Downloading e-Aadhaar online is straightforward if you have your Aadhaar number, Enrollment ID (EID) or Virtual ID (VID) and access to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar. UIDAI provides the download service through the official MyAadhaar portal, and the downloaded e-Aadhaar is a password-protected PDF digitally signed by UIDAI.
The most important details to remember are simple: the download requires an OTP sent to your registered mobile number, while the PDF password is made from the first four characters of the name on your Aadhaar in CAPITAL letters followed by your four-digit year of birth. For example, if the name is SURESH KUMAR and the year of birth is 1990, the password is SURE1990.
If you need a broader reference covering the different download methods, see this deeper guide on Aadhaar Card Download Online: How to Download e-Aadhaar Using Aadhaar Number, Enrollment ID or VID.
What Is e-Aadhaar?
e-Aadhaar is the electronic version of your Aadhaar issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It is downloaded as a PDF, protected with a password and digitally signed by UIDAI.
UIDAI states that e-Aadhaar is equally valid as the physical Aadhaar copy. The downloaded document can also be verified through its QR code.
This makes e-Aadhaar useful when you need access to your Aadhaar but do not have the physical letter or card with you.
What You Need to Download e-Aadhaar
Before starting, keep the following information available:
- Your 12-digit Aadhaar number, or
- Your Enrollment ID (EID), or
- Your 16-digit Virtual ID (VID)
- Access to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar
- A phone, tablet or computer with internet access
- A PDF reader for opening the downloaded file
UIDAI currently identifies Aadhaar number, Enrollment Number and VID as the three available methods for downloading e-Aadhaar. The OTP is sent to the registered mobile number.
How to Download e-Aadhaar Online Step by Step
Step 1: Open the official UIDAI MyAadhaar website
Start with the official UIDAI MyAadhaar e-Aadhaar download service.
Using the official UIDAI website is important because Aadhaar details and OTPs are sensitive identity information. There is no need to enter these details on an unofficial Aadhaar download website.
Step 2: Choose how you want to download Aadhaar
The download service provides three identification options:
- Aadhaar Number
- Enrollment ID
- VID
Choose the option for which you have the required information.
Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar details
If you select Aadhaar Number, enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
If you select Enrollment ID, enter the requested enrolment information from your Aadhaar enrolment acknowledgement.
If you select VID, enter your 16-digit Virtual ID.
UIDAI’s current online services specifically list all three options for e-Aadhaar download.
Step 4: Complete the security verification
Enter the captcha or other security information displayed by the UIDAI portal.
Check the information carefully before proceeding.
Step 5: Request the OTP
Choose the option to receive an OTP.
The OTP is sent to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar. UIDAI also states that a time-based OTP (T-OTP) can be used for e-Aadhaar download through the Aadhaar/mAadhaar ecosystem where supported.
Step 6: Enter the OTP
Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number.
Do not share this OTP with another person. Anyone asking you to disclose an Aadhaar OTP should be treated cautiously.
Step 7: Download the e-Aadhaar PDF
After successful authentication, the portal allows you to download your e-Aadhaar.
The document is provided as a PDF file and is password protected.
Save the document somewhere secure if you need to access it again.
How to Download e-Aadhaar Using Aadhaar Number
For people who already know their Aadhaar number, this is generally the most direct route.
Go to the official MyAadhaar download page, select Aadhaar Number, enter the 12-digit number, complete the security verification and request an OTP.
Once the OTP arrives on your registered mobile number, enter it to authenticate the request. You can then download the e-Aadhaar PDF.
If you regularly need Aadhaar-related services, the wider MyAadhaar portal also provides services such as VID generation, Masked Aadhaar, biometric controls and other Aadhaar-related facilities.
How to Download e-Aadhaar Using Enrollment ID
You can also use your Enrollment ID (EID) if you do not have your Aadhaar number readily available.
The EID is associated with your Aadhaar enrolment acknowledgement. Select the Enrollment ID option on the e-Aadhaar download page and enter the requested information.
