What are the documents required for Aadhaar Card Enrollment and Updates? Documents for Enrolment of Children aged 0-5 years. Documents for Enrolment of Children above 5 years and Adults.
Aadhaar card, issued by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) plays an important role in our daily lives. From receiving government benefits to opening a bank account or completing an important verification, this ID card connects you to a number of services.
When you are enrolling for a new Aadhaar or updating existing details, submitting the correct documents is very important. It’s the base of your identity record in India. Proof of Identity (POI), Proof of Address (POA), and in some cases Proof of Date of Birth (PDB) or relationship documents are required to ensure that your details are verified and securely recorded. Having the right documents ready makes the entire process faster, smoother, and free from unnecessary delays or rejections.
About Aadhaar Documentation
Before we get into the specific requirements, it’s important to understand the types of documents typically required for Aadhaar:
- Proof of Identity (PoI): Documents that verify who you are.
- Proof of Address (PoA): Documents that confirm where you live.
- Proof of Date of Birth (DoB): Documents that validate your age.
- Proof of Relationship (PoR): Documents that establish your relationship with family members (for certain enrollments).
In this article, we have provided two prominent details: One is the Documents Required for Aadhaar Card Enrollment, and the other is the Documents Required for the Update of the Aadhaar Card.
Documents Required for Aadhaar Card Enrollment
Aadhaar Card enrollment document requirements are divided into two categories.
- Category 1: Aadhaar enrollment document requirement for children up to 5 years of age
- Category 2: Aadhaar enrollment document requirement for individuals above 5 years of age
Documents Required for Aadhaar Enrollment for Children upto 5 Years
Documents for Aadhaar enrollment for individuals up to 5 years of age are divided into several categories. Check all the categories and documents associated with it below.
- Enrolment Type I: Head of the Family (HoF) based enrolment
- Enrolment Type II: Document-based Aadhaar Enrollment
- Enrollment Type III: For OCI card Holders, Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan, and Other Foreign Nationals Seeking Enrollment
Enrolment Type I: Head of the Family (HoF) based Aadhaar Enrollment
Before getting into the documents related to HoF-based Aadhaar Card enrollment, let’s first understand what is Head of Family-based enrollment.
What is Head of Family-Based Aadhaar Enrollment?
Head of Family (HoF) based Aadhaar Enrollment is a streamlined process that allows individuals to obtain an Aadhaar card through a family-centric approach. The Head of the Family, who can be a parent, legal guardian, or anyone above 18 years of age, plays a central role in this enrollment method.
Both the individual seeking Aadhaar and the HoF must be present during the enrollment, with the requirement of providing a valid Proof of Relationship (PoR) document that establishes their familial connection.
List of Head of Family-Based Aadhaar Enrollment Documents
| List of Documents | Proof of Relationship (POR) Document, containing name of child and name of HoF | Proof of Date of Birth (DoB) Document |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate issued by Authorised Authority under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 | Yes | Yes |
| Valid Indian Passport (only applicable for NRIs) | Yes | Yes |
| Document to prove legal guardianship | Yes | No |
Enrolment Type II: Document-based Aadhaar Enrollment
Before getting into the documents related to Document-based enrollment, let’s first understand what is Document-Based Enrollment.
What is Document-Based Aadhaar Enrollment?
Document-based Aadhaar Enrollment is a specialized enrollment process designed to assist children residing in shelter homes or orphanages. They can obtain Aadhaar through a unique certification method.
The key mechanism involves a Certificate issued in UIDAI Standard Certificate format, which is specifically signed by the Superintendent, Warden, Matron, or Head of the recognized shelter home or orphanage.
The process ensures that vulnerable populations who might otherwise face challenges in documentation can still access the critical identity document, thereby facilitating their inclusion in the national identification system and enabling access to various government services and benefits.
