Aadhar Card is a unique 12-digit identity number given by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to all residents of India. You can get your Aadhaar number by visiting government-approved Aadhaar Enrolment Centers or Aadhaar Seva Kendras, where your biometric and personal details will be collected safely. This guide provides all the updated information about the Aadhaar Card 2025.
Overview of Aadhaar Card
Aadhaar Card is an important official document that every Indian resident should have. It is given by UIDAI after a simple verification process. The card has a unique 12-digit number that identifies you across India. Whether you are a man, woman, or child, any resident can apply for Aadhaar free of cost by providing some basic personal and biometric details.
UIDAI verifies your personal and biometric details to make sure one person only has one Aadhaar. This number does not reveal information about your caste, religion, income, or location. Your data is kept safely in government records, and the Aadhaar card is now a key document to access many government services and benefits.
Visit UIDAI’s new portal “Bhuvan Aadhaar”
Who Can Get an Aadhaar Card?
Aadhaar is available to anyone living in India, including citizens and others residing in the country.
- If you are an Indian resident, you can apply freely.
- If you are a visitor staying temporarily in India, you are also eligible.
Types of Aadhaar Card
Aadhaar Card for Indian Residents
Every Indian resident, including adults and children, can get an Aadhaar card. Linking Aadhaar with PAN (Permanent Account Number) is now required for filing Income Tax Returns.
Aadhaar Card for NRIs
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who have a valid Indian passport can also apply for an Aadhaar card, regardless of age.
Baal Aadhaar: Aadhaar for Children
You can apply for Aadhaar cards for minors as well. At enrollment, you need to provide some identification and proof of the parent’s address. For newborns, biometrics will be updated later when the child reaches 5 and 15 years old. Baal Aadhaar cards are blue in color for children below five years.
Documents Needed for Aadhaar Registration
When applying, you need to provide proofs for your identity (POI), address (POA), relationship (if applicable), and date of birth (DOB). Common documents accepted include:
- Passport
- NREGA job card
- Kisan photo passbook
- Pensioner’s photo ID card
- Ration card
- ECHS/CGHS photo card
- Voter ID Card
- Government photo ID cards
- Address card from Department of Posts
- PAN card
Accepted Proofs of Address
- Bank statement or bank-signed letter with photo
- Government or PSU photo ID cards
- Post Office address card with photo
- Educational institution letter with photo
- Property tax receipt (valid within one year)
- Gas connection bill (not older than 3 months)
- Passbook
- Vehicle registration certificate
- Ration card
- Passport
Proofs of Age Accepted
- Passport
- PAN card
- Government school/board mark sheet
- SSC certificate
- State or central pension order
- Birth certificate
- Gazetted officer issued DOB certificate
Proofs of Relationship Accepted
- PDS card
- Government family entitlement documents
- MNREGA job card
- Birth certificate issued by registrar or local government
- Passport
You can get the Aadhaar registration form online from the official UIDAI website or at a nearby enrolment center. Submit it along with your documents. To update your Aadhaar details, you pay Rs. 50 for personal detail changes or Rs. 100 for biometric updates at the center.
How to Apply for Aadhaar Card?
You need to visit an Aadhaar Enrolment Center with your documents. After you submit your information and biometrics, UIDAI verifies and gives you your Aadhaar number. You can check your Aadhaar application status online as well.
Check Aadhaar Application Status Online
Use your 14-digit Enrollment ID found on your Aadhaar Acknowledgement Slip to check your status:
- Visit UIDAI website
- Go to “Get Aadhaar” > “Check Aadhaar Status”
- Enter your Enrollment ID and security code
You will see your Aadhaar creation and delivery status.
Check Aadhaar Update Status Online
To check the status of your update request:
- Click “Check Aadhaar Update Status” in the “Update Aadhaar” section on UIDAI site.
- Enter your Service Request Number (SRN).
- Your update progress will appear.
How to Download or Print e-Aadhaar Card Online
- Once your Aadhaar is created, it will be sent to your address.