After the details are accepted, request and enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number. The e-Aadhaar PDF can then be downloaded after successful verification.
This option is particularly useful for someone who has their enrolment acknowledgement but does not remember or have immediate access to their 12-digit Aadhaar number.
How to Download e-Aadhaar Using VID
A Virtual ID (VID) is a 16-digit alternative identifier associated with an Aadhaar number. UIDAI regulations describe VID as an alternate identification number that can be used in place of the Aadhaar number for supported authentication and e-KYC purposes.
UIDAI also lists VID as an option for downloading e-Aadhaar.
To use it, select VID on the download service, enter the requested information, complete the security check and authenticate using the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
The practical advantage is that you do not necessarily have to disclose your primary Aadhaar number when a supported service allows VID instead.
e-Aadhaar PDF Password: What Should You Enter?
The e-Aadhaar PDF has a standard password format:
First four characters of your Aadhaar name in CAPITAL letters + your year of birth.
Here are UIDAI’s examples:
| Name and year of birth | e-Aadhaar PDF password |
|---|---|
| SURESH KUMAR, 1990 | SURE1990 |
| SAI KUMAR, 1990 | SAIK1990 |
| P. KUMAR, 1990 | P.KU1990 |
| RIA, 1990 | RIA1990 |
The password is not something you create yourself. It is generated according to UIDAI’s specified format.
Example
Suppose the Aadhaar record shows:
Name: RAHUL SHARMA
Year of birth: 1988
The PDF password would be:
RAHU1988
If the Aadhaar name contains punctuation, follow the characters shown in the Aadhaar record and UIDAI’s password convention.
e-Aadhaar Password Not Working? Check These Things
If your downloaded PDF refuses to open, check the password format before downloading the document again.
Make sure:
- The name portion is in CAPITAL letters.
- You are using the first four characters of the name recorded on Aadhaar.
- The year is the correct four-digit year of birth.
- There are no spaces in the password.
- You have not accidentally used the name shown on another document instead of the Aadhaar name.
- You are opening the actual e-Aadhaar PDF downloaded from UIDAI.
For example, if the correct password is SURE1990, entering sure1990 may not work because UIDAI specifies capital letters.
What Happens If You Do Not Receive the Aadhaar OTP?
The standard e-Aadhaar download process sends the OTP to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar.
If the OTP does not arrive, check the following:
- Confirm that the mobile number linked to Aadhaar is accessible.
- Check your mobile network and SMS inbox.
- Make sure the Aadhaar details entered on the portal are correct.
- Request a new OTP if the previous one expires.
- Do not use an old OTP after requesting a newer one.
If you no longer have access to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar, the problem may need to be resolved through UIDAI’s enrolment or update services rather than through repeated download attempts.
Can You Download Aadhaar Without a Registered Mobile Number?
For the normal online e-Aadhaar download process, mobile OTP authentication is required. UIDAI explicitly says that the OTP for downloading e-Aadhaar is received on the registered mobile number.
That means simply knowing your Aadhaar number is not enough to bypass the authentication process.
Do not give your Aadhaar number or other identity details to an unofficial website claiming that it can download your Aadhaar without the required authentication.
Is e-Aadhaar Valid Like the Original Aadhaar?
Yes. UIDAI states that e-Aadhaar is equally valid as the physical copy of Aadhaar. It is digitally signed by UIDAI and can be verified using the QR code included in the document.
This is important because an e-Aadhaar PDF is not merely a scanned copy that you created yourself. It is an official electronic Aadhaar document issued through UIDAI’s system.
What Is Masked Aadhaar?
If you do not need to reveal the full Aadhaar number, UIDAI also provides Masked Aadhaar.
With Masked Aadhaar, the first eight digits of the Aadhaar number are replaced by xxxx-xxxx, while the final four digits remain visible.
For situations where an organization only needs to see the identity document and does not specifically require the complete Aadhaar number, Masked Aadhaar can reduce unnecessary exposure of the full identifier.
