How UAE-based NRIs can apply for an Aadhaar card in India

Dubai: For many UAE-based NRIs (non-residential Indians), having an Aadhaar card is essential to access banking services in India, register a mobile number, and use various government services. More recently, CBSE schools in the UAE have also started requiring students to provide an Aadhaar card in order to generate an Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) ID. This unique ID links to student enrolment and allows their academic journey to be tracked from pre-primary through higher education.

At present, the CBSE has made Aadhaar mandatory only for students who will be appearing for board exams from 2026 onwards. NRIs, whether minors or adults, are eligible to apply for an Aadhaar card as long as they hold a valid Indian passport.

According to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the application can only be completed in person at an enrolment centre in India, where documents must be submitted and biometrics captured. You can prepare your paperwork in advance before visiting the centre. Here’s a step-by-step look at the process.

The Aadhaar card is linked to a unique 12-digit identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to residents of India. It is generated once the verification process set out by the authority is completed.

Any individual, regardless of age or gender, who is a resident of India can voluntarily enrol for an Aadhaar card. Aadhaar enrolment is free but certain services, like printing a physical card, may have a fee.

An individual only needs to enrol once. Through a process of demographic and biometric de-duplication, each person is assigned only one Aadhaar number, ensuring its uniqueness.

Yes, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can also apply for an Aadhaar card if they hold a valid Indian passport. To do this, you must visit an Aadhaar enrolment centre in India. At the centre, you will need to:

It is important to note that you must have an active mobile number issued in India to complete the process. This is because the Aadhaar system does not support international numbers, and all updates on the status of your application will be sent to your registered Indian mobile number.

Step 1: Visit an Aadhaar enrolment centre

NRIs who wish to apply for an Aadhaar card must visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra (enrolment centre) in India. You can either book an appointment online though the UIDAI website in advance or walk in to the nearest centre.

At the centre, you will need to submit the enrolment request form along with the required supporting documents.

Step 2: Provide your details and documents

During the enrolment process, the operator will capture the following information:

For NRIs, the rule that residents must have lived in India for at least 182 days does not apply. If you would like your Aadhaar card to show an address different from the one in your passport, you may submit any valid proof of address document that is accepted for Indian residents.

Step 3: Submit the NRI enrolment form

The Aadhaar enrolment form for NRIs is different from the standard resident form. Make sure you ask the officer at the centre for the correct NRI-specific form.

Step 4: Acknowledgement slip

Once the enrolment process is complete, you will be given an acknowledgement slip along with details of any applicable charges. This slip allows you to track the status of your Aadhaar card application.

 For children aged five to 18, Aadhaar enrolment must be done in India in the presence of a parent or legal guardian. The parent or guardian must submit the NRI enrolment form with supporting documents, including the child’s valid Indian passport as proof of identity.

During the process, the operator records the child’s demographic details such as name, date of birth, gender, address and email, with the option to add a mobile number.

The Aadhaar number of a parent or guardian is also required, and at least one must authenticate and sign the form on the child’s behalf.

Biometric data for this age group is limited to a photograph, while fingerprints and iris scans are only taken after the age of 18. Once completed, all documents are returned along with an acknowledgement slip to track the application.

Enrolment is free of charge, and the 182-day residency requirement does not apply to NRIs.

 In most cases, your valid Indian passport will be sufficient as proof of identity when applying for an Aadhaar card. However, there may be situations where additional documents are required.

If the residential address on your passport is outdated or incorrect, you can submit an alternative proof of address. Acceptable documents include utility bills (water or electricity), property tax receipts, or other government-recognised address proofs.

You can download the Aadhaar enrolment and update forms, as well as check the complete list of supporting documents required for NRIs, from the official UIDAI website uidai.gov.in/images/commdoc/List_of_Supporting_Document_for_Aadhaar_Enrolment_and_Update.pdf (List of Supporting Documents for Aadhaar Enrolment and Update)

To find the nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre in India, use the UIDAI map portal. Simply enter your city, location, or PIN code to get the details – bhuvan-app3.nrsc.gov.in/aadhaar/ (Locate Aadhaar Seva Kendra)

After completing the enrolment process, you can check the status of your Aadhaar card by entering the 14-digit Enrolment ID (EID) printed on your acknowledgement slip. This can be done through the official UIDAI website under the ‘Check Aadhaar Status’ service - https://resident.uidai.gov.in/check-aadhaar

The generation of Aadhaar may take up to 90 days from the date of enrolment. Once it is issued, the Aadhaar letter will be sent by ordinary post to the registered address of the Aadhaar holder.