How to Avail an Aadhaar Card if you are a Non-Resident Indian?

NRI Eligibility Criteria to Apply for Aadhaar

Given below are the eligibility criteria one will have to fulfill to apply for Aadhaar:

1. The applicant must be at least three years old.

1. Applicants must hold a current Indian passport. Previously, the law required both foreigners and NRIs to have spent at least 182 consecutive days in the nation before the date of application for Aadhaar card enrollment. After the 2019 Union Budget, it no longer applies to NRIs.

Documents to Apply for Aadhaar by an NRI

Given below are the documents required to be submitted to apply for an Aadhaar by an NRI:

1. You may use your Aadhaar letter, e-Aadhaar, or mAadhaar profile as identification documentation if you don't have your actual Aadhaar card with you during any kind of transaction or procedure. They all have equal value and accomplish the same goal.

1. Despite the fact that the Aadhaar card is a substantial document, you cannot rely on it exclusively to access services. Authorities also do further check to avert even the smallest mismatch.

Following are the steps which an NRI can observe to avail of an Aadhaar card at the Aadhaar enrolment centre:

Submission of Documents

The first step to availing an Aadhaar card is to submit all the relevant documents that establish the identity of the non-resident Indian. The documents he/she will have to furnish will include a birth certificate, photo ID card, and school certificate. The submitted documents will then be verified by the officials to determine whether or not the individual is eligible for an Aadhaar card.

Finger Scanning

After an NRI has submitted his or her paperwork, he or she will be called for a biometric scan, which will include scanning all ten of his or her fingers to establish a unique identity.

The biometric scan is required to verify that the individual's identity is unique and precise, hence the person must finish the process at an Aadhaar card enrollment Centre.

Iris Scanning

The authorities will also scan his/her iris to ensure that the identity will never have the risk of being confused with someone else's. The iris scanning will also be held in the Aadhaar enrolment center.

Photograph

Once the scanning procedures are complete, the Aadhaar applicants will have to have their photograph taken by the web camera at the enrolment centre. The photograph will then be added to the Aadhaar documents and they will receive a physical copy of Aadhaar Card from the UIDAI.

It takes around 60-90 days for the authorities to dispatch the Aadhaar card, but one can track the status of his/her Aadhaar card online by visiting the UIDAI website with the enrolment number (EID) mentioned in the acknowledgement slip.

The amount of time taken for a UIDAI card to dispatch an NRI's Aadhaar card is the same as the amount of time taken to grant a resident's Aadhaar card.

The UIDAI also provides facilities for both residents and non-resident Indians to download e-Aadhaar card from its website. The digital copy of Aadhaar is equally accepted for all kinds of services.

Steps to Apply Aadhaar Card Online for NRIs and Foreigners

Given below are the steps to apply for Aadhaar for NRIs online:

Step 1: Visit the UIDAI's official website.

Step 2: To schedule an appointment, click 'My Aadhaar' and choose 'Book an Appointment' from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: Select your preferred location in India and then click 'Proceed to Book an Appointment'.

Step 4: When prompted, enter your Indian mobile number and security code before selecting 'Generate OTP'.

Step 5: If the security code is not available, you can also enter your email address and select 'Send OTP'.

Step 6: Choose an appointment time on the following page to finish the process.

What Relevance does the Aadhaar Card have for Indians who are not Residents?

If you intend to visit India again or even just remain for a while, your Aadhaar card is a vital piece of documentation. Here are certain situations in which having an NRI Aadhaar card may be beneficial.

1. The KYC process can be sped up for all domestic transactions by having an Aadhaar or e-Aadhaar.

1. It is one of the most frequently approved pieces of identification documentation for tasks like opening a bank account or completing paperwork relating to real estate. For non-resident Indians, having an Aadhaar card is crucial for employment, particularly in the government sector.

1. You must enrol in Aadhaar in order to file income tax returns, per Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act of 1961. This will make filing ITRs much easier overall.

Things that NRIs must know about Aadhaar

There are certain things that an NRI must be aware of before applying for an Aadhaar. They are given below:

1. Although many government processes can be made simpler and faster with an Aadhaar card, non-resident Indians are not required to have one.

1. If a foreigner does not meet other qualifications, it does not give them the right to stay in the nation and is not evidence of Indian citizenship.

1. If NRIs do not want to take advantage of section 7 of the Aadhaar Act, there is no compulsion that forces them to link their bank accounts with Aadhaar.

1. You may use your Aadhaar letter, e-Aadhaar, or mAadhaar profile as identification documentation if you don't have your actual Aadhaar card with you during any kind of transaction or procedure. They all have equal value and accomplish the same goal.

1. Despite the fact that the Aadhaar card is a substantial document, you cannot rely on it exclusively to access services. Authorities also do further check to avert even the smallest mismatch.

NRIs, Aadhaar and Income Tax Returns

It is required to cite the Aadhaar Number/Aadhaar Enrolment ID when filing income tax returns and applying for a Permanent Account Number, according to Section 139AA of the Income-Tax Act, 1961, as amended by the Finance Act, 2017.

This compulsory quotation of an Aadhaar number/Enrolment ID applies to people who are qualified to receive an Aadhaar number.

Only a resident individual is eligible for an Aadhaar number, according to the Aadhaar Act of 2016, and a resident is defined as someone who has lived in India for a time or period of 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for Aadhaar.

Therefore, Section 139AA of the Income-Tax Act, 1961 shall not apply to those individuals who are not residents, as per the Aadhaar Act, 2016.

Furthermore, the rule of submitting the Aadhaar number while filing Income Tax Returns is not applicable to NRIs.

Aadhaar Card Application for NRL Children

If the child is under the age of five, one of the parents must authenticate on the child's behalf in addition to giving permission by signing the enrollment form. A valid Indian passport is required as identification in the event that the child is an NRI.

The same two requirements apply if the youngster is between the ages of 5 and 18 in this situation.