Q729. Eligibility for Aadhaar for UK

resident - KYC new guidelines for

banks

Question: Dear Sir, My family and I have taken Irish citizenship and currently residing in UK. We all are have OCI status since its conception. I have close association to India. I visit regularly my parental family friends and others every year. I also have property in India. Every time I go to India, I found much more difficult to deal with banks and day to day costomery things due to my status. Foe example my long time working bank accounts and my children small UTI investments, before I went abroad have to changed to NRI status. Also currently the main problem is to provide 'KYC' to banks very two years which is a great pain. I like to ask you that can I/my wife eligible to apply for 'Adhar Card'? If yes can we apply on line or in India? I will be grateful for your advice. Kind regards, Mr. A. K. Tripathi Answer: Apparently the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) realizes the problems many people face in repeatedly providing same documents for KYC purposes repeatedly even though the documents they submitted earlier have not changed. RBI has issued guidelines to banks (dated October 21, 2014) to extend the KYC repeated document updates especially for low risk individuals. Here is an excerpt from their notification: ‘ Banks need not seek fresh proofs of identity and address at the time of periodic updation, from those customers who are categorised as ‘low risk’ Click HERE to view the full RBI direction to banks in this regard. Regarding you question on Aadhaar card. Please be aware that while Aadhaar card is available to all residents of India, regardless of whether they are NRIs or foreigners as long as they reside in India. Hence if you and your wife reside in India then you can apply for and get Aadhaar card. Aadhaar card applications cannot be made online from within India or from abroad. The online application facility is not available yet. Applications for Aadhaar can only be made in person at any Aadhaar enrollment center. Physical presence at enrollment center is mandatory for all applicants. Some people get confused with online Aadhaar appointment with application. For clarification: • The facility to make online appointment to apply for Aadhaar card is available for some locations in India. • The facility to apply for Aadhaar card online does not exist. If you are having problems dealing with your bank in India for your NRI investments/accounts, I suggest you consider changing your bank! customer service in the banking sector has improved in India and some banks will even come to your home to help with your banking.