Now NRIs and OCI cardholders are eligible to obtain an Aadhaar Card. All that they have to do is fulfil certain criteria. New Aadhaar rules have been notified. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has come up with separate forms for b under the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Amendment Regulations, 2024.
The idea is to "eliminate confusion with resident Indians". All overseas Indians holding an Indian passport are eligible for the Aadhar program. However, it is not mandatory to apply for an Aadhar ID.
Those who want to apply need a valid identity proof issued by the Government of India to make any financial transactions in India. And Aadhaar is one such identity card.
If you are an NRI looking to obtain Aadhaar for yourself or your minor children, you can apply during any visit to your home country. What do you have to do?
Firstly, visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra to undergo the registration and biometric verification process. Your valid Indian passport serves as the sole accepted proof of identity for Aadhaar enrollment. However, under India's new Aadhaar rules for NRIs, applicants born on or after October 1, 2023, must also present a birth certificate as a mandatory requirement.
Secondly, the latest amendment mandates the periodic updating of individual information on Aadhaar documents. Every 10 years, Aadhaar holders, including NRIs, are required to update their current address and other details in the centralized database. This can now be conveniently done either online through the official website or mobile app, or offline at an Aadhaar enrolment center, based on personal preference.
New Aadhaar Enrolment/Update Forms for NRIs
Form 1 and Form 3 are for applicants (both residents and non-residents) with a valid proof of address in India. Form 1 is the Aadhar enrolment/update form for those above 18 years of age while Form 3 is for enrolling children aged between 5 and 18 years.
Form 2 and Form 4 are specifically introduced for NRIs who apply for Aadhar enrolment/update with an address proof outside of India. Form 2 is applicable for NRI adults and Form 4 is for NRI children aged between 5 and 18 years.
You can also enroll children below 5 years and for this, you need to access separate forms – Form 5 (if the address is in India) and Form 6 (if the address is outside India).
Aadhaar Forms for OCI Cardholders
Earlier, OCIs were not eligible for an Aadhaar Card. As per new rules, a minimum 182 days of stay in India in a calendar year is compulsory for OCI cardholders to apply for an Aadhaar Card.
Applicants above 18 years, among OCI cardholders, should use Form 7 for Aadhaar enrolment. Form 8 is for OCI cardholders under 18 years. Their application without a valid email ID will be rejected.
Updating email information:
During the enrollment process, it's crucial to provide your email address. It's important to note that UIDAI does not support international phone numbers. Therefore, if you provide a non-Indian phone number, you won't receive any SMS/text notifications regarding your Aadhaar.