The choice should depend on the actual requirement of the organization requesting the document.
Can You Download e-Aadhaar on a Mobile Phone?
Yes. UIDAI says Aadhaar services, including e-Aadhaar download, are available through its Aadhaar app as well as the MyAadhaar portal.
The current Aadhaar app also provides other services, including mobile-number and address updates, biometric locking and unlocking, authentication-history checks and other Aadhaar functions.
For security, download the official application through the relevant app store rather than an APK or application file obtained from an unknown website.
How to Protect Your e-Aadhaar PDF
Aadhaar contains sensitive identity information, so the downloaded PDF should be handled carefully.
Avoid:
- Sharing your Aadhaar OTP with anyone.
- Uploading the PDF to unknown websites.
- Sending the full Aadhaar document when a masked version would meet the requirement.
- Leaving the PDF on a public or shared computer.
- Giving your Aadhaar details to websites that are not operated by or clearly authorized by UIDAI.
It is also worth asking why an organization needs the document before providing it. A request for identity verification does not automatically mean that every party needs unrestricted access to your complete Aadhaar number.
What If the Digital Signature Shows a Question Mark?
e-Aadhaar is digitally signed by UIDAI. UIDAI’s Aadhaar handbook says that if the digital signature appears with a question-mark symbol, the signature should be validated before the document is used.
This is different from the PDF password.
The password allows you to open the protected PDF. The digital signature provides a mechanism for verifying the authenticity and integrity of the electronic document.
If signature validation is required, follow UIDAI’s official verification instructions rather than treating a signature warning as proof that the Aadhaar itself is invalid.
Aadhaar Number vs EID vs VID: Which One Should You Use?
The three identifiers are not interchangeable in every Aadhaar service.
Aadhaar number is the familiar 12-digit identifier associated with your Aadhaar.
Enrollment ID (EID) is the enrolment reference associated with the Aadhaar enrolment process.
VID is a 16-digit alternative identifier that UIDAI provides for supported authentication and e-KYC use cases.
For e-Aadhaar downloading, UIDAI currently supports all three routes, so the most convenient choice is generally the identifier you already have available.
A Simple e-Aadhaar Download Checklist
Before starting, make sure you have:
- Your Aadhaar number, EID or VID
- The mobile number registered with Aadhaar
- Access to the OTP sent to that number
- A secure device for downloading the PDF
- A PDF reader
- The correct e-Aadhaar password format
If you have these, the process should normally be completed through the official UIDAI download service without using a third-party Aadhaar website.
Why Aadhaar Download Is Part of a Bigger Digital India Shift
Aadhaar’s digital services are part of a much broader transformation in how identity, government services and digital transactions are delivered in India. For readers interested in that wider transformation, our coverage of India’s fastest-growing cities looks at the urban centres helping reshape the country’s economic future.
The same digital infrastructure that makes identity services more accessible also creates a larger question around how personal information is handled as more services move online. That makes basic security practices—such as protecting OTPs, limiting unnecessary document sharing and using official government portals—just as important as knowing how to download the document.
India’s expanding technology ecosystem is also changing how citizens and businesses interact with digital services. Our guide to 30 Indian startups worth watching provides a broader look at companies participating in that evolution.
The Most Important Thing to Remember Before Downloading
The e-Aadhaar process itself is simple: use the official UIDAI MyAadhaar service, select Aadhaar Number, EID or VID, authenticate with the OTP sent to your registered mobile number, and download the password-protected PDF.
The detail most likely to cause confusion comes after the download. The PDF password is not your Aadhaar number or an OTP. It follows UIDAI’s specific formula of the first four characters of your Aadhaar name in CAPITAL letters plus your four-digit year of birth.
For anyone who needs a quick digital copy, e-Aadhaar removes the need to wait for or carry a physical document. But because the file contains valuable identity information, convenience should not come at the expense of security: download it from UIDAI, protect the PDF, never disclose the OTP, and use Masked Aadhaar when the full number is not genuinely required.