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Documents Required for Aadhaar Card
To enrol or update Aadhaar, you submit documents proving up to four things: your identity, your address, your date of birth, and, for some people, your relationship to a family member. UIDAI accepts a wide range for each, so most residents already hold something valid. The golden rules: documents must be original (they are scanned and handed straight back), must be in your own name, and the details across them must match. A single document can sometimes cover more than one category a passport, for instance, proves identity, address, and date of birth at once. UIDAI revised and expanded these lists in 2026, so always check the latest official list.
Table of Content
Proof of Identity (PoI) Documents List
A Proof of Identity must carry your name and photograph. Commonly accepted ones include:
- Indian passport.
- PAN card.
- Voter ID (EPIC).
- Driving licence note this counts only as identity, not address or date of birth. • Government or PSU photo ID card, pensioner photo card, or NREGA job card. Any one valid PoI is enough. Because your name is copied into Aadhaar exactly as it appears here, make sure the spelling on your chosen document is the one you want on your card.
Proof of Address (PoA) Documents List
A Proof of Address shows where you live, and the card is posted there, so it matters. Accepted documents include:
- Passport, voter ID, or driving licence.
- Bank or post office passbook or statement.
- Ration card.
- A recent electricity, water, telephone, or gas bill (generally within the last three months).
- For rural areas, an address certificate with photo from an MP, MLA, Gazetted Officer, Tehsildar, or Village Panchayat head.
Utility bills must be recent and in your name. If yours is in a family member’s name, you may need a relationship document, covered next.
Proof of Relationship (PoR) Documents List
A Proof of Relationship links you to a Head of Family when you do not have your own identity or address proof, and it must show both your name and the family head’s. Typical PoR documents include a birth certificate, a PDS or ration card listing the family, a government family entitlement document, a marriage certificate, or a pension or government records document naming the relationship. This route is how a homemaker, child, or dependent enrols on the strength of a family member’s papers. The Head of Family must already have a valid Aadhaar, and for a child both parents’ Aadhaar numbers are typically required.
Documents for Children’s Aadhaar
For a child under five (Bal Aadhaar), no biometrics are taken only a photo so documents do the verifying. You need the child’s birth certificate as proof of identity and date of birth, plus at least one parent’s Aadhaar, with that parent’s address serving as the child’s. A Proof of Relationship linking child and parent is required, which the birth certificate usually satisfies. A parent gives consent and authenticates on the child’s behalf. The same documents broadly apply for ages five to eighteen, when fingerprints and iris are also captured at the mandatory updates.
Documents for NRI Aadhaar
Non-Resident Indians can enrol, and here a valid Indian passport is mandatory as Proof of Identity there is no substitute. The 182-day residency rule does not apply to NRIs. For address, an Indian address proof is needed, since the Aadhaar is delivered within India; the passport can also serve as PoA where it carries the address. For an NRI child, the child’s own valid Indian passport is the mandatory PoI. Foreign nationals, OCI cardholders, and long-term visa holders who meet the residency conditions follow a related but separate document set, with validity tied to their visa or status.
What If You Don’t Have Standard Documents
Lacking the usual papers does not shut you out. UIDAI provides two routes. Under Head of Family (HoF) enrolment, a family member who already has Aadhaar introduces you using a relationship document. Under the Introducer system, a UIDAI-authorised introducer often a government official or community worker vouches for your identity and address at the centre. The Introducer route is offered at limited centres, so call 1947 to find one. For date of birth specifically, a self-declaration is accepted where no proof exists. These routes exist precisely so that those without formal records can still get an Aadhaar.
Document categories at a glance:
| Category | Examples (any one) |
| Proof of Identity | Passport, PAN, voter ID, driving licence, govt photo ID |
| Proof of Address | Passport, bank passbook, ration card, recent utility bill |
| Category | Examples (any one) |
| Proof of Relationship | Birth certificate, PDS/family entitlement, marriage certificate |
| Date of Birth | Birth certificate, passport, PAN, SSLC; self-declaration if none |
| No documents | Head of Family or Introducer route |
Always check the current official list. Source: UIDAI “List of Supporting Documents,” uidai.gov.in.
Written By
Reviewed ByLast Updated: 2nd July 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which documents are accepted as proof of identity for Aadhaar?
A Proof of Identity must show your name and photo. Commonly accepted ones are a passport, PAN card, voter ID, driving licence, or a government or PSU photo ID, among others on UIDAI’s list. Any one valid document is enough. Your name is copied into Aadhaar exactly as it appears, so pick the document with the spelling you want on your card.
Which documents are accepted as proof of address?
Accepted address proofs include a passport, voter ID, driving licence, bank or post office passbook, ration card, or a recent electricity, water, telephone, or gas bill, usually within three months. In rural areas, an address certificate with photo from an MP, MLA, Gazetted Officer, Tehsildar, or Village Panchayat head also works. The document should be recent and in your name.
Can ration card be used for Aadhaar?
Yes. A ration card is accepted by UIDAI as a valid Proof of Address, and a PDS or family ration card can also serve as a Proof of Relationship when enrolling through a Head of Family. As with any document, it must be genuine, legible, and carry details that match the information you provide at enrolment.
What is proof of relationship in Aadhaar?
Proof of Relationship is a document linking you to a Head of Family when you lack your own identity or address proof. It must name both you and the family head for example a birth certificate, a PDS or family entitlement document, or a marriage certificate. It lets dependents enrol on a family member’s papers, provided that member already has a valid Aadhaar.
Are foreign documents accepted for NRI Aadhaar?
For an NRI, a valid Indian passport is mandatory as Proof of Identity and cannot be replaced by a foreign document. An Indian address proof is also needed, as the Aadhaar is delivered within India. Foreign nationals, OCI cardholders, and long-term visa holders follow a separate document set, with their passport and visa or status documents, subject to residency conditions.
Can I use driving licence for Aadhaar?
Yes, but only as Proof of Identity. Under UIDAI’s revised 2026 list, a driving licence is accepted to prove identity, not as proof of address, date of birth, or relationship. So you would pair it with a separate address proof, such as a utility bill or bank passbook, to complete your enrolment or update. Ensure the name matches your other documents.
What if I don't have address proof for Aadhaar?
You can still enrol. If a family member has Aadhaar, use the Head of Family route with a relationship document, taking their address. Otherwise, the Introducer system lets a UIDAI-
authorised person vouch for your identity and address; this is available at limited centres, so call 1947 to find one. These routes are designed for people without standard documents.
How many documents required for Aadhaar enrollment?
Usually one valid document per applicable category: one Proof of Identity and one Proof of Address as a minimum, plus a date-of-birth proof, and a Proof of Relationship if enrolling through a Head of Family. A single strong document like a passport can cover several categories at once. Children need a birth certificate and a parent’s Aadhaar. Bring originals, which are returned after scanning.
