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How to Download Your Aadhaar Card (e-Aadhaar) from UIDAI

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A step-by-step guide to downloading the official e-Aadhaar PDF from UIDAI's myAadhaar portal, opening the password-protected file, using masked Aadhaar, the mAadhaar app, and ordering a PVC card.

How to download your Aadhaar card

You can download your Aadhaar card as a digital PDF, called e-Aadhaar, directly from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The official place to do this is the myAadhaar portal at myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in, run by UIDAI under the Government of India. PaisaMath is not a government body and does not issue, process, or store Aadhaar – this page only explains how to use the official UIDAI service.

Downloading the e-Aadhaar PDF is free of cost. You authenticate with a One-Time Password (OTP) sent to your registered mobile number, and the e-Aadhaar you download is a valid form of Aadhaar – it carries the same legal validity as the original Aadhaar letter and the PVC card.

You can start from the main UIDAI site at uidai.gov.in and choose My Aadhaar → Download Aadhaar, which takes you to the same myAadhaar portal. If you need to correct your name, address, date of birth, or other details first, see our guide on how to update your Aadhaar card.

What you need before you start

To download e-Aadhaar you need one of three identifiers plus access to the OTP that UIDAI sends you. A registered mobile number is mandatory – without it you cannot receive the OTP and cannot download online.

  • Your 12-digit Aadhaar number, or your 28-digit Enrolment ID (EID) with date and time (printed on the acknowledgement slip), or your 16-digit Virtual ID (VID).
  • A mobile number registered with your Aadhaar, to receive the OTP. If your number is not registered or has changed, you must update it at an Aadhaar Enrolment/Update Centre – this cannot be done online.
  • An internet connection and a PDF reader (the file is password-protected).
  • Optional: if you have forgotten your Aadhaar number or EID, use the Retrieve EID/Aadhaar Number option on the myAadhaar portal first.

If you also need to check whether your latest Aadhaar request has been processed, our Aadhaar update guide explains how to track request status before downloading the refreshed copy.

Step-by-step on the myAadhaar portal

Follow these steps on the official UIDAI myAadhaar portal to download your e-Aadhaar PDF:

  1. Go to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and click Download Aadhaar (or open uidai.gov.in → My Aadhaar → Download Aadhaar).
  2. Choose your identifier type: Aadhaar Number, Enrolment ID (EID), or Virtual ID (VID).
  3. Enter the number you selected, then enter the on-screen captcha exactly as shown.
  4. Optionally tick Masked Aadhaar if you want a version that hides the first eight digits (see the masked Aadhaar section below).
  5. Click Send OTP. UIDAI sends a One-Time Password to your registered mobile number.
  6. Enter the OTP and submit to verify your identity.
  7. Click Download to save the e-Aadhaar PDF to your device.
  8. Open the PDF and enter the password (explained next) to view your e-Aadhaar.

The downloaded e-Aadhaar is digitally signed by UIDAI. The digital signature may show as not verified in some PDF readers until the UIDAI certificate is validated – this is normal and does not affect the document's validity.

Opening the e-Aadhaar PDF (password)

The e-Aadhaar PDF is password-protected for your security. The password is the same fixed format for everyone and cannot be changed or reset:

Password = First 4 letters of your name in CAPITALS + your year of birth (YYYY)

Use the name and date of birth exactly as printed on your Aadhaar. Some examples:

Name on AadhaarYear of birthPDF password
RAJESH KUMAR1990RAJE1990
SUNITA1985SUNI1985
RAM1993RAM1993
KM PRIYA2001KMPR2001

If your name has fewer than four letters (for example Ram), use all the letters you have followed by the birth year. The masked e-Aadhaar PDF uses the same password format.

Masked Aadhaar option

A masked Aadhaar replaces the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number with xxxx-xxxx and shows only the last four digits. It is useful when you must share Aadhaar as proof of identity but want to limit exposure of your full number.

  • Select the Masked Aadhaar option on the Download Aadhaar screen before sending the OTP.
  • All other details – your name, photo, address, and QR code – remain visible and the document stays valid for KYC.
  • The masked PDF is opened with the same password (first 4 letters of name in capitals + birth year).
  • Share your full or masked Aadhaar only with trusted, authorised entities.

