
Important rule confirmed by UIDAI: Your name as it appears on the supporting document will be copied exactly into your Aadhaar. UIDAI does not add or consider any additional information. Make sure the name on all your documents matches uniformly across PoI, PoR, and PDB documents before you visit the centre.
Critical Update: Birth Certificate Mandatory for Children Born After 1 October 2023
As confirmed on the official UIDAI Get Aadhaar page at uidai.gov.in, birth certificate as PDB and PoR is mandatory for children born on or after 1 October 2023. If your child was born on or after this date, a birth certificate issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, is compulsory. You cannot substitute it with any other document for children in this category.
General Conditions Every Document Must Meet
Regardless of which document you submit, UIDAI will accept it only if all of the following conditions are met as confirmed in the official document list at uidai.gov.in:
- The document must currently be valid and not expired.
- The document must be issued in the name of the person seeking enrolment or update.
- The information in the document must be verifiable from the issuing authority.
- The issuing authority must not have declared the document invalid for the purpose for which it is being submitted.
- Name and date of birth of the individual across all documents submitted as PoI, PoR, and PDB must be uniform.
- You must carry original documents to the centre. After completing enrolment, the operator returns all your original documents along with the acknowledgement slip.
List I: Documents Required for Children Below 5 Years of Age
Children under 5 years must enrol through the Head of Family (HoF) based process. At least one parent or legal guardian with a valid Aadhaar must be present at the enrolment centre and must authenticate biometrically on behalf of the child. The child's address in Aadhaar will be the same as the HoF's address. No biometrics are captured for children below 5 years since only a photograph is taken at this age.
For children born on or after 1 October 2023, a birth certificate is mandatory as both PoR and PDB. This rule applies to all children in this age group without exception.
Type A: Head of Family Based Enrolment (Standard Process)
| Sl. | Document | PoR | PDB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birth Certificate issued under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Valid Indian Passport (applicable for NRI children only) | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Legal Guardianship Document issued by Central or State Government or a court under the Guardians and Wards Act 1890, National Trust Act 1999, or RPwD Act 2016 | Yes | No |
Type B: Document-Based Enrolment (For Children in Child Care Institutions)
| Sl. | Document | PoI | PoA | PDB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | UIDAI Standard Certificate issued by District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) with CCI placement order in Form 18 of Juvenile Justice Model Rules, 2016 | Yes | Yes | No |
HoF rules confirmed by UIDAI: Both parents' Aadhaar numbers are required for HoF-based enrolment. If the child lives with only one parent or a legal guardian, the Aadhaar number of that parent or guardian is sufficient. Biometric authentication by the HoF is mandatory at the centre.
List II: Documents Required for Children Aged 5 to 17 Years
Children aged 5 to 17 are encouraged to enrol through the Head of Family-based process as per UIDAI guidelines. However, if the HoF or a Proof of Relationship document is not available, they can enrol using their own PoI, PoA, and PDB documents from the list below. At age 5, the child's biometrics, including fingerprints and iris, are captured for the first time along with a photograph.
| Document | PoI | PoA | PoR | PDB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate (Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Valid Indian Passport | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Domicile Certificate issued by State Government | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ST, SC, or OBC Certificate issued by Central or State Government | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Legal Guardianship Document under relevant Acts | No | No | Yes | No |
| UIDAI Standard Certificate by DCPO with CCI placement order (Form 18) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Third Gender or Transgender Identity Card issued under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
For Foreign National Children Aged 5 to 17 (OCI, Nepal/ Bhutan, LTV Holders)
Foreign national children who have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the preceding 12 months may also enrol. Accepted PoI documents include a valid foreign passport with OCI card, Nepal or Bhutan passport or citizenship certificate, or a valid Long Term Visa (LTV) document. Proof of Address documents follow the same list as Indian adults in List III below.
List III: Documents Required for Adults 18 Years and Above
Adults enrolling for a fresh Aadhaar Card must submit at least one PoI and one PoA document. Submitting a PDB document is required only when you want a verified date of birth with the full DD/MM/YYYY recorded in Aadhaar. Without a PDB document, only your year of birth is recorded, and the DOB is marked as declared.
Best single document for adults: A valid Indian Passport serves as PoI, PoA, and PDB all at once. It is the most comprehensive single document for Aadhaar enrolment. If you do not have a passport, combine a Voter ID (for PoI and PoA) with a birth certificate or marksheet (for PDB).
