Quick answer: The simplest way to get a printed Aadhaar is to download your e-Aadhaar from the myAadhaar portal and print it at home on ordinary paper; UIDAI treats that printout as valid as the original letter. If you cannot download it, an Aadhaar centre will print a colour copy for ₹40. For a durable wallet-sized card, order the official Aadhaar PVC card online for ₹75, including GST and speed post.
Which printed Aadhaar is valid?
According to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Aadhaar comes in four forms: the Aadhaar letter sent by post, the Aadhaar PVC card, e-Aadhaar (the downloadable PDF) and the Aadhaar app. UIDAI’s FAQ says all four are equally valid and acceptable, and you can choose whichever form you prefer.
That means a home printout of your e-Aadhaar on plain A4 paper is a valid Aadhaar. You do not need to laminate it or buy a plastic card. In February 2018 UIDAI specifically said that the Aadhaar letter, a downloaded Aadhaar printed on ordinary paper and the mobile version were all valid, and warned against paying shops for plastic “smart” Aadhaar cards.
| Option | Cost | What you need | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print e-Aadhaar at home or at a print shop | Free download; printing cost only | Aadhaar number, Enrolment ID or VID, and your registered mobile for the OTP | Quick copies, masked copies to hand over |
| Download and colour print at an Aadhaar centre | ₹40 | A visit to the centre | People without a registered mobile number |
| Aadhaar PVC card ordered online | ₹75 including GST and speed post | Aadhaar number, VID or Enrolment ID; online payment | A durable card for your wallet |
Option 1: Print your e-Aadhaar at home
- Download e-Aadhaar from myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in or the Aadhaar app using your Aadhaar number, Enrolment ID or Virtual ID and an OTP. Our step-by-step guide to downloading e-Aadhaar online walks through each screen.
- Open the PDF. The password is the first four letters of your name in capitals followed by your year of birth, for example SURE1990. An earlier version of this article said the password was your PIN code; that is not the format UIDAI gives today. If the password does not work, see our e-Aadhaar password guide.
- Print it. Print the full page so that the photograph and QR code are sharp and complete. The QR code is digitally signed by UIDAI and is what a verifier scans to confirm your details.
If you are printing a copy to hand over to a hotel or a private company, consider downloading the masked Aadhaar instead. It shows only the last 4 digits of your Aadhaar number and still carries the QR code.
Option 2: Get a print at an Aadhaar centre
If your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, you cannot download e-Aadhaar online because the OTP has nowhere to go. In that case, visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or another Aadhaar centre run by a bank, post office or state government. The operator can search for your Aadhaar and give you a colour printout on A4 paper. UIDAI’s published charge for this is ₹40, including taxes.
UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendras are open all seven days of the week from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm and accept walk-ins as well as booked appointments. While you are there, you can link a mobile number so that future downloads are possible online; a separate demographic update such as a mobile number costs ₹75.
Option 3: Order the Aadhaar PVC card
The Aadhaar PVC card is a credit-card-sized plastic version of your Aadhaar issued by UIDAI itself. It carries a tamper-proof QR code, micro text, a ghost image, the issue date and a “details as on” date, a guilloche pattern and an embossed Aadhaar logo. UIDAI says it is as valid as the paper letter and e-Aadhaar.
- Go to the Order Aadhaar PVC Card service on uidai.gov.in or myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in.
- Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number, 16-digit Virtual ID or 28-digit Enrolment ID, and the security code.
- Request an OTP on your registered mobile number. If you have no registered mobile, tick the box for a non-registered mobile number and enter any number you can access; you will not see a preview of the card in that case.
- Pay ₹75 online by card, net banking or UPI.
- Download the receipt and note the 14-digit Service Request Number (SRN) sent by SMS.
UIDAI hands the printed card to India Post within 5 working days of the request. It travels by speed post to the address in your Aadhaar record, and you receive an SMS with the speed post tracking number (AWB) once it is dispatched. The card is printed with your current Aadhaar details, so if anything is wrong, update your Aadhaar first and order the card only after the update is complete.
Avoid plastic cards made by shops
Many print shops and street vendors offer to print Aadhaar on plastic cards. UIDAI warned in 2018 that the QR code often stops working on such unofficial prints, and that handing your Aadhaar details to unauthorised printers can expose your data to misuse. Since 2020, UIDAI has sold its own PVC card, so the ₹75 official card is the safer choice if you want plastic.
If you do not have your Aadhaar number
To download or order a print online you need your Aadhaar number, Enrolment ID or VID. If you have lost all of them, use the Retrieve EID/UID service on myAadhaar: enter your name as it appears on Aadhaar and your registered mobile number or email, verify with an OTP, and your Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID is sent by SMS. Without a registered mobile, the Aadhaar centre route above is the practical option. Our guide on what to do if you lose your Aadhaar card covers the full process, including locking your Aadhaar against misuse.
Where a printed Aadhaar is commonly asked for
Aadhaar is accepted as proof of identity and address in many places, but several claims in the earlier version of this article were wrong or are no longer true:
- Passports: The passport service accepts the Aadhaar letter or e-Aadhaar as proof of identity and address, subject to validation. Aadhaar is one accepted option, not a mandatory document, and other proofs are also accepted. The earlier claim that Aadhaar was “mandatory” for passports was incorrect.
- Bank accounts and SIM cards: Aadhaar can be used for KYC, but only voluntarily. Under the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment and the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019, a bank or telecom company cannot refuse you for lack of Aadhaar.
- DigiLocker: The earlier claim that DigiLocker uses your Aadhaar number as a password was wrong. You can register with a mobile number, and linking Aadhaar is voluntary, though it is needed to fetch government-issued documents into your account.
- Subsidies and income tax: Aadhaar can be required for government subsidies and benefits under Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, and it is mandatory for PAN and income tax returns.
Rules for specific services change, so check the official portal of the service you are applying for before you pay or apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is a black-and-white printout of e-Aadhaar valid?
UIDAI says a downloaded Aadhaar printed on ordinary paper is valid and does not specify colour. A colour print is easier to read, and what matters most is that the photograph and QR code are clear enough to check.
Is the Aadhaar PVC card better than the paper letter?
It is more durable and easier to carry, but it is not more valid. UIDAI treats the letter, the PVC card, e-Aadhaar and the Aadhaar app as equally valid.
Can I order a PVC card for my family members?
Yes. Because UIDAI allows the order to be placed with a non-registered or alternate mobile number for the OTP, you can order a family member’s card from your own phone if you have their Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID. Each card costs ₹75 and is delivered to the address in that person’s Aadhaar record.
How do I track my Aadhaar PVC card?
Use the SRN on the Check Aadhaar Status option on myAadhaar until the card is dispatched. After dispatch, use the speed post tracking number sent by SMS on the India Post website.
Can I get the PVC card printed with a new address?
Not directly. The card always shows your current Aadhaar details. Update your address first, online on myAadhaar or at a centre, and order the PVC card after the update is approved.
Charges and steps in this guide were checked in October 2026 against UIDAI’s published charges for Aadhaar Seva Kendras, its online services FAQ on e-Aadhaar and the PVC card, and UIDAI’s 2018 advisory on plastic Aadhaar cards. Check the myAadhaar portal before you pay, as charges are revised from time to time.