List of Document-Based Aadhaar Enrollment Documents
| List of documents | Proof of Identity (POI) | Proof of Address (POA) |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate issued on UIDAI Standard Certificate format by Superintendent/ Warden/ Matron/ Head of Institution of recognised shelter homes or orphanages (This facility is only for children of the shelter home or orphanage concerned) | Yes | Yes |
Enrollment Type III: List of Documents Applicable for OCI card Holders, Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan, and Other Foreign Nationals Seeking Enrollment
Overseas Citizens of India, Nationals of Nepal, Nationals of Bhutan, and other Foreign Nationals can also enroll for the Aadhaar Card in India. To enroll for the Aadhaar Card, they need certain documents for Proof of Identity and Proof of Address. Check the list of documents below:
| List of Documents | POI | POA document, containing name and address in India |
|---|---|---|
| Valid OCI card, along with valid foreign passport, for individuals who have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the immediately preceding 12 months | Yes | No* |
| Valid Long Term Visa (LTV) document, along with foreign passport (valid or expired), of the country of origin, issued to minorities communities of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) | Yes | No* |
| Valid visa, along with valid foreign passport issued, to other foreign nationals who have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the immediately preceding 12 months | Yes | No* |
| Passport of Nepal/Bhutan for nationals of Nepal/Bhutan. In case a passport is not available, both of the following documents are to be submitted:
(a) Valid Nepalese/ Bhutanese Citizenship Certificate (b) Limited validity Photo Identity Certificate issued by Nepalese Mission / Royal Bhutanese Mission in India for a stay of more than 182 days |
Yes | No* |
Important Points to Remember
Proof of Address and Document Conditions:
- Document Validity Conditions:
- The document must be currently valid
- The person must be entitled to the document
- Document information should be verifiable online or offline
- The issuing authority must not have declared the document invalid
Important Notes for Aadhaar Enrollment:
- Birth Certificate Requirements:
- Mandatory for Indian and NRI residents born on or after 1.10.2023
- Head of Family (HoF) Enrollment Rules:
- Mandatory for children under five years old
- Exceptions: children in shelter homes or orphanages, foreign nationals
- One parent or legal guardian can be HoF
- HoF must have a valid Aadhaar
- Both parents’ Aadhaar numbers required
- Biometric authentication by one parent is mandatory
- Name and Address Specifications:
- Child’s and HoF’s name must be on the Proof of Residence (PoR) document
- Name will be exactly as in the supporting document
- No additional name information (like first/middle/last name) will be added
- HoF’s address will be used for the child’s Aadhaar
- Special Conditions for Different Categories:
- Foreign nationals: Aadhaar valid until visa expiry
- Nepal/Bhutan nationals: Aadhaar valid for 10 years
- OCI cardholders: Aadhaar valid for 10 years
- LTV document holders: Aadhaar valid until document expiry
- Recommended Proof of Identity for Child:
- Indian passport
- Photo Identity Card/Certificate from Central/State Government
- ST/SC/OBC Certificate
- Disability Identity Card/Certificate
Documents Required for Aadhaar Enrollment For Individuals Above 5 Years
The documentation requirements are more standardized for individuals above 5 years of age and adults. Check the list of documents below:
| List of documents | POI | POA | POR | DOB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid Indian Passport | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PAN Card/e-PAN Card | Yes | No | No | No |
| Ration /PDS Photograph Card/eRation Card | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Voter Identity Card /e-Voter Identity Card | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Driving licence | Yes | No | No | No |
| Service Photo Identity Card | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Pensioner Photo Identity Card / Freedom Fighter Photo Identity Card / Pension Payment Order | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| CGHS/ ECHS/ ESIC/ Medi-Claim Card | Yes | No | No | No |
| Disability Identity Card / Certificate of Disability | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Photograph Identity Card / Certificate e.g., Bhamashah scheme, Domicile Certificate, MGNREGA/NREGS Job Card, Labour Card, etc. | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Scheduled Tribe(ST) / Scheduled Cast(SC) /Other Backward Cast (OBC) Certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mark sheet/Certificate issued by a recognized Board of Education or university | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Passbook with photograph issued by a Public Sector Bank (as categorized by RBI) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Third gender / Transgender Identity Card / Certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Certificate issued on UIDAI Standard Certificate format by: MP/ MLA/ MLC/ Municipal Councillor | No | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Gazetted Officer Group ‘A’ /EPFO Officer | No | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Tehsildar/ Gazetted Officer Group ‘B’ | No | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Gazetted Officer at NACO / State Health Department / Project Director | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Superintendent/ Head of Institution of recognised shelter homes or orphanages | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Recognised educational institution | No | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Village Panchayat Head/ President or Mukhiya/ Gaon Bura/ equivalent authority | No | Yes | No | No |