Important note on Driving Licence: A driving licence works only as Proof of Identity. It does not work as Proof of Address or Proof of Date of Birth for Aadhaar. This is one of the most common mistakes people make at enrolment centres.
| Document | PoI | PoA | PDB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valid Indian Passport | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ration Card or PDS Photograph Card or e-Ration Card | Yes | Yes | No |
| Voter Identity Card or e-Voter ID (verifiable on ECI website) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Driving Licence | Yes | No | No |
| Service Photo ID Card issued by Central or State Government, PSU, or Regulatory Body | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pensioner Photo ID, Freedom Fighter Photo ID, or Pension Payment Order issued by Government or PSU | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CGHS, ECHS, ESIC, or Medi-Claim Card issued by Government or PSU | Yes | No | No |
| UIDAI Certificate jointly signed by Head of Shelter Home and DSWO (for destitutes with disability) | Yes | Yes | No |
| MGNREGA or NREGS Job Card along with Domicile Certificate from State Government | Yes | Yes | No |
| ST, SC, or OBC Certificate issued by Central or State Government | Yes | Yes | No |
| Marksheet or Certificate issued by a recognised Board, University, or Higher Educational Institution | Yes | No | Yes |
| Third Gender or Transgender Identity Card issued under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UIDAI Standard Certificate issued by MP, MLA, MLC, or Municipal Councillor | No | Yes | No |
| UIDAI Standard Certificate issued by Gazetted Officer Group A or EPFO Officer | No | Yes | No |
| UIDAI Standard Certificate issued by Tehsildar or Gazetted Officer Group B | No | Yes | No |
| UIDAI Standard Certificate issued by NACO, State Health Department, or AIDS Control Society Officer (per Supreme Court order in Criminal Appeal No. 135/2010) | Yes | Yes | No |
| UIDAI Standard Certificate issued by Head of a Recognised Educational Institution (for students enrolled in that institution only) | No | Yes | No |
| UIDAI Standard Certificate issued by Village Panchayat Head, Mukhiya, or Village Revenue Officer (for rural areas only) | No | Yes | No |
| Electricity Bill (pre-paid or post-paid, not older than 3 months) | No | Yes | No |
| Water Bill (not older than 3 months) | No | Yes | No |
| Telephone Landline Bill, Post-paid Mobile Bill, or Broadband Bill (not older than 3 months) | No | Yes | No |
| Sale Agreement, Gift Deed, Rent Agreement, Lease Agreement, or Leave and Licence Agreement (registered or unregistered) | No | Yes | No |
| Gas Bill (not older than 3 months) | No | Yes | No |
| Allotment Letter of Accommodation issued by Central or State Government or PSU (not older than 1 year) | No | Yes | No |
| Life or Medical Insurance Policy (valid up to 1 year from date of issue) | No | Yes | No |
| Birth Certificate (Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969) | No | No | Yes |
| Prisoner Induction Document (PID) issued by a Prison Officer with signature and seal | Yes | Yes | No |
| Legal Guardianship Document (for persons under legal guardianship, used as PoR) | No | No | Yes (as PoR) |
For Foreign Nationals 18 Years and Above (OCI, Nepal/ Bhutan, LTV Holders)
Foreign nationals who have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately preceding their enrolment application are eligible. An email address is mandatory for NRIs and Resident Foreign Nationals at enrolment. Accepted documents are:
- OCI Cardholders: Valid foreign passport along with OCI card as PoI and PDB. For PoA, use documents from List III above.
- Nepal and Bhutan Nationals: Valid Nepal or Bhutan passport or citizenship certificate as PoI and PDB. For PoA, use documents from List III above.
- Long Term Visa (LTV) Holders: Valid LTV document as PoI. For PoA, use documents from List III above.
- Other Foreign Nationals: Valid foreign passport and valid Indian visa.
List IV: Additional Documents Accepted Only for Aadhaar Update
If you already have an Aadhaar and want to update your name, address, date of birth, gender, or relationship details, all documents in List III apply, plus the following additional documents, which are accepted specifically for updates but not for fresh enrolment.
| Document | PoI | PoA | PoR | PDB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kisan Photo Passbook | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Marriage Certificate (with or without photograph) issued by Central or State Government | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Divorce Decree issued by Family Court | Yes | No | No | No |
| Passbook issued by Scheduled Commercial Bank, State Cooperative Bank, or Post Office (with photo, stamp, and signature) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Bank Account Statement, Credit Card Statement, or Post Office Savings Statement (not older than 3 months, with bank stamp) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Gazette Notification (for change in first name or full name) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Property Tax Receipt (not older than 1 year) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Self-Declaration from an immediate family member (for borrowing HoF address for address update) | No | No | Yes | No |
Special Rules for Date of Birth Update in Aadhaar
DOB update in Aadhaar is allowed only once in your lifetime, as confirmed by UIDAI. Verify the correct date very carefully before submitting. The document required depends on what was previously recorded:
- If your DOB was recorded as declared or approximate (only the year of birth shows on your Aadhaar card): Resident Indians below 18 must submit a birth certificate. NRIs below 18 can submit a birth certificate or an Indian passport. Adults 18 and above can submit any acceptable PDB document from List III or List IV.
- If you previously submitted a birth certificate as PDB: You must submit a corrected birth certificate carrying the same Birth Registration Number (BRN).
