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How to download e-Aadhaar or order a PVC Aadhaar card

e-Aadhaar is a free, password-protected PDF you download from the myAadhaar portal with an OTP on your Aadhaar-registered mobile. The password is the first 4 letters of your name in capitals followed by your year of birth. A PVC card costs Rs 75 and comes by Speed Post, and a lost Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID can be retrieved online, on 1947, or at an Aadhaar centre.

Fee
e-Aadhaar free; PVC card Rs 75; print at a centre Rs 30
Time
e-Aadhaar instant; PVC card handed to India Post within 5 working days
How
Online; in person if no mobile is registered

Checked against official sources on . See the 9 sources.

Quick answer

Go to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in, choose "Download Aadhaar", enter your Aadhaar number (or Enrolment ID or Virtual ID) and the captcha, click "Send OTP", and enter the OTP that comes to your Aadhaar-registered mobile. The PDF that downloads is your e-Aadhaar. Open it with the first 4 letters of your name in capitals plus your year of birth, for example SURE1990. It is free and, under the Aadhaar Act, as valid as the printed letter.

Who can apply

  • e-Aadhaar and masked Aadhaar: anyone whose Aadhaar number has been generated and who has a mobile number registered in Aadhaar. The OTP goes only to that number.
  • PVC card: any Aadhaar holder, even without a registered mobile. You can receive the OTP on any mobile number.
  • Lost number or Enrolment ID: anyone who has enrolled. If you have no registered mobile or email, the phone and in-person routes below still work.

Documents you need

No documents. Keep one of these ready:

  • your 12 digit Aadhaar number, or
  • your 16 digit Virtual ID (VID), or
  • your 28 digit Enrolment ID (EID) from the acknowledgement slip: the 14 digit enrolment number followed by the date and time of enrolment (yyyy/mm/dd hh:mm:ss).

For the "Print Aadhaar" service at a centre you need only yourself, because you are identified by fingerprint or iris.

Steps

Online

Download e-Aadhaar

  1. Open the myAadhaar portal and click the "Download Aadhaar" tile. You do not need to log in first.
  2. Select "Aadhaar Number", "Enrolment ID Number" or "Virtual ID Number" and type the number.
  3. Enter the captcha and click "Send OTP".
  4. Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile and download the PDF.
  5. Open the PDF with the password (see below).

You can also download the e-Aadhaar inside the Aadhaar app after registering in it with your Aadhaar number, SIM verification, face authentication and a 6 digit PIN.

The e-Aadhaar password

First 4 letters of your name as in Aadhaar, in CAPITALS, followed by your year of birth (YYYY).

Name in AadhaarYear of birthPassword
SURESH KUMAR1990SURE1990
SAI KUMAR1990SAIK1990
P. KUMAR1990P.KU1990
RIA1990RIA1990

A space is skipped, a full stop is counted, and a name shorter than 4 letters is used as it is.

Masked Aadhaar

A masked Aadhaar shows only the last 4 digits of your number; the first 8 are replaced by "xxxx-xxxx". On the portal home page it is a separate tile, "Download Masked Aadhaar", under "Keep Aadhaar Secure". It also needs the mobile OTP and is free. Use it where someone needs to see your identity but has no need for the full number.

Order an Aadhaar PVC card

  1. On the portal choose "Order Aadhaar PVC Card".
  2. Enter your 12 digit Aadhaar number, 16 digit VID or 28 digit Enrolment ID, and the security code.
  3. Click "Request OTP" and enter the OTP from your registered mobile. If you have no registered mobile, tick the box for a non-registered mobile number and enter any number to receive the OTP. In that case no preview of the card is shown.
  4. Click "Make payment" and pay Rs 75 by card, net banking or UPI.
  5. Download the receipt. It carries a 14 digit Service Request Number (SRN), also sent by SMS.

The card is printed with the details in the Aadhaar database and posted to the address in Aadhaar. If any detail is wrong, update Aadhaar first and order the card after the update succeeds.

Retrieve a lost Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID

  1. On the portal open "Retrieve Aadhaar number/EID/SID".
  2. Select whether you want the Aadhaar Number or the Enrolment ID.
  3. Enter your name as per Aadhaar, date of birth, and the mobile number or email linked with Aadhaar, then the captcha.
  4. Click "Send OTP" and enter it. The number is sent to you by SMS. This is free.

In person

  1. Print Aadhaar at a centre. Visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre or Aadhaar Seva Kendra and ask for the "Print Aadhaar" service. Give your Aadhaar number or EID. If you have neither, give your name, gender and district or PIN code, and further details such as year of birth if more than one record matches.
  2. Authenticate with one fingerprint or one iris.
  3. The operator prints your e-Aadhaar. The charge is Rs 30.

By phone (free). Call 1947. Speak to an executive, give your details, and you will be told your EID if a match is found. Then call 1947 again, choose your language, press 1 (request status) and 2 (Aadhaar enrolment status), and enter the EID, your date of birth and PIN code. The IVRS reads out the Aadhaar number.

Fees

ServiceFee
Download e-AadhaarFree
Download masked AadhaarFree
Generate or retrieve Virtual IDFree
Retrieve lost Aadhaar number or EID (online or on 1947)Free
Aadhaar PVC card, including GST and Speed PostRs 75
Print Aadhaar at an enrolment centreRs 30

How long it takes

The e-Aadhaar downloads immediately after the OTP. For a PVC card, UIDAI hands the printed card to the Department of Posts within 5 working days, not counting the day of the request. It then travels by Speed Post under India Post's normal delivery norms.

