How To Apply For Aadhaar Card An NRI

The application process for Aadhaar Card by NRIs is similar to that of an Indian Resident. However, there may be more documents to be submitted. The NRI applicant can visit the UIDAI website to search for the nearest Aadhaar Enrolment centre to his/her home. Thereafter, the application form needs to be duly filled out and submitted along with the required documents. Detailed application process is mentioned below.

1. Search for the nearest Aadhaar Enrolment Centre

UIDAI has listed out all Aadhaar Enrolment Centres across the country. One needs to enter the City, Pin Code and Search Box to find the nearest centre to your residential address.

• Visit the Aadhaar Enrolment Centre with required documents
• The Aadhaar Enrolment Centre needs to be visited physically with the required documents for submission along with the application form.
• Residence Proof, Birth Certificate and PAN Card
• Valid Indian Passport
• If you do not possess any of the above documents, you can approach an Introducer at the Aadhaar Enrolment Centre. The Introducer has been appointed by the Registrar and has a valid Aadhaar number.

2. Enrol for Aadhaar Card

• At the Aadhaar Enrolment Centre, one needs to complete the following:
• Submit the duly filled application form along with the above-mentioned documents.
• This includes providing demographic data about yourself – name, date of birth, gender, and email address. Please note that as an NRI applicant email address is mandatory and extremely important.
• Declaration for NRI applicants is slightly different from that of a regular applicant.
• One must ask the operator to enrol you as an NRI applicant.
• Passport must be given as proof of identity. This can also be used as the proof of address and date of birth proof.

3. Biometric Submission

• Biometric information like iris scan and fingerprints of all 10 fingers will be taken.
• Facial photographs are taken at the centre.
• Children below the age of 5 years need not mandatorily have an Aadhaar Card. This is applied through the parents’ card.
• One must check the correctness of the information provided on the screen then and there before the operator clicks on submit.

4. Collect Acknowledgement Form

After submission of the above details, an acknowledgement receipt is given. The acknowledgement receipt includes the date and time stamp. With the enrolment number, one can track the progress of the Aadhaar Card online. If you have lost the Enrolment ID number, it can be retrieved from the UIDAI website.

The average processing time for an Aadhaar Card is 60 to 90 days. The digital copy of the original Aadhaar Card is available for download even as an NRI applicant.

The following documents are required while submitting your Aadhaar Card application as an NRI:

• Proof of Identity – Passport, PAN Card, Voter’s ID, Driving License
• Proof of Address – Passport, Voter’s ID, Driving License. Gas Connection Bill, Electricity Bill, Water Bill, Landline Bill or Credit Card Statement
• Date of Birth -Birth Certificate, Passport or PAN Card

With effect from 1st July, 2017, it is mandatory to quote your Aadhaar Card Number/Aadhaar Enrolment ID while filing income tax returns and submitting an application for PAN Card. This is applicable as per Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 introduced by the Finance Act 2017. The mandatory quoting of Aadhaar Number or the Aadhaar Enrolment ID is applicable to all those individuals who are eligible to get the Aadhaar Number.

Aadhaar Card can be applied only by a resident of the country. A resident is defined as someone who has stayed in the country for a minimum of 182 days in a 12-month period immediately before the application of Aadhaar. It is important to note here that this Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 is not applicable to individuals who are not residents. NRIs need not submit their Aadhaar Number while filing Income Tax Returns from July 2017 onwards.