- If you previously submitted any other PDB document: Submit a corrected version of that same document or provide a birth certificate.
- Women who changed their name after marriage: Pre-marriage PDB documents are still accepted along with evidence of name change, such as your old Aadhaar and a government-issued marriage certificate carrying both names.
Aadhaar Validity Period for Foreign Nationals
Unlike Indian residents whose Aadhaar is valid for life, Aadhaar issued to foreign nationals has a limited validity as confirmed by UIDAI at uidai.gov.in:
| Category | Aadhaar Validity |
|---|---|
| OCI Cardholders | 10 years from date of enrolment |
| Nepal and Bhutan Nationals | 10 years from date of enrolment |
| Long Term Visa (LTV) Holders | Till the validity of the LTV document |
| Other Foreign Nationals | Till the validity of the visa |
UIDAI Standard Certificate - When and How to Use It
If you do not have standard government-issued documents, UIDAI provides a Standard Certificate format that can be issued and signed by authorised officials. This certificate serves as Proof of Address and, in specific cases, also as Proof of Identity. The certificate format is available for download from uidai.gov.in.
Officials who can issue the UIDAI Standard Certificate
- MP, MLA, MLC, or Municipal Councillor.
- Gazetted Officer Group A or B.
- EPFO Officer.
- Tehsildar.
- NACO, State Health Department, or AIDS Control Society Officer (as per Supreme Court order in Criminal Appeal No. 135/2010).
- Head of a Recognised Educational Institution (for enrolled students of that institution only).
- Village Panchayat Head, Mukhiya, or Village Revenue Officer (for rural residents only).
Rules for the UIDAI Standard Certificate
- Must be printed on plain A4 paper, not a letterhead.
- Must be filled in capital letters using a black or blue ballpoint pen.
- Must be submitted within 3 months of its issue date.
- Overwriting on the certificate will result in rejection.
- The certifier must cross-sign and cross-stamp the applicant's photograph.
- The applicant must affix their signature or thumb impression in the designated box.
Head of Family (HoF) Based Enrolment and Address Update
The HoF based process allows a family member who does not have their own PoA documents to use the verified address of the Head of Family. This is the standard process for enrolling children and for address updates when the applicant does not have their own address proof document.
Key rules confirmed by UIDAI for HoF-based enrolment:
- The HoF must hold a valid Aadhaar before initiating the process.
- Both parents' Aadhaar numbers are required for HoF-based enrolment of a child. If the child lives with only one parent or a legal guardian, only that person's Aadhaar number is needed.
- Biometric authentication by the HoF at the centre is mandatory.
- The address in the HoF's Aadhaar becomes the child's address in Aadhaar.
- For address update using the HoF method, the immediate family member must provide a Self-Declaration confirming the relationship and shared address. This declaration is valid for 3 months from the date of issue.
Quick Reference: What to Carry Based on Your Situation
| Who is Enrolling | What to Carry |
|---|---|
| Adult Indian resident (18 and above) | One PoI document and one PoA document. Carry a PDB document additionally if you want a verified full date of birth recorded in Aadhaar. |
| Child below 5 years (born before 1 Oct 2023) | Birth certificate as PoR. Parent or guardian with their own valid Aadhaar must be present. Parents' biometric authentication is required. |
| Child below 5 years (born on or after 1 Oct 2023) | A birth certificate is mandatory for both PDB and PoR. A parent or guardian with a valid Aadhaar must be present. |
| Child aged 5 to 17 years | PoI, PoA, and PoR if using the HoF method. Or own documents. A valid Indian passport covers PoI, PoA, PoR, and PDB alone. |
| NRI or foreign national | Valid foreign passport along with OCI card or LTV document. Email address is mandatory. |
| Adult with no standard documents | UIDAI Standard Certificate issued by an authorised certifier as PoA, combined with any government photo ID for PoI. |
Remember: Aadhaar enrolment is completely free. If any operator demands payment for fresh enrolment, report it to UIDAI on helpline 1947. The operator returns all your original documents along with the acknowledgement slip after completing the enrolment process.
You can find the nearest Aadhaar Enrolment Centre using the Bhuvan Aadhaar portal at bhuvan-app3.nrsc.gov.in/aadhaar. The official Enrolment and Update Form can be downloaded from uidai.gov.in and pre-filled before your visit.
Conclusion
Having the right documents before visiting an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre makes the entire process smooth and quick. Always verify your documents match your name uniformly, are currently valid, and are issued in your name. For children born on or after 1 October 2023, a birth certificate is mandatory. For adults, a passport covers all three requirements. For those without standard documents, the UIDAI Standard Certificate is the official route.
Download the complete official document list directly from UIDAI at uidai.gov.in. For any queries, call UIDAI helpline 1947 or visit uidai.gov.in.
Add new comment