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Baal Aadhaar for Children: How Parents Can Apply, Documents Needed and Updates Required at Ages 5 and 15
Baal Aadhaar Application Process: Aadhaar is widely used as an identity document across India for accessing various services and completing verification requirements. Parents can also enrol their children for Aadhaar, including children below five years of age.
Aadhaar issued to a young child is commonly referred to as Baal Aadhaar. Like an adult Aadhaar, it carries a unique 12-digit Aadhaar number and contains demographic information relating to the child.
The enrolment process for children, however, is slightly different because fingerprints and iris scans are not collected from children below five years of age. These biometric details are added later through a mandatory update after the child turns five.
Parents planning to enrol their child should understand the application process, documentation requirements and future biometric updates.
What Is Baal Aadhaar?
Baal Aadhaar refers to Aadhaar enrolment for children, particularly those below the age of five.
It provides the child with a unique 12-digit identification number. Information associated with the enrolment can include the child's name, date of birth, gender and photograph.
For children under five, biometric information such as fingerprints and iris scans is not captured during initial enrolment because these features continue to develop as the child grows.
Instead, the child's Aadhaar is linked through the prescribed parent or guardian-based enrolment process.
Where Can Parents Apply for Baal Aadhaar?
Parents or guardians can visit an authorised Aadhaar Enrolment Centre or Aadhaar Seva Kendra to enrol their child.
Aadhaar enrolment facilities may also be available through certain other authorised locations.
In some cases, Aadhaar enrolment facilities for newborns may be integrated with birth-registration or hospital-related services, depending on availability in the particular location.
Parents should verify the nearest authorised enrolment facility through official UIDAI channels before visiting.
How to Apply for Your Child's Aadhaar
Parents who want to plan their visit in advance can check whether online appointment booking is available for their Aadhaar centre.
The general process is as follows:
- Visit the official UIDAI website.
- Go to the relevant Aadhaar service or appointment section.
- Choose the option to book an appointment where available.
- Enter the requested location and mobile information.
- Complete mobile verification using the OTP, if required.
- Select an Aadhaar enrolment centre and an available appointment slot.
- Visit the centre with your child at the scheduled time.
- Carry the required original documents.
- Complete the Aadhaar enrolment form and verification process.
- After enrolment, collect the acknowledgement slip.
The acknowledgement slip contains an Enrolment ID (EID) that can be useful for tracking the status of the Aadhaar application.
Where appointment booking is not required or available, parents may also be able to visit an authorised enrolment centre directly.
What Documents May Be Needed?
Parents should carry documents required to establish the child's identity, date of birth and relationship with the parent or guardian, according to the applicable UIDAI requirements.
A child's birth certificate can be an important document for enrolment.
The Aadhaar details of the parent or guardian may also be required as part of the process.
Document requirements can depend on the child's age and the enrolment circumstances. Parents should therefore check the latest UIDAI list of acceptable documents before visiting the centre.
This can prevent a wasted trip caused by missing or unsuitable documentation.
Are Fingerprints Taken for Children Below Five?
No regular fingerprint and iris biometrics are captured for a child below five years of age during the initial Aadhaar enrolment process.
The child's photograph is captured, while enrolment is completed using the applicable demographic information and parent or guardian details.
This is why a biometric update becomes important after the child reaches the age of five.
Aadhaar Biometric Update Is Required After Age 5
Once a child turns five years old, their Aadhaar needs an important biometric update.
At this stage, the child's:
- Fingerprints
- Iris scans
- Photograph
are captured or updated in the Aadhaar system.
This process is commonly referred to as a Mandatory Biometric Update.
Parents should not ignore this step because the Aadhaar created when the child was below five does not contain the child's own fingerprint and iris biometrics.
Another Aadhaar Update Is Needed at Age 15
The next important stage comes when the child reaches 15 years of age.
Biometric information needs to be updated again because physical characteristics captured at a younger age can change as a child grows.
The update helps ensure that the Aadhaar record contains current biometric information.
Parents should therefore remember two important ages after obtaining Aadhaar for a young child:
Age 5 – Mandatory biometric update
Age 15 – Biometric update again
Applicable demographic information should also be reviewed and corrected whenever necessary.
How Can Baal Aadhaar Be Useful?
A child's Aadhaar may be useful as an identity document in a variety of situations, depending on the requirements of the institution or service involved.
It may be used for identity verification in connection with certain government schemes and benefits.
Aadhaar details may also be requested for some school or education-related processes, scholarship-related activities or other services where Aadhaar-based identification is applicable.
It can also be useful in certain healthcare, insurance and government-service contexts.
However, parents should remember that the requirement for Aadhaar can vary depending on the service. They should verify the specific rules of the institution or scheme concerned.
Keep the Enrolment Acknowledgement Slip Safe
After completing Aadhaar enrolment, parents receive an acknowledgement containing the enrolment details.
It is advisable to keep this information safe until the Aadhaar is successfully generated.
The Enrolment ID can help parents track the status of the application if the Aadhaar is not generated immediately.
Parents should also make sure that the child's name, date of birth and other information entered during enrolment are accurate. Correcting mistakes later can require an additional update process.
Check Details Carefully Before Completing Enrolment
Small errors in names or dates can create difficulties later, particularly when Aadhaar information needs to match school, birth or other official records.
Parents should therefore carefully review the information submitted during enrolment.
The spelling of the child's name, date of birth, gender and parent or guardian details should be checked before the process is completed.
Baal Aadhaar: What Parents Should Remember
Getting Aadhaar for a child is a relatively straightforward process when the required documents are ready.
Parents can locate an authorised Aadhaar centre, book an appointment where the facility is available, take the child and necessary documents to the centre, and complete the enrolment process.
The most important point is that the process does not end after Aadhaar is generated.
For children enrolled before turning five, biometric information must be updated after age five and again at age 15 under the applicable Aadhaar rules.
Parents should rely on the latest information from UIDAI for acceptable documents, appointment facilities, fees for applicable updates and other enrolment requirements before visiting a centre.