Downloading via the mAadhaar app

UIDAI also offers the official mAadhaar mobile app for Android (Google Play) and iOS (Apple App Store). It lets you carry your Aadhaar digitally, download e-Aadhaar, generate a Virtual ID, show or scan the QR code, and order a PVC card. Always install only the official app published by UIDAI.

  1. Install mAadhaar from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and open it.
  2. Set up the app and verify your registered mobile number with an OTP.
  3. Add your Aadhaar profile by entering your Aadhaar number and completing OTP authentication (you can add up to five family profiles linked to the same mobile number).
  4. Use the Download Aadhaar option inside the app to fetch and save your e-Aadhaar.
  5. Open the saved PDF using the standard password format (first 4 letters of name in capitals + birth year).

A registered mobile number is required to create an mAadhaar profile and to use the app's services.

Ordering a PVC Aadhaar card

If you want a durable, wallet-sized plastic card, UIDAI lets you order an Aadhaar PVC card that is printed with a secure QR code and delivered by post. It carries the same information and legal validity as the e-Aadhaar and the original Aadhaar letter.

PVC card fee: ₹75 (inclusive of GST and speed-post charges) – verify the current fee on the official portal

UIDAI revised the PVC card fee in January 2026 from ₹50 to ₹75. Because this charge can change, always confirm the latest amount on the official portal before paying.

  1. On myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in, choose Order Aadhaar PVC Card.
  2. Enter your Aadhaar number, VID, or EID and the captcha.
  3. Verify with the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
  4. Check the preview of your details, then pay the applicable fee online (UPI, debit/credit card, or net banking).
  5. Note the Service Request Number (SRN) to track the order; the card is dispatched by India Post to your registered address.

Verify on the official portal

Aadhaar services, fees, and on-screen steps are set by UIDAI and can change without notice. Always start from the official portal – uidai.gov.in or myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in – and never enter your Aadhaar details or OTP on look-alike third-party sites.

For related tasks, see our guides on updating your Aadhaar card, downloading your PAN card, and checking PAN card status. The steps and fees above are subject to change – the official UIDAI portal is the only authoritative source.

Frequently asked questions

You download e-Aadhaar from UIDAI's official myAadhaar portal at myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in, or via the main site uidai.gov.in under My Aadhaar → Download Aadhaar. You can also use the official mAadhaar mobile app. PaisaMath is not the government and only explains how to use these official services.

Yes. Downloading the e-Aadhaar PDF from the myAadhaar portal or the mAadhaar app is free of cost. There is a charge only if you order a physical PVC Aadhaar card. Always confirm current charges on the official portal.

The password is the first four letters of your name in CAPITAL letters followed by your year of birth in YYYY format. For example, RAJESH born in 1990 would use RAJE1990. This fixed format applies to everyone and cannot be changed.

Yes. A mobile number registered with your Aadhaar is mandatory because UIDAI sends a One-Time Password (OTP) to it for verification. If your number is not registered or has changed, you must update it at an Aadhaar Enrolment/Update Centre, as this cannot be done online.

Masked Aadhaar hides the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number, showing only the last four, while keeping your name, photo, and QR code visible. Tick the Masked Aadhaar option on the download screen before sending the OTP. It opens with the same password and stays valid for KYC.

Yes. You can download using your 28-digit Enrolment ID (EID) or 16-digit Virtual ID (VID) instead. If you have forgotten all of them, use the Retrieve EID/Aadhaar Number option on the myAadhaar portal, which sends the details to your registered mobile.

Yes. The e-Aadhaar PDF is digitally signed by UIDAI and is legally equally valid as the original Aadhaar letter and the PVC card. All formats of Aadhaar are accepted for identity and address verification.

UIDAI revised the PVC card fee in January 2026 to ₹75, inclusive of GST and speed-post delivery. Because this charge can change, verify the current fee on the official myAadhaar portal before placing your order.

After payment, UIDAI prints the card and dispatches it by India Post (Speed Post) to your registered address. You can track progress using the Service Request Number (SRN) shown after ordering. Refer to the official portal for the current expected timeline.

This happens when your PDF reader has not yet validated UIDAI's digital signature certificate. It does not mean the document is invalid. Once the certificate is trusted in your reader, the signature shows as verified.