Q396. Aadhaar Card for NRIs. Can NRI get Aadhaar Card

Question: Dear Sir Please let me know whether AADHAR Card for NRIs are being processed. If yes then what is the procedure for getting it. Best Wishes, Vikas Amitabh

Answer: There appears to be a lot of confusion as to whether Non-Residents (NRIs) can get Aadhaar card in India. Aadhaar, which is a unique identification number, is meant for only permanent residents in India. Even foreigners who live in India can get Aadhaar. To clarify, permanent residents are those who are settled and living full time in India, this does not include NRIs who periodically visit India for short durations or foreign tourists visiting India. The word NRI, in India means a non-resident Indian, hence, if you are an NRI then you obviously do not an Indian resident and you cannot get Aadhaar, however if you were an NRI and are now living in India, you can apply for Aadhaar card (actually Aadhaar number, see * below) Let me try to summarize a few things*: We all seem to use the word card when it comes to Aadhaar. According to Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) no Aadhaar card is issued to applicants. They just get a letter notifying them of their Aadhaar number. There apparently is no such thing as a Aadhaar card yet. Aadhaar number does not establish the citizenship of the person. Just because a person has a Aadhaar number, it does not mean that that person is an Indian citizen. Aadhaar card (number) is currently NOT compulsory. Even though the Aadhaar number issuing authority clearly states, ‘Enrollment for the UID is not mandatory’ access to some government services is being tied to having a Aadhaar number. For instance, The Delhi government has announced that as of January 1, 2013 Aadhaar card would be compulsory for everyone seeking access to government services in Delhi. So here it seems the Delhi government is saying something different than what the central government of India is saying. For more detailed information check the official UIDAI site at uidai.gov.in