Aadhaar Validity for OCI, Nepal, Bhutan & Foreigners 2026

Aadhaar is one of the most used identity documents in India. But many people get confused when the person applying is an OCI cardholder, a citizen of Nepal or Bhutan, or a foreign national living in India. The most common question is simple: Is Aadhaar valid for lifetime for foreign nationals? The answer is no. Aadhaar issued to a resident foreign national is not always valid for life.

Aadhaar validity for OCI, Nepal/Bhutan citizens, LTV holders, and other foreign nationals depends on the applicant’s category. As per Aadhaar UIDAI rules, resident foreign nationals can apply for Aadhaar only after living in India for 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately before the enrolment application date. This guide explains the latest Aadhaar validity rules in simple words.

Applicant Type	Aadhaar Validity
OCI cardholder	10 years from enrolment
Citizen of Nepal	10 years from enrolment
Citizen of Bhutan	10 years from enrolment
Long Term Visa holder	Till LTV validity
Other foreign national	Till visa / FRRO / FRO registration certificate or residential permit validity

UIDAI’s 2026 regulation also clearly mentions that Aadhaar validity is 10 years for OCI cardholders and Nepal/Bhutan citizens, while LTV holders and other foreign nationals get validity linked to their visa or FRRO/FRO document.

A foreign national can apply for Aadhaar only if they are a resident of India under Aadhaar rules. According to the Aadhaar Act, a “resident” means a person who has lived in India for 182 days or more in the 12 months immediately before applying for enrolment. UIDAI includes these groups under resident foreign nationals:

OCI cardholders, Indian visa holders, Long Term Visa holders, and citizens of Nepal or Bhutan who have stayed in India for 182 days or more before applying. So, simply having an OCI card, Nepal citizenship, Bhutan citizenship, or Indian visa is not enough. The applicant must also meet the residence condition.

No. Aadhaar is not proof of Indian citizenship.This is very important because many people misunderstand Aadhaar. The Aadhaar Act clearly says that an Aadhaar number, or its authentication, does not by itself prove citizenship or domicile. So, an OCI cardholder, Nepal citizen, Bhutan citizen, or foreign national may get Aadhaar if eligible, but that does not make them an Indian citizen.

Aadhaar is mainly an identity number for residents. It helps with identity verification, address records, banking, mobile services, and other allowed services. But it does not replace a passport, visa, OCI card, citizenship certificate, or immigration document.

OCI cardholders can apply for Aadhaar as resident foreign nationals if they have stayed in India for 182 days or more in the previous 12 months. For OCI cardholders, Aadhaar is valid for 10 years from the date of enrolment. UIDAI’s FAQ also says OCI cardholders can enrol as resident foreign nationals and must submit a valid OCI card along with a valid foreign passport as proof of identity.

Documents usually required for OCI cardholders

For Aadhaar validity for OCI cardholders, the applicant generally needs a valid OCI card, a valid foreign passport, and proof of Indian address. The proof of address should be from UIDAI’s acceptable supporting documents list. The address must be in India because the person is applying as a resident foreign national.

Helpful tip: Make sure your name is consistent across your OCI card, passport, and address document. Small differences in name order or spelling can delay the process.

Citizens of Nepal can apply for Aadhaar as resident foreign nationals if they meet the 182-day stay condition. For Nepal citizens, Aadhaar is valid for 10 years from the date of enrolment. UIDAI confirms that citizens of Nepal can enrol as resident foreign nationals for Aadhaar.

Documents usually required for Nepal citizens

UIDAI says Nepal citizens can submit a passport of Nepal. If a passport is not available, they may submit other accepted identity documents, such as a Nepalese citizenship certificate, voter identity card issued by the Election Commission of Nepal, or a limited-validity photo identity certificate issued by the Nepalese Mission in India. They also need proof of Indian address from UIDAI’s valid document list.

Helpful tip: If you are using two alternate documents instead of a passport, make sure the details match. Mismatched names or addresses may cause rejection.

