Aadhaar
How to Download Aadhaar Card Online (e-Aadhaar)
e-Aadhaar is the digitally signed PDF of your Aadhaar letter. UIDAI treats it as a valid proof of identity and address, so you do not need the plastic card for most KYC, exam forms, or bank work. Download is free. The only requirement is the mobile number registered on that Aadhaar.
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Aadhaar
Download Aadhaar Card
- 1
Open the download page
myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/genricDownloadAadhaar/en
- 2
Enter Aadhaar or VID
Type the 12-digit number or 16-digit Virtual ID, then the captcha.
- 3
Confirm the OTP
The code arrives only on the mobile already linked to Aadhaar.
- 4
Download the PDF
Pick the full letter or a masked copy that hides the first 8 digits.
Remember
- Cost
- Free
- OTP goes to
- Registered mobile
- Accepted as
- ID and address proof
PDF password
First 4 letters of the name in CAPITALS, then the year of birth.
Anita Devi, born 1992 → ANIT1992
What you need before you start
- Your 12-digit Aadhaar number, or the 16-digit Virtual ID (VID)
- The mobile number currently registered on that Aadhaar
- The phone itself, because UIDAI sends a one-time password
Which copy you actually need
Most people only need the PDF. A printed colour copy of e-Aadhaar is accepted in the same way as the letter UIDAI posted when you enrolled. Order a PVC card only if a particular office has asked for the plastic card.
| You need | What to download |
|---|---|
| A form, bank KYC, or exam upload | Full e-Aadhaar PDF |
| A copy where the first 8 digits should stay hidden | Masked e-Aadhaar |
| To show Aadhaar in person, without a printout | mAadhaar app |
| A plastic card delivered by post | PVC Aadhaar ordered on myAadhaar |
Download e-Aadhaar on myAadhaar
Use only myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in. Sites that charge a fee to “download Aadhaar” are not UIDAI. The official download is free.
- 1
Open myAadhaar
Open https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/genricDownloadAadhaar/en. Enter your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID. This page downloads the PDF directly. You do not start from the myAadhaar home page.
- 2
Enter your Aadhaar or VID
Type the 12-digit Aadhaar number. If you would rather not type the Aadhaar number on a shared computer, use the 16-digit Virtual ID instead. Fill in the captcha exactly as shown.
- 3
Verify the OTP
UIDAI sends the OTP to the mobile number already on your Aadhaar. Enter it on the site. The OTP expires quickly, and several wrong attempts can lock the request for a while.
- 4
Choose full or masked, then download
Masked Aadhaar shows only the last four digits of the Aadhaar number. Full e-Aadhaar shows the complete number. Download the PDF and keep a copy in your phone or DigiLocker.
Right after a fresh enrolment, Aadhaar may not be generated yet. On myAadhaar, use the enrolment number and the date and time printed on your acknowledgement slip to check the status. Download e-Aadhaar only after the Aadhaar number is allotted.
Password to open the PDF
The file is locked. The password is the first four letters of your name in CAPITAL letters, as printed on Aadhaar, followed by your year of birth. Skip spaces. Do not include “Mr”, “Mrs”, or “S/O”.
Example: the name on Aadhaar is Anita Devi and the year of birth is 1992. The password is ANIT1992. If the name has fewer than four letters, use the whole name. A name printed as OM with year of birth 1988 uses OM1988.
If the file still does not open, look again at the name line on the Aadhaar letter, not the name you use in daily life. Initials are easy to misread: use the letters in the order UIDAI printed them.
mAadhaar app and DigiLocker
The mAadhaar app is UIDAI’s official phone app. Install it from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, not from a link in a message. Log in with Aadhaar and OTP. After that you can show the profile offline and save the PDF.
DigiLocker can also pull the Aadhaar letter as an issued document. That is useful when a recruitment form asks you to fetch Aadhaar from DigiLocker instead of uploading a scan. The steps are in the DigiLocker guide linked below.
If the OTP does not come
- Confirm the mobile number on Aadhaar. OTP is sent only to that number, not to a new SIM you started using later.
- Wait a minute and request the OTP once more. Check spam and blocked-message settings.
- A full inbox, DND, or a switched-off phone will block the SMS. Free a little space and try again.
- If the registered mobile is lost, switched off, or belongs to someone else, you cannot finish the download online. Update the mobile number at an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre first. The update guide below explains that visit.
- Do not hand the OTP to a cyber café operator you do not trust, and do not read it out on a phone call. UIDAI staff will not call you to ask for it.
e-Aadhaar download is free. Anyone who asks for money, a processing charge, or your OTP on WhatsApp is running a scam. Pay a fee only on myAadhaar itself, and only if you are ordering a PVC card or submitting a paid update.
Ordering a PVC Aadhaar card
On myAadhaar, open the option to order a PVC Aadhaar card. You will confirm the address, pay the fee shown on the payment page, and get a tracking option once India Post picks it up. The fee is displayed before you pay and can change, so do not rely on an old amount you saw in a video.
You do not need this card for the e-Aadhaar PDF to be valid. Order it only when you want the plastic version in hand.
Frequently asked questions
Is e-Aadhaar valid, or do I need the original card?
e-Aadhaar is a valid electronic copy of Aadhaar. A colour print of the PDF is normally accepted as proof of identity and address. Carry the plastic card only if the office you are visiting has specifically asked for it.
What is the password of the Aadhaar PDF?
The first four letters of your name in capital letters, as printed on Aadhaar, plus the year of birth. Anita Devi, born in 1992, uses ANIT1992. If the name is shorter than four letters, use the full name and then the year.
Can I download Aadhaar without a registered mobile number?
No. UIDAI sends an OTP to the mobile number already stored on the Aadhaar. If that number is not yours anymore, update it at an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre and download e-Aadhaar after the new number is active.
What is masked Aadhaar?
Masked e-Aadhaar hides the first eight digits and shows only the last four. Use it when the organisation does not need the full Aadhaar number. The PDF password is the same as for the full letter.
How much does it cost to download Aadhaar?
Downloading e-Aadhaar is free. A fee applies only if you order a PVC card or submit certain update requests, and that amount is shown on the official payment page.
Sarkari Naukari is an independent information portal. It is not affiliated with UIDAI, the Election Commission of India, the Income Tax Department, DigiLocker, EPFO, the transport department, or any other government body. Button names, fees, and timelines change. Complete every step only on the official website linked in the guide. Never share an OTP, Aadhaar number, PAN, or UAN with a caller, WhatsApp message, or unofficial website.