If you want to check Aadhaar card validity online, UIDAI provides an official Aadhaar verification service. This service can be used to confirm whether a 12-digit Aadhaar number exists in the UIDAI system.
A common misunderstanding is that every Aadhaar card has a fixed expiry date. Aadhaar is different from documents such as a passport or driving licence. The important question is generally whether the Aadhaar number is valid and active in the UIDAI system.
UIDAI states that Aadhaar can be verified online through its official verification service. The verification result can also provide limited information such as the Aadhaar holder’s age band, gender, state of residence and masked mobile number.
What does Aadhaar validity mean?
When people say they want to check their Aadhaar card validity, they may actually mean one of several things:
- Whether the 12-digit Aadhaar number exists
- Whether the Aadhaar number is valid in the UIDAI system
- Whether an Aadhaar document is genuine
- Whether an Aadhaar number has been cancelled or suspended
- Whether the details printed on an Aadhaar document appear authentic
- Whether an e-Aadhaar is legally valid
These are not exactly the same checks.
UIDAI’s online Verify Aadhaar service is primarily intended to establish whether an Aadhaar number exists and can be verified. UIDAI’s current technical documentation also distinguishes between invalid numbers, cancelled Aadhaar numbers and Aadhaar numbers that are suspended or not active.
How to check Aadhaar card validity on UIDAI
You can verify an Aadhaar number online through the official UIDAI website.
Step 1: Open the official UIDAI website
Go to the official UIDAI website and access its Aadhaar verification service.
Use only the official UIDAI website when checking Aadhaar information. Avoid entering your Aadhaar number on unknown websites claiming to provide Aadhaar verification.
Step 2: Open the Verify Aadhaar service
Select the Verify Aadhaar option available through UIDAI’s Aadhaar services.
UIDAI has provided an online verification facility through which an Aadhaar number can be checked.
Step 3: Enter the Aadhaar number
Enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number that you want to verify.
Check the number carefully before submitting it. A typing mistake can result in an invalid or unsuccessful verification.
Step 4: Complete the security verification
Complete the security or CAPTCHA verification shown on the UIDAI page and submit the request.
Step 5: Check the verification result
UIDAI will process the number and display the relevant verification result.
The service can confirm whether the Aadhaar number exists. Depending on the result, limited information about the Aadhaar holder may also be displayed, such as an age band, gender, state of residence and masked mobile number.
How to know whether an Aadhaar number is valid
The simplest way is to use UIDAI’s official Verify Aadhaar facility.
If UIDAI successfully verifies the number, it indicates that the Aadhaar number exists in the UIDAI system.
If the number cannot be verified, do not immediately assume that the physical Aadhaar card is fake. First check whether the 12-digit number was entered correctly and try the official service again.
UIDAI’s technical documentation includes separate status/error conditions for an invalid Aadhaar number, a cancelled Aadhaar number and an Aadhaar number that is suspended or not active.
Does Aadhaar card have an expiry date?
Generally, Aadhaar should not be treated like a document that automatically expires on a particular date.
The Aadhaar system allows Aadhaar number holders to establish their identity through online authentication or offline verification. UIDAI describes Aadhaar as a portable identity that can be verified electronically across the country.
Therefore, seeing an old issue date on an Aadhaar document does not by itself mean that the Aadhaar number has expired.
However, Aadhaar information may need to be updated when personal details change or when UIDAI’s applicable update requirements apply.
Is old Aadhaar card still valid?
An older Aadhaar card does not automatically become invalid simply because it was issued several years ago.
What matters is the status of the Aadhaar number and whether the document or digital Aadhaar being presented can be appropriately verified.
UIDAI also recognizes different forms of Aadhaar, including the Aadhaar letter, e-Aadhaar, masked e-Aadhaar, Aadhaar card and m-Aadhaar.
Is e-Aadhaar valid?
Yes. UIDAI states that e-Aadhaar has the same validity as the physical Aadhaar copy.
e-Aadhaar is a password-protected electronic copy of Aadhaar and is digitally signed by UIDAI.
This means you do not necessarily need to carry the original physical Aadhaar letter whenever an Aadhaar document is accepted for a particular purpose.
How to verify a physical Aadhaar card
Online number verification is not the only method available.
Aadhaar documents contain a Secure QR Code that can be used for offline verification. UIDAI explains that the QR code contains demographic information and a photograph and is digitally signed by UIDAI, helping establish whether the information is authentic.
