Aadhaar Download 2026 — e-Aadhaar PDF + Masked Aadhaar Guide

If you live abroad: see the NRI India Problem Solver hub for bank, property, PAN, passport and parent-emergency guides built for NRIs.

Quick answer. To download Aadhaar (e-Aadhaar) 2026: open myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in → Login with your 12-digit Aadhaar + Aadhaar OTP → click Download Aadhaar → choose Regular or Masked → save PDF. The downloaded e-Aadhaar is legally equivalent to the physical card under Section 4A of the Aadhaar Act 2016. PDF is password-protected — password = first 4 letters of your name (CAPITAL) + birth year (YYYY). Example: name “Ankit Sharma”, DOB 1992 → password is `ANKI1992`. Free, no charge. If your mobile is not linked, you can't download online — visit any Aadhaar Seva Kendra to update mobile, then retry.

1. Open myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in.
2. Click Login.
3. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number + captcha.
4. Click Send OTP — OTP arrives on your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
5. Enter OTP.
6. On the dashboard, click Download Aadhaar.
7. Choose:
   • Regular Aadhaar — full 12-digit number visible.
   • Masked Aadhaar — first 8 digits hidden (only last 4 shown).
8. Click Download.

If your Aadhaar isn't generated yet OR you don't have your Aadhaar number handy but have the EID slip (14-digit + date + time given at enrolment):

1. Open eaadhaar.uidai.gov.in.
2. Click Enrolment ID.
3. Enter EID + date + time + name + Aadhaar OTP (on linked mobile).
4. Download.

UIDAI's official mAadhaar app (Android: Google Play, iOS: App Store) keeps your Aadhaar offline:

1. Install mAadhaar.
2. Register with your Aadhaar + OTP on linked mobile.
3. The Aadhaar profile + e-Aadhaar PDF are stored locally on your phone.
4. Show e-Aadhaar at airports, hotels, banks — works offline.

The e-Aadhaar PDF is encrypted. Password is 8 characters:

• First 4 letters of name in CAPITAL (as it appears on Aadhaar).
• Birth year in YYYY format.

If your name has fewer than 4 letters, use the entire name + year (e.g., “Raj” with 2001 → `RAJ2001` — 7 chars).

You can't download e-Aadhaar online without a mobile linked. To link:

1. Visit any Aadhaar Seva Kendra (UIDAI-operated centre, free service).
2. Carry Aadhaar (any copy) + the mobile you want to link.
3. Biometric verification done on-spot.
4. Mobile linked within 10 minutes; you can download e-Aadhaar same day.

1. Verify name spelling exactly as on Aadhaar (use Update Profile to check).
2. Use CAPITAL letters for the first 4.
3. Birth YEAR = 4 digits (1992, not 92).
4. If still failing, regenerate the PDF (download fresh from portal).

If you've locked biometrics for security (via myAadhaar → Lock Biometrics), you must temporarily unlock to use e-Aadhaar at certain places. Online download still works without unlocking.

1. Check signal on the linked mobile.
2. Wait 30 seconds; click Resend OTP.
3. If repeated failures, the linked mobile may be inactive — visit Seva Kendra to update.

For aadhaar download by name, aadhaar by name and dob:

UIDAI does not allow Aadhaar lookup by name + DOB alone (privacy by design). You need at least:

1. Aadhaar number, OR
2. EID (Enrolment ID), OR
3. Virtual ID (VID — generated from your existing Aadhaar).

If you've forgotten Aadhaar number AND lost the enrolment slip, visit any Aadhaar Seva Kendra with photo ID; they retrieve your Aadhaar after biometric verification.

Order PVC at myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/orderaadhaarpvccard (Rs 50, includes India Post delivery).

Masked Aadhaar hides the first 8 digits (only last 4 visible). Useful when:

• You need to share Aadhaar copy at hotel check-in / airport / private offices.
• You don't fully trust the recipient with full Aadhaar disclosure.
• Privacy-sensitive contexts (e-commerce KYC, etc.).

Note: many government benefits/schemes still require Regular (full) Aadhaar — the masked version isn't accepted for DBT, PMJAY hospital admission, EPF claims, etc.

Yes — under Section 4A of the Aadhaar Act 2016, e-Aadhaar (downloaded PDF) and the physical card have identical legal status. Banks, airports, telecoms, government offices must accept both.

Either works. The QR code embedded in the PDF is what's machine-readable for verification.

No — they'd also need the OTP sent to your linked mobile. So it's secure as long as your mobile is in your control.

The PDF is generated on-demand from UIDAI's master database. So it always reflects the current state (after any address/photo update propagates within ~10 days).

1. Visit any Aadhaar Seva Kendra with the wrong-photo Aadhaar.
2. Submit biometric verification + a new photograph.
3. Photo update typically reflects within 30 days.

If you have an Aadhaar (i.e., you were a resident at the time of enrolment), yes — myAadhaar works internationally. The OTP needs international SMS reception.

Banks accept e-Aadhaar PDF as valid KYC for home loans:

• HDFC Home Loans — hdfc.com/housing-loans
• SBI Home Loans — homeloans.sbi
• LIC Housing Finance — lichousing.com

• Aadhaar status check 2026
• PMAY Beneficiary Status Check 2026
• Order PVC Aadhaar Card
• Fresh Aadhaar enrolment
• RTI Drafter — for stuck Aadhaar updates

• Section 4A, Aadhaar Act 2016 — legal validity of e-Aadhaar.
• UIDAI Enrolment Regulations 2016.
• UIDAI documentation — myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in user manual.

Last reviewed: 5 May 2026 — RTI Wiki editorial team.