Aadhaar Enrolment and Update First Amendment Regulations, 2026: What Has Changed?

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has introduced the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) First Amendment Regulations, 2026 through an official notification published in the Gazette of India on 7 May 2026. These revised regulations update the list of acceptable documents for Aadhaar enrolment and Aadhaar information updates across different age groups and categories of residents.

Download Aadhaar Enrolment and Update Rules 2026 in PDF

Key Objective of the Amendment

The amendment mainly replaces Schedule-II of the Aadhaar Enrolment and Update Regulations, 2016. The revised schedule clearly defines:

Acceptable Proof of Identity (POI)
Proof of Address (POA)
Proof of Relationship (POR)
Proof of Date of Birth (PDB)

for:

Children below 5 years
Minors between 5 and 18 years
Adults above 18 years
Aadhaar update requests
OCI cardholders and foreign nationals residing in India

Major Highlights of the New Rules

1. Separate Document Lists for Different Age Groups

UIDAI has now categorized document requirements according to age:

Children below 5 years
Children aged 5 to below 18 years
Adults aged 18 years and above
Existing Aadhaar holders seeking updates

This makes the enrolment process more structured and transparent.

2. HoF-Based Enrolment Made Important for Children

For children below 5 years, enrolment through the Head of Family (HoF) is mandatory except for children in childcare institutions and foreign nationals. The parent or legal guardian must possess a valid Aadhaar number before enrolling the child.

Important conditions include:

Biometric authentication of one parent or guardian is mandatory.
The child’s Aadhaar address will be the same as the HoF’s Aadhaar address.
Either parent or legal guardian can act as HoF.

3. Expanded List of Accepted Documents

The amendment includes a wide range of acceptable documents such as:

Passport
Birth Certificate
Voter ID
Ration Card / e-Ration Card
Driving Licence
Pensioner ID
NREGA Job Card
Government-issued certificates
Educational certificates
Electricity, water, gas, and telephone bills
Bank passbooks and statements
Marriage certificates
Divorce decrees

4. Special Provisions for Transgender Persons

The regulations now specifically recognize:

Transgender Identity Card/Certificate
issued under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 as valid proof for:
Identity
Address
Relationship
Date of Birth

The document can also be used for complete name and gender changes in Aadhaar records.

5. Clear Rules for OCI Cardholders and Foreign Nationals

The amendment provides separate document requirements for:

OCI cardholders
Nepal and Bhutan nationals
Long Term Visa (LTV) holders
Other foreign nationals residing in India for 182 days or more in the previous 12 months

The regulations also specify Aadhaar validity periods:

OCI cardholders – 10 years
Nepal/Bhutan citizens – 10 years
LTV holders – validity linked to LTV
Other foreign nationals – validity linked to visa or residence permit

6. Strict Verification Standards Introduced

UIDAI has clarified that every document submitted must:

Be currently valid
Belong to the person submitting it
Be verifiable from official records
Not be declared invalid by the issuing authority

Additionally:

Names and dates of birth must match across documents.
Aadhaar details will replicate the exact name appearing in supporting documents.
Extra unofficial additions in names will not be accepted.

7. Updated Rules for Aadhaar Data Correction

For Aadhaar updates such as:

Name correction
Address update
Date of birth update
Relationship update

UIDAI has defined separate acceptable documents under Schedule IV.

This is expected to reduce ambiguity and improve uniformity at Aadhaar Seva Kendras and enrolment centers.

Why These Changes Matter

The 2026 amendment aims to:

Simplify Aadhaar enrolment
Standardize document verification
Improve inclusion for children, transgender persons, OCI holders, and foreign residents
Reduce document disputes and rejections
Strengthen authentication and identity verification

The revised rules also provide clearer operational guidance for enrolment operators and Aadhaar service centers.

Conclusion

The Aadhaar Enrolment and Update First Amendment Regulations, 2026 bring significant clarity and modernization to Aadhaar enrolment procedures in India. By expanding accepted documents, strengthening verification standards, and introducing category-specific guidelines, UIDAI has attempted to make Aadhaar services more inclusive, secure, and transparent for all residents.

Aadhaar Enrolment and Update Rules 2026:New Documents and Update Guidelines