You can download your e-Aadhaar card free of charge from UIDAI's myAadhaar portal (myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in) or from the official Aadhaar App. Enter your Aadhaar number, Enrolment ID or Virtual ID, verify the OTP sent to your registered mobile, and the password-protected PDF saves to your device. It is as valid as the Aadhaar letter you received by post. Whether you search for "download Aadhar card", "e UIDAI card download" or "Aadhaar card e download", this is the same official process.
Most of the calls we get about Aadhaar are not about Aadhaar itself. They come up in the middle of something else: a PAN application, a GST or Udyam registration, a bank KYC or an income-tax login. Having a clean e-Aadhaar PDF ready saves a surprising amount of back and forth.
What is e-Aadhaar?
e-Aadhaar is the electronic copy of your Aadhaar letter, issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It carries your photo, name, date of birth, gender and address, along with the date of Aadhaar generation and the date of download. The file is digitally signed by UIDAI.
UIDAI's own page on Aadhaar states that all forms of Aadhaar (the letter, e-Aadhaar, the PVC card and the Aadhaar App) are equally valid. You do not need a printout from an Aadhaar centre.
Which details can you use to download e-Aadhaar?
You need one of three numbers and access to the mobile linked to your Aadhaar.
| Download option | What you enter | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar number | 12-digit Aadhaar number | Anyone who already has Aadhaar |
| Enrolment ID (EID) | 28-digit number on the enrolment slip (14-digit enrolment number plus date and time) | New enrolments where the letter has not arrived |
| Virtual ID (VID) | 16-digit VID generated on myAadhaar | People who prefer not to type the Aadhaar number |
| Aadhaar App | Aadhaar number, linked SIM and face authentication at setup | Downloading on your own phone, up to five family profiles |
If you have lost both the Aadhaar number and the EID, use "Retrieve Lost UID" on myAadhaar (registered mobile required) or call the UIDAI helpline 1947.
How do you download e-Aadhaar from the myAadhaar portal?
- Go to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and select Download Aadhaar.
- Choose Aadhaar number, Enrolment ID or VID, and type the number.
- Enter the captcha and click Send OTP.
- Type the OTP received on your registered mobile.
- Tick Do you want a masked Aadhaar? if you want only the last four digits shown.
- Click Verify and Download. The PDF saves in your downloads folder.
The download does not need a login or a fee. Use your own phone or computer. UIDAI has specifically asked people not to download e-Aadhaar on a cyber cafe or kiosk computer, and to delete every copy if they had to.
What is the e-Aadhaar PDF password?
The password is eight characters: the first four letters of your name in capital letters followed by your year of birth (YYYY). Use the name exactly as it is printed on Aadhaar.
- Rahul Kumar, born 1990: RAHU1990
- S. Priya, born 1985: SPRI1985 (the initial counts as a letter, the dot and space do not)
Should you choose masked Aadhaar?
Masked Aadhaar replaces the first eight digits with "XXXX-XXXX" and shows only the last four. UIDAI encourages it wherever the full number is not needed. Banks, the income-tax portal and GST officers may still need the full number for KYC or authentication, so keep both versions. Download each separately; the portal does not convert one into the other.
Can you download e-Aadhaar without a registered mobile number?
Not online. Every download route (portal, Aadhaar App, DigiLocker) needs an OTP or authentication tied to your registered mobile. If you never linked a mobile, or the old number is no longer in use:
- Visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or enrolment centre to update your mobile number with biometric verification, or
- Update it in the Aadhaar App, which UIDAI reports has handled lakhs of mobile number updates since its launch in January 2026.
Once the new number is active in UIDAI's records, download as usual. A PVC card can be ordered from a non-registered mobile, but that is a physical card sent by post, not an instant PDF.
What about the Aadhaar App, mAadhaar and DigiLocker?
UIDAI's newer Aadhaar App (Android and iOS) lets you download e-Aadhaar, share selected details through a QR code, lock biometrics and see your authentication history. The older mAadhaar app is still found on many phones, but UIDAI's own pages now point to the Aadhaar App. DigiLocker also shows your Aadhaar once you sign up with your Aadhaar number and OTP, which is useful when a government department accepts DigiLocker documents directly.
Common mistakes with e-Aadhaar download
These are the patterns we see most often when clients send us documents for PAN, GST or business registrations:
- OTP never arrives. Almost always the mobile linked to Aadhaar is an old number. Check it under "Verify Email/Mobile Number" on myAadhaar before trying again.
- Wrong password. People use lower case letters, the nickname they go by, or their date of birth instead of year. Use the name exactly as printed and the four-digit year only.
- Address mismatch. The e-Aadhaar shows an old address because an update was approved after the last download. Download a fresh copy after any update; an old PDF does not change on its own.
- Name spelling different from PAN. This causes rejections in PAN-Aadhaar linking and in GST and Udyam applications. Correct Aadhaar or PAN first, then download again.
- Sending a masked copy where the full number is required. Officers usually ask for it again, which adds days to an application.
- "Signature not verified" in the PDF reader. The signature has not been validated on that device. Validate it in the reader's signature panel; the document itself is not invalid.
Getting your Aadhaar-linked filings in order
Aadhaar errors usually show up when you file something else: an income-tax return, a PAN-Aadhaar link or an MSME registration. Indian Salahkar's team, working with Chartered Accountants and other professionals, checks that your Aadhaar, PAN and bank details match before an application goes in. See our income-tax returns and compliances service or start your MSME (Udyam) registration.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download my e-Aadhaar card?
Open myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in, choose Download Aadhaar, enter your Aadhaar number, Enrolment ID or VID with the captcha, and verify the OTP sent to your registered mobile. The PDF downloads at once.
What is the password to open the e-Aadhaar PDF?
The first four letters of your name as printed on Aadhaar, in capital letters, followed by your year of birth in four digits. For example, RAHU1990 for Rahul Kumar born in 1990.
Can I download e-Aadhaar without a registered mobile number?
The online download needs an OTP on the mobile number registered with Aadhaar. If your mobile is not registered or no longer works, update it first at an Aadhaar centre or through the Aadhaar App, then download.
Is a downloaded e-Aadhaar valid as proof of identity?
Yes. UIDAI states that all forms of Aadhaar, including e-Aadhaar, the PVC card and the Aadhaar App, are equally valid. e-Aadhaar carries UIDAI's digital signature.
What is masked Aadhaar and when should I use it?
Masked Aadhaar hides the first eight digits and shows only the last four. Use it wherever the full number is not legally required, such as hotel check-ins or general identity checks.
Sources: uidai.gov.in · uidai.gov.in · pib.gov.in · pib.gov.in
General information, not professional advice. Rules change, so check the current position before acting.