| Electricity bill (pre-paid/post-paid bill, not older than 3 months) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Water bill (not older than 3 months) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Telephone landline bill/ post-paid mobile bill/ broadband bill (not older than 3 months) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Valid sale agreement/ gift deed registered with the Registrar’s Office, or registered or unregistered rent, lease agreement, or leave and licence agreement | No | Yes | No | No |
| Gas connection bill (not older than 3 months) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Allotment letter of accommodation issued by Central Government/ State Government/ PSU / regulatory body / statutory body (not older than 1 year) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Life or medical insurance Policy (valid up to 1 year from the date of issue of the Policy) | No | Yes | No | No |
| Birth certificate | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Family entitlement document | No | No | Yes | No |
| Prisoner Induction Document (PID) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Document to prove legal guardianship | No | No | Yes | No |
Documents applicable for OCI card Holders, or LTV, Nationals of Nepal and Bhutan, and Other Foreign Nationals Seeking Enrollment
Documents applicable to Aadhaar Card enrollment for holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder, or Long Term Visa (LTV), nationals of Nepal and Bhutan, and other foreign nationals seeking enrollment are provided below:
| List of documents | POI | POA | POR | PDB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid OCI card, along with valid foreign passport, for individuals who have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the immediately preceding 12 months | Yes | No | No | No |
| Valid Long Term Visa (LTV) document, along with foreign passport (valid or expired), of the country of origin, issued to minorities communities of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Valid Passport of Nepal/Bhutan for nationals of Nepal/Bhutan. In case passport is not available, any two of the following documents having the same address may be submitted: (a) Valid Nepalese/ Bhutanese Citizenship Certificate (b) Valid Voter Identity Card issued by the Election Commission of Nepal/ Bhutan (c) Limited validity Photo Identity Certificate issued by Nepalese Mission/ Royal Bhutanese Mission in India | Yes | No | No | No |
| Valid visa, along with valid foreign passport issued, to other foreign nationals who have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the immediately preceding 12 months | Yes | No | No | No |
| Valid Registration Certificate or Residential permit issued by FRRO/FRO to the foreign national (except OCI Card holders, LTV document holders, and Nepal/Bhutan nationals) | No | Yes | No | No |
Important Points to Know
Document Validity- What You Should Know
- All documents you submit must be valid and up to date (unless clearly mentioned otherwise).
- The document must legally belong to you. You cannot use someone else’s document.
- If your document details are available online (for example, through digital verification), the Unique Identification Authority of India may verify it directly.
- If the issuing authority has declared a document invalid as proof, it cannot be used for Aadhaar.
Birth Certificate Rule
-
A Birth Certificate is mandatory for Indian residents and NRIs who are born on or after 1 October 2023.
Proof Document Requirements
- For Identity Proof (POI): The document must contain your name and photograph.
- For Address Proof (POA): The document must contain your name and full address.
- If a document is used for both POI and POA: It must contain your name, photograph, and address.
Name Guidelines
- The name printed on your Aadhaar will be exactly the same as mentioned in your supporting document.
- Extra details like father’s or guardian’s name will not be added unless required.
- All documents must be in your own name.
- You cannot use documents that are in your parents’, spouse’s, or other family member’s name (except in special HOF cases).
Head of Family (HOF) Based Enrollment
This option is used when a person does not have their own POI and POA documents.
- The Head of Family (HOF) must already have Aadhaar.
- The HOF must be present during enrollment for biometric authentication.
- The same address as the HOF’s Aadhaar will be used for the family member.
Special Rules for Foreign Nationals
- Regular foreign nationals: Aadhaar is valid only till visa validity.
- Nepal and Bhutan nationals: Aadhaar is valid for 10 years.
- OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card holders: Aadhaar is valid for 10 years.
- LTV (Long Term Visa) holders: Aadhaar is valid till LTV expiry date.
General Important Points
- Always submit the latest and valid documents (unless specifically allowed otherwise).
- Documents in a family member’s name cannot be used for another person (except under HOF enrollment).
- The address mentioned in your document will be used exactly as written in your Aadhaar.
List of Documents Required to Update/Change Details on Aadhaar
The UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) requires specific documents for updating Aadhaar card details to maintain the authenticity and accuracy of India’s national identity system.
These documents serve as reliable proof of an individual’s identity, address, date of birth, and relationships, helping prevent identity fraud and ensuring that Aadhaar remains a trustworthy form of identification.
Check the list of documents for update or change details on the Aadhaar Card below:
Remember, the provided list of documents for Update/Change details on the Aadhaar Card for individuals of any age group.
