AAD.04 · GUIDE
Aadhaar for Children
Children can enrol from birth. The Aadhaar number stays the same, but biometrics must be captured or refreshed after the child reaches ages 5 and 15.
Under age 5: Baal Aadhaar
The child’s photograph and demographic details are captured; fingerprints and iris are not. Enrolment uses the applicable parent/legal-guardian Head-of-Family route and documents from UIDAI’s current schedule.
For a child born on or after 1 October 2023, the birth certificate is mandatory under the applicable proof-of-date-of-birth/relationship route. A valid Indian passport is the listed alternative for an NRI child.
Mandatory biometric updates
| Milestone | What happens | Current fee position |
|---|---|---|
| After age 5 | First fingerprints, iris scans and a fresh photograph | Free from age 5 to 7. A temporary waiver also covers first MBU from age 7 to 15 through 30 Sep 2026. |
| After age 15 | Fingerprints, iris scans and photograph refreshed again | Free from age 15 to 17. |
| Outside a free window | Biometric update | ₹125 under the current fee schedule. |
Two rules that are easy to miss
- A mandatory biometric update must be processed as a stand-alone transaction; do not club it with another update.
- If biometrics are not updated within two years after reaching age 5 or 15, the Aadhaar number is deactivated until the biometric update is completed.
Official sources
LAST EDITORIAL REVIEW · 26 AUG 2026