How to Apply for Aadhaar Card for Child/Newborn – Baal Aadhaar Complete Guide

If you have a newborn baby or a child below 5 years of age, you can apply for their Aadhaar card right away. The government has a special Aadhaar card for children called the Baal Aadhaar card. It is printed in blue colour and is completely free to get.

In this guide, we will explain everything in simple language — what Baal Aadhaar is, what documents you need, and how to apply step by step.

Table of Contents

What Is Baal Aadhaar Card?

Baal Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique Aadhaar number issued by UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) for children below 5 years of age, including newborns. It is the same as a regular Aadhaar card but printed in blue colour to distinguish it from the adult Aadhaar card.

The key difference is that no fingerprint or iris scan (biometrics) is taken for children under 5 years. Only the child’s photograph is captured. The Baal Aadhaar is linked to the Aadhaar number of one of the parents or the legal guardian.

Who Is Eligible for Baal Aadhaar?

Any child who is a resident of India can get a Baal Aadhaar card. This includes:

Newborn babies (even a few days old)
Children below 5 years of age
Children between 5 and 18 years (they follow a slightly different process with biometrics)

Note: For children above 5 years, biometric data (fingerprints and iris scan) is collected at the time of enrolment, just like adults.

Why Is Baal Aadhaar Important?

Getting a Baal Aadhaar card early for your child is very useful. Here is why:

Required for school admissions and scholarships
Needed for applying for a child’s passport
Useful for accessing government welfare schemes and subsidies
Acts as an official proof of age and identity for the child
Required for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programs
Helps link the child’s records with the parents’ Aadhaar

Documents Required for Baal Aadhaar Card

Before visiting the enrolment centre, keep the following documents ready:

For Children Below 5 Years (Indian Residents):

Birth Certificate of the child (mandatory for children born after 1st October 2023)
Aadhaar card of one or both parents or legal guardian (for authentication)
Proof of Address of the parent/guardian (if not already in their Aadhaar)
Mobile number and email ID (optional but recommended)

For NRI Children:

Valid Indian Passport of the child (mandatory as Proof of Identity)
Aadhaar number of one or both parents or legal guardian
The child must have stayed in India for at least 182 days

Important: The parents must carry original documents. All originals will be returned to you after scanning at the enrolment centre.

How to Apply for Baal Aadhaar Card – Step by Step

Currently, the Baal Aadhaar enrolment process must be done by visiting an authorised Aadhaar enrolment centre in person. There is no fully online process for fresh enrolment.

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Find the nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre. You can locate one by visiting the official UIDAI website at uidai.gov.in and clicking on “Locate Enrolment Centre”. Many post offices, banks, and government offices have enrolment centres.

Step 2: Visit the enrolment centre with your child and at least one parent or legal guardian. Carry all the required original documents listed above.

Step 3: Collect the Aadhaar Enrolment Form at the centre or download it from the UIDAI website before visiting. Fill in the child’s details — name, date of birth, gender, and address.

Step 4: Submit the filled form along with the required documents to the enrolment operator.

Step 5: The operator will capture the child’s photograph. No fingerprint or iris scan will be taken for children below 5 years.

Step 6: One or both parents must give their biometric authentication (fingerprint or iris scan) on behalf of the child and sign the consent on the enrolment form.

Step 7: After the process is complete, the operator will give you an acknowledgement slip with an Enrolment ID. Keep this slip safe — you can use it to track your child’s Aadhaar status.

Step 8: The Baal Aadhaar card will be processed and sent by post to your registered address within a few weeks. Once processed, you can also download it online using the Enrolment ID.

Note: The entire enrolment process is completely free of charge.

How to Book an Online Appointment (Optional)

To avoid waiting in queues, you can book an appointment online before visiting the enrolment centre:

Step 1: Go to appointments.uidai.gov.in

Step 2: Select your city and the nearest enrolment centre.

Step 3: Choose an available date and time slot.

Step 4: Enter your mobile number and confirm the appointment.

Step 5: Visit the centre at your scheduled time with all documents.

What Happens After the Child Turns 5?

The Baal Aadhaar card is valid only until the child turns 5 years old. Once the child reaches 5 years of age, the Baal Aadhaar becomes inactive and must be updated with biometrics.

Here is what you need to do:

At age 5: Visit an Aadhaar enrolment centre and provide the child’s biometrics — all 10 fingerprints and iris scan. This is called the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU). This is free of charge.
At age 15: The biometric update process must be done again as the child’s biometrics change with age. This is also free of charge.

Important: If the biometric update is not done within the grace period (age 5–7 and age 15–17), the Aadhaar card may get temporarily deactivated. This can affect school admissions, scholarships, and government benefit transfers. So make sure to complete the update on time.

How to Check Baal Aadhaar Status Online

After applying, you can check whether your child’s Aadhaar has been processed using the Enrolment ID from the acknowledgement slip.

To check the status, visit our guide on How to Check Aadhaar Update Status Online — the same process applies for tracking new enrolments too.

How to Download Baal Aadhaar After It Is Generated

Once UIDAI processes your child’s Aadhaar, you can download it online as a PDF. Visit our step-by-step guide on How to Download Aadhaar Card Online and follow the same steps using the child’s Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID.

Want to Update Mobile Number in the Child’s Aadhaar?

If you want to add or change the mobile number linked to the child’s Aadhaar card, read our detailed guide on How to Update Mobile Number in Aadhaar Card.