How to check status

  • PVC card: on the portal choose "Check Aadhaar PVC Card Order Status" and enter the SRN. Once the card is dispatched you get an SMS with the AWB (airway bill) number, which you can track on the India Post website.
  • New enrolment not yet generated: choose "Check Enrolment / Update Status" and enter the 14 digit enrolment number from your slip. You can download the e-Aadhaar only after the status shows the Aadhaar has been generated.

Common problems

  • OTP not received. The OTP goes only to the mobile number recorded in Aadhaar. Check which number that is with "Check Email / Mobile Link". If the number is lost or was never given, register a new one at an Aadhaar centre; until then use the PVC card order or the Print Aadhaar service.
  • Password not accepted. Use the name exactly as printed on Aadhaar, not the name you normally use, in capital letters, and the 4 digit year of birth. Initials and full stops count as characters.
  • PDF shows a question mark on the signature. UIDAI recommends opening the file in the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader on Windows or macOS. If the warning stays, add the signing certificate to your trusted identities as explained on Adobe's help page.
  • PVC card posted to an old address. The card always goes to the address in the Aadhaar database. Update the address first.
  • Paid for a PVC card but got no SRN. Keep the payment reference and contact 1947 or help@uidai.gov.in.
  • Do not use look-alike sites. Download only from myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in or the official Aadhaar app. A print shop cannot give you anything the portal does not give you for free.

FAQ

What is the password to open e-Aadhaar?

The first 4 letters of your name in capitals followed by your year of birth. For SURESH KUMAR born in 1990 it is SURE1990.

Can I download Aadhaar without the registered mobile number?

Not the e-Aadhaar; its OTP goes only to the registered number. Without it you can order a PVC card using any mobile number, or get a printout at an Aadhaar centre for Rs 30 after fingerprint or iris authentication.

Is e-Aadhaar valid as an original Aadhaar card?

Yes. UIDAI states that the Aadhaar letter, e-Aadhaar, Aadhaar PVC card and the Aadhaar app are all equally valid and that you may use any of them.

What is a masked Aadhaar and where is it accepted?

It is an e-Aadhaar with the first 8 digits hidden. It is digitally signed like the regular one. Whether a particular office accepts it depends on whether that office needs your full number.

How much does the Aadhaar PVC card cost?

Rs 75, which includes GST and Speed Post. It is ordered online from UIDAI. It has a secure QR code, micro text, a ghost image, a guilloche pattern and an embossed Aadhaar logo.

I lost my Aadhaar card. Do I need to apply again?

No. Never re-enrol. Your number is permanent. Retrieve it online or on 1947, then download the e-Aadhaar or order a PVC card.

Can I download Aadhaar with only my name and date of birth?

Not directly. Use "Retrieve Aadhaar number/EID/SID" with your name, date of birth and registered mobile or email to get the number by SMS, then download with that number.

What is a Virtual ID and can I use it to download?

A VID is a 16 digit temporary number mapped to your Aadhaar that you can use instead of the Aadhaar number. Generate it on the portal, or SMS GVID followed by a space and the last 4 digits of your Aadhaar to 1947 from the registered mobile. The download page accepts it.

How do I download my child's Aadhaar?

The same way, using the child's Aadhaar number or EID. The OTP goes to the mobile number registered in the child's Aadhaar, so use the number that was given when the child was enrolled.

Sources

Every fee, time limit, form and address above was read on these official pages on 12 October 2026.

  1. myAadhaar portal, eAadhaar Download Supports Download by Aadhaar Number, Enrolment ID Number, Virtual ID Number or SID; captcha and Send OTP; password rule with examples; Adobe Reader and signature validation note
  2. myAadhaar portal, home page Supports Tiles and labels (Download Aadhaar, Download Masked Aadhaar, Order Aadhaar PVC Card with Rs 75 fee, Check Aadhaar PVC Card Order Status, Generate / Retrieve Virtual ID); which services need mobile OTP; helpline 1947 and help@uidai.gov.in
  3. myAadhaar portal, Retrieve Aadhaar number/EID/SID Supports Fields asked (name as per Aadhaar, date of birth, mobile number or email, captcha, Send OTP)
  4. myAadhaar portal, Check Enrolment or Update Status Supports 14 digit enrolment number format; PVC card steps for a logged-in user; PVC charge Rs 75 inclusive of GST and Speed Post
  5. UIDAI, FAQ, Aadhaar Online Services Supports What e-Aadhaar is and its validity; three ways to download; masked Aadhaar definition; password; VID by SMS to 1947; PVC card price, security features, 5 working day handover, Speed Post, SRN and AWB, ordering with a non-registered mobile
  6. UIDAI, FAQ, Enrolment and Update (Lost/Forgotten Aadhaar) Supports Retrieving a lost Aadhaar number or EID online, on 1947 and at a centre; Print Aadhaar service at Rs 30 with biometric authentication; 28 digit EID format; all forms of Aadhaar equally valid
  7. UIDAI, FAQ, Your Aadhaar (myAadhaar Portal) Supports Login by Aadhaar number and OTP; services usable without a registered mobile
  8. UIDAI, FAQ, Aadhaar App Supports e-Aadhaar download is available in the Aadhaar app; registration steps; QR codes on PVC cards and e-Aadhaar keep working
  9. UIDAI, My Aadhaar Supports Download Aadhaar free; PVC card Rs 75; masked Aadhaar and VID free

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