- You can also download e-Aadhaar using your Aadhaar number, name and birth date, enrollment number, Virtual ID, or via DigiLocker and UMANG app.
- The downloaded e-Aadhaar is official and can be used until your physical card arrives.
PVC Aadhaar Card
UIDAI now offers Aadhaar cards in Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) form, which is more durable and secure. You can order your PVC Aadhaar online by paying Rs. 50 (including GST and postage). For more information, visit PVC Aadhaar Card.
Linking PAN with Aadhaar
By law, Indian taxpayers must link their PAN with Aadhaar to file Income Tax Returns. The deadline to link Aadhaar and PAN has been extended to March 31, 2024. If you link your PAN by June 30, 2024, you avoid any penalty. After that, a fee may apply.
You can link PAN and Aadhaar via the Income Tax Department’s e-filing website or by sending an SMS.
How to Change Your Address in Aadhaar Without Proof
Right now, UIDAI has paused the service to update address without document verification.
Normally, you can update your address with the help of an address verifier’s Aadhaar Address Validation Letter. The verifier could be a relative, friend or landlord, who shares their address. This update adds the verifier’s address to your Aadhaar but doesn’t share other details.
Linking Aadhaar with Bank Accounts
Though RBI required Aadhaar-bank account linkage in 2017, the Supreme Court removed this requirement in 2018. Still, you may link your Aadhaar to your bank account if you want, via internet banking, mobile banking apps, bank branches, ATMs, SMS, or mobile number.
Locking or Unlocking Aadhaar Biometrics
To protect your Aadhaar biometric data, UIDAI offers a way to lock or unlock it online through the UIDAI site or the mAadhaar app.
Main Benefits of Having an Aadhaar Card
Official Identity Proof
Aadhaar is accepted by government and private organizations as identity proof. It has your photo, fingerprints, iris scan, and a QR code for checking.
Proof of Address
Your Aadhaar card shows your residential address, making it acceptable as address proof when applying for loans, financial services, or government benefits.
Access to Government Subsidies
You must link Aadhaar with your bank to get government scheme subsidies like Pahal, Atal Pension Yojna, fuel subsidies, school and food subsidies.
Bank Account Opening
You can open a bank account with a PAN and Aadhaar card. Aadhaar is also used for Jan Dhan accounts.
Income Tax Filing
Aadhaar-PAN linking is required for filing income tax returns.
Mobile Connection
You can use Aadhaar to verify your identity and address when buying new mobile SIM cards.
Gas Connection
Aadhaar is needed to get a new gas connection or get LPG subsidy under Pahal (DBTL) scheme.
Mutual Fund Investments
Aadhaar helps with e-KYC processes for mutual fund investments, making it easier to invest.
Note: There is a Rs 50,000 annual e-KYC limit per mutual fund. Beyond this, biometric verification in person is needed.
Services Available for Aadhaar Card Holders
- Download e-Aadhaar online anytime from UIDAI site.
- Check Aadhaar creation status and update status online.
- Find nearby Aadhaar Enrolment/Update centers online.
- Retrieve lost Aadhaar or Enrollment numbers easily.
- Update address online for free.
- Verify resident’s Aadhaar number online.
- Use the mAadhaar app for Aadhaar management.
- Lock or unlock your Aadhaar biometric data online.
- Track your Aadhaar authentication history for security.
- Create a Virtual ID for extra privacy protection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does my downloaded Aadhaar card stay valid? Your Aadhaar card is valid for life once downloaded.
What is Aadhaar authentication and what are its benefits? Aadhaar authentication checks your submitted demographic and biometric information against UIDAI records. This improves service quality, clarity, and proves your identity easily.
What is a Masked Aadhaar card? Masked Aadhaar hides the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number as “XXXX-XXXX” in the downloaded e-Aadhaar for added security, showing only the last four digits.
Enjoy using your Aadhaar card for many important services with confidence and ease in 2025!