| List of documents | POI | POA | POR | PDB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid Indian Passport | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| PAN Card/e-PAN Card | Yes | No | No | No |
| Ration/PDS Photograph Card/eRation Card | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Voter Identity Card/e-Voter Identity Card | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Driving licence | Yes | No | No | No |
| Service Photo Identity Card by Government/PSU | Yes | No | No | Yes* |
| Pensioner/Freedom Fighter Photo ID Card/Pension Payment Order | Yes | No | Yes | Yes* |
| Kisan Photo Passbook | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CGHS/ECHS/ESIC/Medi-Claim Card | Yes | No | No | No |
| Disability Identity Card/Certificate | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Photo ID Card/Certificate by Government | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Marriage Certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ST/SC/OBC Certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| School Leaving/Transfer Certificate | Yes | No | No | No |
| Mark-sheet/Certificate from recognized Board/University | Yes | No | Yes | Yes* |
| Public Sector Bank Passbook with photo | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Commercial Bank/Post Office Savings Account Passbook | No | Yes | No | No |
| Bank/Credit Card Statement/Post Office Statement | No | Yes | No | No |
| Third gender/Transgender Identity Card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| Certificate by MP/MLA/MLC/Municipal Councillor | No | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Group ‘A’ Officer/EPFO Officer | No | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Tehsildar/Group ‘B’ Officer | No | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by NACO/Health Department Officer | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Shelter Home/Orphanage Head | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Educational Institution | No | Yes | No | No |
| Certificate by Village Authority | No | Yes | No | No |
| Electricity bill | No | Yes | No | No |
| Water bill | No | Yes | No | No |
| Phone/Mobile/Broadband bill | No | Yes | No | No |
| Property Tax Receipt | No | Yes | No | No |
| Sale agreement/Rent agreement | No | Yes | No | No |
| Gas connection bill | No | Yes | No | No |
| Government Accommodation Allotment letter | No | Yes | No | No |
| Life/Medical Insurance Policy | No | Yes | No | No |
| Birth certificate | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Family entitlement document | No | No | Yes | No |
| Prisoner Induction Document | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Self-declaration from Head of Family | No | No | Yes | No |
| Legal guardianship document | No | No | Yes | No |
Documents for Aadhaar Update for Exception Cases of Name, Gender, and DoB
UIDAI recognizes that there may be legitimate circumstances where residents need to update their Aadhaar details beyond the prescribed limits (twice for name changes and once each for gender and date of birth).
The exceptional cases provision ensures that individuals who have exhausted their regular update limits but still have incorrect information on their Aadhaar can seek corrections through a special process.
Check the list of documents, that can be provided in such cases:
| List of documents | POI | POA | POR | DOB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| For exception cases of name change: Gazette Notification of new name alongwith any supporting POI document of old name with Photograph (for first/full name change)/ Divorce Decree/Adoption Certificate/Marriage Certificate | Yes | No | No | No |
| For Exception cases of Gender Change: Medical Certificate from surgeon, in case individual changed gender surgically | Yes | No | No | No |
| For exception cases of DoB Change: Self Declaration as per notified format along with Birth certificate issued by Authorised Authority under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 | No | No | No | Yes |
Important Points to Know
Document Acceptance- Basic Rules
Before submitting any document for Aadhaar enrollment or update, make sure:
- The document is currently valid.
- The document legally belongs to you.
- The information in the document can be:
-
Verified online, or
-
Verified digitally by the issuing authority.
-
-
The issuing authority has not declared the document invalid for Aadhaar purposes.
If any of these conditions are not met, the document may be rejected.
Mandatory Birth Certificate Rules
- For Indian residents and NRIs born on or after 01.10.2023, a Birth Certificate is compulsory for Aadhaar enrollment.
- For children aged 0-18 years, any Date of Birth (DoB) update must be supported by a Birth Certificate issued by an authorized State authority.
Document Proof Requirements
Proof of Identity (PoI) must have:
- Your Name
- Your Photograph
Proof of Address (PoA) must have:
- Your Name
- Your Full Address
If one document is used for both PoI and PoA:
It must contain:
- Name
- Photograph
- Address
Name and Enrollment Guidelines
- Your name in Aadhaar will be printed exactly as written in your supporting document.
- Extra details like father’s or guardian’s name will not be added automatically.
- All documents (PoI, PoA, Proof of Date of Birth) must be in your own name.
- You cannot use documents belonging to other family members for your enrollment.
Head of Family (HoF) Enrollment
This method is used when a person does not have their own PoI and PoA documents.
- The Head of Family must already have a valid Aadhaar.
- The HoF must be present during enrollment for authentication.
- The address mentioned in the HoF’s Aadhaar will be used for the family member.
Special Case for Young Children
-
Children aged 0-5 years who were enrolled with names like “Baby of [Mother’s Name]” can later update to their full proper name by submitting a Birth Certificate.
Special Rules for Foreign Nationals
- Foreign nationals can enroll only at designated special centers.
- Aadhaar will be valid only until visa expiry (for regular foreign nationals).
Special validity rules:
- Nepal & Bhutan nationals: Aadhaar valid for 10 years.
- OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card holders: Aadhaar valid for 10 years.
- LTV (Long Term Visa) holders: Aadhaar valid until LTV document expiry.
Following these guidelines carefully can help ensure your Aadhaar enrollment or update request is processed smoothly without delays or rejection.