Aadhaar card has become one of the most important identity documents in India.
It is required for school admissions, government schemes, banking services, and many other official works.
The good news is that Aadhaar can be made free of cost for people of any age — even newborn babies.
For children below 5 years, UIDAI issues a special Aadhaar called Baal Aadhaar.
What Documents Are Needed for Baal Aadhaar?
Parents who want to make Aadhaar for their child only need a few basic documents.
The most important documents include:
Child’s birth certificate, or
Hospital discharge slip
Along with this, Aadhaar of one parent is also required during enrolment.
Important Types of Documents Accepted by UIDAI
UIDAI accepts documents under four main categories:
Proof of Identity (POI)
Proof of Relationship (POR)
Date of Birth (DOB)
Proof of Address (POA)
Here’s a simpler breakdown of the most commonly accepted documents.
Proof of Identity (POI) Documents
These documents must contain the person’s name and photograph.
Some commonly accepted POI documents are:
Passport
PAN Card
Voter ID
Driving License
Ration Card
School ID card
Bank passbook with photo
Pension card
Government-issued photo ID
UIDAI also accepts certificates issued by gazetted officers, village panchayat heads, educational institutions, and other authorised authorities.
Proof of Relationship (POR) Documents
These documents are needed to establish the relationship between the child and the Head of Family (HoF).
Accepted POR documents include:
Birth certificate
Passport
PDS card
Pension card
Government-issued family entitlement document
Marriage certificate
Jan Aadhaar or Bhamashah card
Hospital discharge slip for newborn child
Date of Birth (DOB) Documents
DOB documents must clearly mention the person’s name and date of birth.
Commonly accepted DOB proofs include:
Birth certificate
Passport
PAN Card
School leaving certificate
Marksheet from a recognised board or university
Government-issued ID containing DOB
Proof of Address (POA) Documents
Address proof documents should contain the person’s name and residential address.
Some accepted POA documents are:
Passport
Bank passbook
Electricity bill
Water bill
Voter ID
Driving license
Gas connection bill
Rental agreement
School records
Aadhaar-linked government documents
For minors, parents’ passports can also be used as address proof.
Aadhaar Can Be Made at Any Age
One important thing to know is that there is no minimum age limit for Aadhaar enrolment.
Even newborn babies can get Aadhaar under the Baal Aadhaar system.
Parents only need to visit an Aadhaar enrolment centre with the required documents.
As the child grows older, biometric details like fingerprints and iris scans are updated later according to UIDAI rules.
Why Baal Aadhaar is Important
Baal Aadhaar can help parents in:
School admissions
Government welfare schemes
Health services
Scholarship applications
Banking and financial services
Since Aadhaar is becoming increasingly important for many services, getting Aadhaar made early for children can help avoid future hassles.
