Can an NRI get an Aadhaar card? Is it mandatory?

Yes — Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) holding a valid Indian passport are eligible to enrol for Aadhaar under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016.

An 'NRI' for Aadhaar purposes is an Indian citizen residing outside India. This includes:

(1) NRIs working abroad on employment visas (H-1B, Tier 2, EU Blue Card, etc.);
(2) NRIs studying abroad on student visas;
(3) NRIs on long-term residence permits;
(4) Indian seafarers and offshore workers.

What you need: a valid (non-expired) Indian passport. UIDAI does not enrol on the basis of foreign passports — even with an overseas address — for NRI Aadhaar. Foreign nationals married to Indians who hold OCI/PIO status face separate rules (see below).

No — the earlier 182-day waiting requirement has been waived for NRIs holding Indian passports. You can enrol for Aadhaar immediately on arrival in India.

The change came through the Finance Act, 2019 amendment to the Aadhaar Act and consequent UIDAI notifications. Earlier rules required 182 days' residence in the 12 months preceding enrolment — making it impossible for many NRIs to use Aadhaar for India visits or financial activity.

You can walk into an Aadhaar Seva Kendra (ASK) the day after you land, with your passport. Enrolment takes 15-30 minutes; the Aadhaar number is generated and the card delivered within 7-15 days at your Indian address.

No, for most NRI use-cases. Section 139AA of the Income-Tax Act, 1961 requires PAN-Aadhaar linkage but exempts (under Rule 114AAA):

(1) Non-residents (as defined under the Income-Tax Act);
(2) Foreign citizens (passport holders of other countries);
(3) OCI cardholders;
(4) Persons aged 80 or older.

However, Aadhaar is increasingly demanded in practice — making it practically very useful:

(1) Property purchase or sale registration in many states (Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi);
(2) Mutual fund and NRO bank KYC re-verification;
(3) Welfare scheme access in your home state if you have family there;
(4) Filing certain ITRs without PAN;
(5) Aadhaar-linked services on DigiLocker, mAadhaar app, etc.

Most NRIs eventually find it easier to enrol for Aadhaar than to navigate exemption claims every time.

Generally no — OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders are not eligible for Aadhaar unless they meet the residence test.

Specifically, an OCI cardholder must have stayed in India for at least 182 days in the preceding 12 months immediately before the date of application to be eligible. This is a strict reading by UIDAI and is checked through passport stamps at the enrolment centre.

OCI cardholders who don't meet the residence test can use:

(1) PAN (Permanent Account Number) for tax and financial transactions;
(2) OCI card itself for ID purposes — accepted across government and most private establishments;
(3) Indian driving licence if they hold one;
(4) Passport with valid OCI sticker/U visa.

For long-term residents (e.g., OCI cardholders living in India for retirement or business), enrolment becomes possible once the 182-day threshold is met. Keep passport stamps as proof.

Step 1 — Locate an Aadhaar Seva Kendra (ASK) — use the UIDAI locator. Major cities have multiple ASKs; consider booking an appointment online to skip queues.

Step 2 — Carry your documents:
(1) Valid (non-expired) Indian passport — original;
(2) Proof of Indian address (if available) — relative's Aadhaar with declaration, bank statement, utility bill;
(3) Photograph (taken at the centre).

Step 3 — Biometric capture — fingerprints, iris scan, photograph. Standard for all Aadhaar applicants.

Step 4 — Receive enrolment slip — your Aadhaar Enrolment ID (EID) is valid as proof while the card is being generated.

Step 5 — Aadhaar number generation — typically within 7-15 days. The card is dispatched to your Indian address; you can also download the e-Aadhaar from the UIDAI portal.

Step 6 — Update mobile number and email on the Aadhaar after generation — essential for receiving OTPs for online services.

For property / FEMA matters, see our guide on repatriation of NRI funds.