NRIs in UAE can now apply for Aadhaar card

The government body has decided to do away with the 182-day waiting period.

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) can now apply for Aadhaar, India's unique identity card, on arrival or by scheduling a prior appointment ahead of their arrival in India, announced the Government of India on Monday.
Passports of Indian expatriates in the UAE would be accepted as proof of identity, proof of address (PoA) and date of birth document, said the Unique Notification Authority of India (UIDAI), the Indian government body that issues Aadhaar. The government body has decided to do away with the 182-day waiting period, according to a notification issued by the UIDAI.
Following the notification, the UIDAI has also come out with a circular stating that "NRI after his arrival in India, shall be entitled to obtain Aadhaar number". The application procedure would remain the same, said a source with the UIDAI, adding that NRIs with Indian passport can now apply for biometric ID on arrival or by scheduling a prior appointment, thus doing away with the requirement for a mandatory 182-day waiting period. "In case NRI's passport does not have Indian address, he shall be allowed to submit any of the other UIDAI-approved documents as proof of address," said the circular issued on Monday.
An official at the UIDAI told Khaleej Times that interested applicants could log on to https://uidai.gov.in/ to apply for their Aadhaar card. "It is not mandatory to apply for Aadhaar, only if NRIs wish to do so."
He added: "Applicants can book an online appointment ahead of their arrival in India and submit their passport copy and other documents to issue the ID card." The Aadhaar card, once issued, will be mailed to the applicant on an address provided at the time of application.
On July 5, during her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said: "I propose to consider issuing Aadhaar card for non-resident Indians with Indian passports after their arrival in India," without the stipulated waiting period.
UAE residents have embraced the new reform, calling it a realisation of a long-time dream. K V Shamsudheen, chairman of the Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust said: "I am very, very happy. For the past five years, Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust had made an untiring campaign to get Aadhaar card for Non-resident Indians. Permitting NRIs to obtain Aadhaar will make an end for the difficulties faced by them. On behalf of all NRIs, we appreciate the government for permitting NRIs to obtain Aadhaar."
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

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