Aadhaar Card Guide: How to Apply, Update, Download and Keep It Safe

Aadhaar is a 12-digit identity number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It is linked to your fingerprints, iris scan and photo, and it is used for bank KYC, SIM cards, subsidies and many government services. This guide covers how to get one, how to correct it, how to download it and how to keep it safe.

The key points

• Getting a new Aadhaar is free. Updates at a centre have a fee, listed below.
• Aadhaar is open to residents of India of any age, including newborns.
• Your mobile number must be linked to Aadhaar to use most online services, because OTPs go to it.
• Document updates on the myAadhaar portal are free until 14 June 2027.
• UIDAI says Aadhaar is proof of identity, but not proof of citizenship or date of birth.

How to apply for a new Aadhaar

1. Find an enrolment centre on the official UIDAI website (“Locate an Enrolment Centre”) and, if possible, book an appointment.
2. Carry your original documents: one proof of identity and one proof of address. Common examples are a passport, voter ID, ration card, driving licence, bank passbook with photo, or an electricity bill for address. A birth certificate or school record can work for proof of date of birth.
3. Fill in the enrolment form, and give your fingerprints, iris scan and photo. Children below 5 do not give fingerprints or iris scans.
4. Collect the acknowledgement slip. It has your enrolment number, which you use to track the status.
5. Your Aadhaar is usually generated within a few weeks. You can download it online and a card arrives by post.

Aadhaar for children (Baal Aadhaar)

• For a child below 5, a parent takes the child with their own Aadhaar and the child’s birth certificate (or hospital discharge papers). No biometrics are taken, and the card is blue.
• Biometrics must be updated at age 5 and again at age 15. These two updates are free.
• An Aadhaar that is not updated may stop working for some services, so do not skip these.

UIDAI fees (valid from 1 October 2025)

Service	Fee
New enrolment	Free
Update name, address, date of birth, gender, mobile or email at a centre	₹75
Biometric update (fingerprints, iris, photo), with demographic update free if done together	₹125
Mandatory biometric update for children aged 5 to 7 and 15 to 17	Free
Document update at a centre	₹75
Document update on the myAadhaar portal	Free until 14 June 2027
Visit by an operator at home, first person (plus the update fee)	₹700 (₹350 for each extra person)

Fees are set by UIDAI and can change. Pay only at the counter and ask for a receipt. A relaxation for children aged 7 to 15 was valid until 30 September 2026, so ask the centre what applies now.

How to update your Aadhaar

What you want to change	Where
Address	Online on myAadhaar (needs your linked mobile number and a valid address proof), or at a centre
Name, date of birth, gender	Usually online with documents or at a centre. UIDAI limits how many times these can be changed
Mobile number or email	At an enrolment centre
Fingerprints, iris, photo	At an enrolment centre only

1. Open myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and log in with your Aadhaar number and an OTP.
2. Choose the update you need, such as “Update Aadhaar” and then “Address” or “Document update”.
3. Check the details, upload clear scans of the supporting document and submit.
4. Note the URN (update request number). Use it to track the status on the same site.

Always use the same spelling as your supporting documents. Mismatched names are the most common reason for rejection. If your mobile number is not linked, you must first visit a centre to link it.

How to download e-Aadhaar

1. Go to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and choose “Download Aadhaar”.
2. Enter your Aadhaar number, Virtual ID or enrolment ID, then the OTP sent to your linked mobile.
3. Download the PDF. The password is the first four letters of your name in capitals followed by your year of birth, for example RAJE1990.

The e-Aadhaar is valid like the paper card. If you are asked to share Aadhaar, you can choose the masked Aadhaar option, which hides the first 8 digits. You can also order a PVC Aadhaar card on the same site for a small fee.

Keep your Aadhaar safe

• Lock your biometrics on myAadhaar when you do not need them. Unlock them temporarily when needed.
• Use a Virtual ID (VID), a 16-digit temporary number, instead of your Aadhaar number where it is accepted.
• Never share OTPs. UIDAI staff never ask for them on phone.
• Avoid photocopying Aadhaar for every small service. Use masked Aadhaar.
• Download only from the official UIDAI website. Avoid download websites and cyber cafes that ask for your details.
• Check your authentication history on myAadhaar to see where your Aadhaar was used.

Link Aadhaar with other services

Many people must link Aadhaar with their PAN. Read how in our PAN card guide. Aadhaar is also used to create your Ayushman card.

Help and complaints

UIDAI toll-free helpline: 1947. Email: help@uidai.gov.in. You can also file a complaint on the UIDAI website. Keep your enrolment number or URN ready.

Sources

• UIDAI: official website
• UIDAI office memorandum: free document update on myAadhaar until 14 June 2027
• Business Today: UIDAI service fees from October 2025

Last checked: 27 October 2026. UIDAI rules and fees can change, so confirm the latest details on uidai.gov.in before you act. This guide is general information.