Documents Required For Name Change In Aadhar Card

Aadhar is one of the most important documents for an individual of Indian origin. It is one of the most trusted and widely accepted forms of identification in the country. As a result, keeping it updated is crucial. 

One of the more common forms of updation is changing your name. The very act of changing your name in Aadhar due to marriage, legal change, etc., can be a hassle unless you understand the methodology.

In this article, we will primarily cover the documents required for a name change on an Aadhaar card and how to do it offline and online. Therefore, let us dive right in and look at these aspects in detail.  

Who Can Apply For A Name Change In an Aadhar Card?

Aadhar is not just a formal piece of documentation. It is your entire identity. It comes in handy for everything: opening a bank account, receiving governmental aid, employment verification, etc. Therefore, keeping it updated is important.  

However, the question that becomes important is, ‘Can anybody do it?’ The answer is yes. Any individual of Indian origin who is 18 years of age or older can change their name in Aadhaar. 

The reason for this change could be a change in marital status, a correction of a spelling error, or a personal choice. In short, you could change the name for a plethora of reasons, but knowing which documents are required for a name change on an Aadhaar card is crucial. Without this, you cannot move a single inch forward.  

Documents You Will Need

Changing your name on your Aadhaar card is not easy. It is a documentation-heavy process. As a result, you need to come prepared. In other words, you must have a sense of clarity on which documents you need to present and which documents you need to have at your disposal. 

Therefore, please follow along to learn about the documents you will need during the documentation-heavy process of changing your name in Aadhaar. Just remember that UIDAI requires all the following documents. Hence, these are mandatory.  

Proof Of Identity

The first thing that you need to present is proof of identity. Proof of identity is crucial and must match your updated name. Some of the more popular documents that serve this purpose include: 

• Passport 
• PAN Card 
• Voter ID 
• Driving License 
• Government-issued Employee ID 
• Photo Passbook from Bank/Post Office 
• NREGS Job Card 
• Arms License 
• Photo ID from a Recognized Educational Institution 

All of these documents are valid proof of identity. However, you need to present original papers and low-resolution photocopies. If your name change is due to a change in marital status, then the POI must reflect that as well. Otherwise, the process can become more complicated.  

Proof Of Date Of Birth

Once you are done with the proof of identity, you need to present a detailed proof of birth. Proof of birth decides the applicant’s age. Which can help the authorities to ascertain that you are above the eligible age: 

• Birth Certificate 
• Passport 
• SSLC/10th Certificate 
• Certificate from a Group A Gazetted Officer on official letterhead

One small thing about the process is that, many times, a person might not be asked to present these documents. However, keeping these documents handy can be crucial, helping you stay prepared.  

Proof Of Address

If you are planning to change your name legally, you will need several pieces of documentation. One of them is proof of address. Proof of address verifies that the application is made by you and not an imposter. Here are some of the legible proof of address documents that you need: 

• Passport 
• Bank Statement or Passbook 
• Post Office Statement 
• Ration Card 
• Voter ID 
• Driving License 
• Utility Bills (Electricity, Water, Gas – not older than 3 months) 
• Property Tax Receipt (not older than 1 year) 
• Credit Card Statement (not older than 3 months) 

However, please make sure that your current address and the address on the documentation match. Otherwise, you might hit a deadlock.

Special Case Documents

Changing your name is not common. In fact, only a handful of people actually undertake it. As a result, in most cases, the reason falls under a special case. In that case, you need to present specialized documentation. Here are the documents that you need to demonstrate if your situation falls under a special case: 

• Marriage: Marriage certificate or spouse’s Aadhar card (optional but helpful) 
• Divorce: Divorce decree copy 
• Legal Name Change: Gazette notification copy 
• Spelling Correction: Any government-issued ID showing the correct spelling

General Guidelines

Presenting documentation is not enough. These pieces of documentation must also qualify certain guidelines. Here are some guidelines that these pieces of documentation need to fulfill:

• Originals or certified copies are preferred. 
• Self-attested copies may be accepted for online updates. 
• Documents must be valid, legible, and preferably in English or Hindi. 

You must prepare for the possibility that multiple documents may be requested if verification is inconclusive. As a result, you need to be patient and provide whatever document is asked for of you.  

Step-By-Step Procedure

The process of changing your name in Aadhar is not just about the right documentation. It is also about knowing the right procedure. Thankfully, it can be done in two ways: online or offline. Here is a brisk rundown of both. 

Online Method

The online method is comparatively newer and is aimed towards convenience. Here is the procedure: 

• Visit the UIDAI official portal. 
• Log in using your Aadhar number and OTP. 
• Select “Update Aadhar” and choose “Update Name.” 
• Upload scanned copies of valid documents. 
• Submit and note the URN (Update Request Number) for tracking. 
• Processing time is typically 7–10 days. 

Offline Method

If the offline method seems too daunting for a Luddite, then here is a brisk rundown of the offline method as well: 

• Visit the nearest Aadhar enrolment/update Centre. 
• Fill out the Aadhar Update/Correction Form. 
• Submit original documents for verification. 
• Biometric authentication may be required. 
• Collect the acknowledgment slip to track the updated status.

Is It Important?

Finally, we have reached the end of our article discussing the documents required for name change in Aadhaar card. But the real question persists. Is it necessary? In all honesty, it is not a mandatory procedure.

It can only come into question if you are planning to make some life changes. Otherwise, it is simply an extra hassle. If your name is correct, or there is no change in your marital status, then we do not see any necessity of going through this hassle. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

We have answered almost all the necessary questions regarding the change of name in the Aadhar card. However, people do indeed need a clear understanding of the three questions. Here they are: