Q965. Linking Aadhaar with mobile Sim card number from abroad by NRI

Question: Hello, I am staying in USA and I heard that we need to link our Aadhar with mobile number before Feb'2018. However, I have no plan to visit India for the next 2 yrs,how can I link my mobile number with Aadhar? Vodafone customer is keep insisting me to visit any of their stores in person to update the same which is not possible for me now and not providing any alternate solution. I want to continue my Indian mobile services at any cost. Please advise. Regards,

Answer: The deadline to link Aadhaar Card to a mobile SIM is February 6, 2018. The procedure as you say involves visiting an official store of the mobile service provider. Currently there is no method that I am aware of to complete this procedure from abroad.

Procedure to link Aadhaar to SIM

• Visit the nearest mobile service provider’s outlet in India • Provide your mobile & Aadhaar number for verification. Aadhaar details and the details of subscriber on file when SIM was activated MUST match. • Fingerprint is verified in biometric scanner • On successful completion, you will receive a message from the Service provider of successful verification of Sim NRIs who already have an Aadhaar card and possess a SIM from India can complete the linking procedure if they are in India before the deadline of February 2018. Many NRIs abroad who have prepaid Sim cards with balances will probably lose their money when the cards are deactivated due to failure to link with Aadhaar. Update: Government may in the near future announce alternative acceptable criteria for NRIs & foreigners who are not eligible for Aadhaar to verify Indian mobile Sim. For more information on this topic see question/answer number 1105

Information by Virendar Chand