This can be particularly useful when an organisation needs to verify an Aadhaar document presented by another person.
Can I check someone else’s Aadhaar validity?
UIDAI’s Verify Aadhaar service can be used to verify an Aadhaar number presented for verification.
UIDAI has specifically described Aadhaar verification as a way to establish the authenticity of an Aadhaar number. It has also mentioned situations such as employee, domestic worker, driver or tenant verification as examples where Aadhaar verification may be useful.
However, Aadhaar information should always be handled responsibly. Do not collect, publish or share another person’s Aadhaar details unnecessarily.
What if UIDAI shows that Aadhaar is not active?
If the verification result indicates that an Aadhaar number is not active, suspended or cancelled, the issue should be taken seriously.
UIDAI’s current technical information lists separate conditions for:
| Result/status | What it indicates |
|---|---|
| Valid Aadhaar | The Aadhaar number can be verified |
| Invalid Aadhaar | The number may be incorrect or unavailable in the system |
| Aadhaar cancelled | UIDAI has cancelled the Aadhaar number |
| Aadhaar suspended/not active | The Aadhaar is currently not active |
| Unknown error | The system could not identify the specific issue |
These status descriptions are based on UIDAI’s published technical documentation.
If your own Aadhaar shows an unexpected inactive, suspended or cancelled status, contact UIDAI through its official support channels rather than relying on third-party websites.
Can Aadhaar validity be checked through the Aadhaar App?
UIDAI’s newer Aadhaar App provides several Aadhaar-related services, including downloading e-Aadhaar, checking authentication history, biometric lock/unlock and sharing verifiable credentials.
UIDAI has also stated that Aadhaar Verifiable Credentials shared or verified through the Aadhaar App are legally valid forms for establishing identity, subject to the applicable framework.
Aadhaar validity vs Aadhaar authentication
These terms are sometimes confused.
Aadhaar verification checks whether an Aadhaar number exists and can be verified.
Aadhaar authentication is a different process in which an Aadhaar holder’s identity is verified through an authentication request using the permitted authentication mechanisms.
So, a successful Aadhaar number verification should not automatically be interpreted as confirmation that every detail in a person’s physical document is correct or that every possible Aadhaar service will work.
What should you do if Aadhaar verification fails?
If the verification does not work, try these steps:
- Recheck the 12-digit Aadhaar number.
- Make sure there are no typing errors.
- Use the official UIDAI website rather than an unofficial Aadhaar-checking website.
- Try the verification again after some time if there appears to be a technical problem.
- If your own Aadhaar continues to show an unexpected status, contact UIDAI for assistance.
Do not share your Aadhaar number publicly in comments, social media posts or online forums while asking for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check Aadhaar card validity online?
Use UIDAI’s official Verify Aadhaar service and enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number. The service can confirm whether the Aadhaar number exists in the UIDAI system.
Does Aadhaar expire?
Aadhaar should not generally be treated as a card with a fixed expiry date. Its validity is related to the status of the Aadhaar number in the UIDAI system.
Can I verify Aadhaar without visiting an Aadhaar centre?
Yes. UIDAI provides online Aadhaar verification. Aadhaar documents can also be verified offline using their Secure QR Code.
Is e-Aadhaar as valid as the physical Aadhaar card?
Yes. UIDAI states that e-Aadhaar has the same validity as the physical Aadhaar copy.
Can I check whether an Aadhaar number has been cancelled?
UIDAI’s system distinguishes cancelled Aadhaar numbers from other verification errors. If an Aadhaar number shows a cancelled status, the Aadhaar holder should contact UIDAI and follow its instructions.
Can I verify an Aadhaar card using its QR code?
Yes. UIDAI provides Secure QR Code-based offline verification for Aadhaar documents.
Is it safe to check Aadhaar validity on third-party websites?
It is better to use UIDAI’s official website or official Aadhaar applications. Avoid entering your Aadhaar number on websites that are not operated or authorized by UIDAI.
Checking Aadhaar validity is different from checking an expiry date printed on a document. The safest approach is to verify the 12-digit Aadhaar number through UIDAI’s official service and use the Secure QR Code or other UIDAI-supported verification methods when document authenticity needs to be established.
For Aadhaar-related services, always prefer official UIDAI platforms and avoid sharing your Aadhaar number unnecessarily.