How to Get a New Aadhaar Card: First-Time Enrolment Guide

Quick answer

You cannot complete first-time Aadhaar enrolment entirely online. Visit an authorised Aadhaar Enrolment Centre with the original accepted documents, have demographic and biometric information captured, check every field, and collect the acknowledgement slip containing your Enrolment ID (EID).

New Aadhaar enrolment is free. Start from UIDAI's Get Aadhaar page to locate a centre or book an appointment where available.

New enrolment, update, download, or PVC card?

| Need | Correct service | | --- | --- | | Never enrolled and do not have Aadhaar | New enrolment at an authorised centre | | Already have Aadhaar but a detail is wrong | Aadhaar update, not new enrolment | | Need a valid electronic copy | Download e-Aadhaar | | Want a wallet-size card delivered | Order Aadhaar PVC Card | | Lost the number or EID | Use UIDAI retrieval/help options; do not enrol again |

UIDAI says a person should enrol only once. Multiple enrolments can be rejected.

Documents to take

UIDAI groups accepted evidence into:

• Proof of Identity (PoI)
• Proof of Address (PoA)
• Proof of Date of Birth (PDB)
• Proof of Relationship (PoR), when using a Head of Family route

Bring originals from UIDAI's current list of supporting documents. The correct combination depends on age, citizenship or residency category, and whether enrolment is document-based or Head-of-Family-based.

Common documents can include a passport, voter photo ID, ration card, driving licence, or other listed government and service records, but acceptance depends on the proof category and current UIDAI list.

Step-by-step Aadhaar enrolment

1. Locate an authorised centre using UIDAI's official website.
2. Book an appointment if your chosen Aadhaar Seva Kendra supports online appointments, or follow the centre's token process.
3. Take the completed enrolment form if required and all original supporting documents.
4. The operator captures your name, date of birth or age, gender, address, photo, fingerprints, and iris data as applicable.
5. Add a mobile number and email where possible so you can receive status messages and use online services.
6. Review English and regional-language spellings, full address, date of birth, and every other field on screen.
7. Complete the required authentication and collect the acknowledgement slip.
8. Keep the EID and timestamp safe so you can track the request.

Do not leave the centre without checking the acknowledgement. A small spelling or date error can later affect PAN, bank, EPF, voter, passport, and other records.

Children and Head-of-Family enrolment

Children follow age-specific biometric and document rules. UIDAI currently notes that a birth certificate is mandatory for a child born after 1 October 2023. Parent or guardian Aadhaar and relationship evidence may be required.

Under a Head-of-Family route, the applicant and eligible Head of Family attend with accepted proof of relationship. Check the current UIDAI form because eligibility and documents depend on the applicant's category.

Track status and get the Aadhaar

Use the EID from the acknowledgement on UIDAI's Check Aadhaar Status service. UIDAI currently says generation for adults can normally take up to 180 days and may include verification; timelines can differ for children.

Once generated, you can download e-Aadhaar from MyAadhaar. UIDAI says downloaded e-Aadhaar is valid like the physical Aadhaar letter.

Common mistakes and scams

• Paying for first-time enrolment even though UIDAI says it is free
• Visiting an unauthorised operator found through an advertisement
• Enrolling again because the first request is still processing
• Leaving without the EID acknowledgement
• Failing to review regional-language spelling
• Giving a mobile number you cannot access
• Sharing OTPs or paying for guaranteed generation

If enrolment remains pending

Check status using the EID. If UIDAI shows that enrolment is still under process, follow the official instruction and contact UIDAI helpline 1947 when needed. Keep the acknowledgement ready, but do not post it publicly.

NammaGuide can help you understand the document categories and prepare for the centre visit. UIDAI alone generates Aadhaar; no private provider can guarantee approval or timing.

Official sources checked

• UIDAI Aadhaar enrolment
• UIDAI Get Aadhaar
• UIDAI enrolment and update FAQs
• UIDAI supporting documents

Official information checked on 20 July 2026. Accepted documents, forms, and processing guidance can change.