You Live Abroad. Can You Still Get an Aadhaar Card?
Rules & Compliance · Published 22 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
Two sisters, two different answers
Pooja and Nisha are sisters. Both left India for work: Pooja to London in 2015, Nisha to Singapore in 2016.
Pooja never got an Aadhaar. Someone told her, "You must live in India for 182 days to get one." Nisha got hers on a two-week holiday in Chennai, at an Aadhaar centre near her parents' home.
Last month, both needed Aadhaar for the same thing: e-verifying a property document for their parents. Nisha finished in five minutes. Pooja is still waiting for her next trip.
The 182-day rule Pooja heard about was real once. For NRIs with an Indian passport, it hasn't applied since 2019.
Who can get Aadhaar, and when
Aadhaar is a 12-digit identity number linked to your fingerprints and photo. It's used to verify you for banks, tax, property records and many government services.
| You are | Can you get Aadhaar? | When |
|---|---|---|
| NRI with a valid Indian passport | Yes | On any visit to India. No minimum stay needed |
| OCI cardholder or foreign citizen | Only if you've lived in India for 182 days or more in the last 12 months | After meeting the stay rule |
| Indian citizen living in India | Yes | Any time |
Is it compulsory for NRIs?
No. You can live abroad without one. But many everyday tasks in India become easier with it: e-verifying your tax return, eKYC with banks and fund houses, DigiLocker, and some property and government processes.
What you need at the centre
- Your valid Indian passport. For NRIs, this is the main proof of identity.
- Proof of an Indian address if you want one on the card, such as a utility bill or bank statement in your name. Otherwise, your passport address may be used.
- A mobile number and email address you can access abroad. OTPs and updates are sent to them.
- About 15 minutes for fingerprints, iris scan and photo. Enrolment is free.
Your Aadhaar number usually arrives by post or can be downloaded online once it's generated, which can take a few weeks.
Already have Aadhaar? Keep it working
Most Aadhaar services run on OTPs to your registered mobile number. If that number has lapsed, you'll be stuck, just as with banks. Update it at an Aadhaar centre on your next visit, and keep it active.
If you hold Aadhaar, it should also be linked to your PAN (see our article Your PAN Says "Resident". Does It Matter?).
The solution: plan it into your next trip
Pooja has booked a slot for her next visit to Bengaluru. It will take one morning.
- Check your passport is valid for your next India trip.
- Book an appointment online at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra near where you'll stay, or walk in to an enrolment centre.
- Carry your passport, Indian address proof if you have one, and your overseas phone with roaming on.
- Note your enrolment ID from the slip. You'll need it to track and download your Aadhaar.
- After you get it, link it to your PAN and update your banks if they ask.
- Keep the registered mobile number alive.
The 30-second takeaway
With a valid Indian passport, you can get Aadhaar on any visit to India. No 182-day stay needed. OCI cardholders can't, unless they've lived in India for 182 days.
Got your Aadhaar as an NRI? Share how long it took in the NRI Prism Community.
This article is for general understanding only. UIDAI rules can change, so check the official Aadhaar website before you go.