Citizens of Bhutan can also apply for Aadhaar as resident foreign nationals after meeting the 182-day stay rule. For Bhutan citizens, Aadhaar is valid for 10 years from the enrolment date. UIDAI includes Bhutan citizens in the resident foreign national category.

Documents usually required for Bhutan citizens

Bhutan citizens can submit a Bhutan passport. If a passport is not available, UIDAI allows other documents such as a Bhutanese citizenship certificate, voter identity card issued by the Election Commission of Bhutan, or a limited-validity photo identity certificate issued by the Royal Bhutanese Mission in India. They also need proof of address in India.

For other foreign nationals, Aadhaar validity is usually linked to the validity of their visa, registration certificate, or residential permit. UIDAI says foreign nationals with a valid Indian visa need a valid visa along with a valid foreign passport as proof of identity.

For proof of address, they may submit a valid registration certificate or residential permit issued by FRRO/FRO, or another valid Indian address document from UIDAI’s list. This means Aadhaar may stop being valid when the visa or permit expires. If your visa or residential permit is renewed, you may need to update Aadhaar details as per UIDAI rules.

Long Term Visa holders are also treated as resident foreign nationals if they meet the required stay condition. For LTV holders, Aadhaar is valid till the validity of the Long Term Visa. UIDAI’s foreign national FAQ mentions that LTV holders can enrol and must submit valid LTV-related documents. This category usually applies to certain eligible foreign nationals under Indian government rules. The applicant should carry the LTV document, passport if required, and proof of Indian address.

UIDAI has separate forms for resident foreign nationals. For resident foreign nationals aged 18 years or above, UIDAI uses Form 7. For resident foreign nationals aged below 18 years, UIDAI uses Form 8. UIDAI’s enrolment form page lists Form 7 for resident foreign nationals aged 18+ and Form 8 for resident foreign nationals below 18. UIDAI’s Form 7 also asks for details such as nationality, foreign passport, OCI card, LTV, Indian visa, date of entry into India, email, mobile number, address, and supporting documents.

Yes. UIDAI says email is mandatory for resident foreign national enrolment, and it is validated through OTP during enrolment. Mobile number may be useful for OTP-based services, updates, and online Aadhaar access, but UIDAI specifically marks email as mandatory for resident foreign national enrolment.

Resident foreign nationals need to visit a UIDAI Aadhaar Seva Kendra or designated enrolment centre. UIDAI says resident foreign nationals should visit Aadhaar Seva Kendra for Aadhaar enrolment. Before visiting, it is better to prepare:

Valid passport or approved identity document, valid OCI/visa/LTV/FRRO/FRO document if applicable, Indian address proof, email access for OTP, and original documents for verification. Do not rely only on photocopies. Carry originals because the operator may need to verify them.

UIDAI provides an Aadhaar verification service. It can be used to check whether an Aadhaar number is valid and not deactivated. UIDAI’s Aadhaar Services page says Aadhaar number can be verified to confirm if it is valid and not deactivated. You can check validity by using UIDAI’s official “Verify Aadhaar Number” service. Avoid third-party websites that ask for sensitive data.

Safety tip: Never share your full Aadhaar number, OTP, biometrics, passport details, visa details, or OCI details on unknown websites.

This is a common case for people who had Aadhaar as Indian residents and later obtained foreign citizenship. UIDAI’s FAQ says that if an Indian had Aadhaar and is now residing outside India after obtaining foreign citizenship, no change is required as of now.

UIDAI also says such persons may keep using Aadhaar until further intimation through UIDAI’s website or other official modes. Still, users should always check the latest UIDAI update before using Aadhaar for important financial, tax, banking, or legal work.

The biggest mistake is thinking Aadhaar is proof of citizenship. It is not. Another common mistake is applying before completing the 182-day stay requirement. For resident foreign nationals, the 182-day rule matters. Many applications also face problems because the name on the passport, OCI card, visa, citizenship document, or address proof does not match.

Use the same spelling and order of name wherever possible. Foreign nationals should also avoid expired documents. UIDAI’s 2026 rules say documents must be valid, must belong to the applicant, and must be verifiable from the issuing authority or source.