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Does any OCI have an Aadhar card, here? My daughter is an OCI and the banks are constantly hassling her to link PAN and Aadhar, failing which the bank account / securities trading account gets deactivated.

She visited an Aadhar centre on her last visit to India and tried to apply for an Aadhar card. But the lady at the Aadhar desk, showed my daughter on her computer screen that it was impossible with her foreign passport, as the software is so programmed to accept only Indian passport numbers (which start with an alphabet, followed by a number).

If any OCI has obtained an Aadhar card. AFTER becoming an OCI, please narrate how.

I'm sure this is a nonsense. Right from the start, Aadhar was based on residence, not nationality. Mind you, if your daughter is resident abroad then technically, she is not entitled to Aardhar. It's a nonsense because of the many actually-foreign (American etc nationality/passport) resident "Indians."

I am a foreign citizen, in fact I am not even of Indian origin (married in: PIO, then OCI) and I have an Aardhar card. I was an early adopter, and there was no trouble with the people not knowing that one didn't have to be an Indian citizen. In more recent years, it seems to be a common misunderstanding. I would have had PIO card when it was introduced, but I definitely had a foreign passport because... I am :). There was no problem with my passport number, which does not start with a letter.

What is the connection between the OCI and Aadhaar card anyway?

My son has OCI over a decade, and later got his Aadhaar card too. He has PAN and DL too. Don't go on offering passport/OCI while applying, they will get confused. Aadhaar is for residents, that's it.

The actual problem seems to be with the non-Indian passport.

But why do you have to show passport? Even those without passport can apply and get aadhar.

OCI can have AADHAAR; but have to renew it every ten years.

For documents accepted as proof of identity and proof of address, please refer to the attached PDF.

I have one and applied when it was announced.

I have personally heard Nandan Nilekani clearly specify this

Thats news to me!

Could it be possible that she tried to use the passport as one of the supporting documents? Otherwise the passport field is not mandatory while applying for aadhar.

Also there has been many instances for me where one centre refused some document or change despite being clearly allowed by their guidelines, but another one did it without any complaints. So you can always go to another centre and simply not mention the passport this time.

This was let known by an official at the AADHAAR enrolment/facilitation centre located inside a BSNL office.

The context: We were there to update ours as it had been a decade since we enrolled. An OCI couple were getting theirs done when the operator told them this. When I asked him of it was mandatory for everyone, he replied that all NRIs must get it renewed at least once in ten years but it is not compulsory for local residents.

In hindsight, and after reading your response, I am inclined to think that his words could have been just a suggestion!

Mea Culpa!

I'm sure many millions of Indian citizens do not have passports. Somehow (no inclination towards foreign travel up to then) I never had a British passport until 30-plus. There is no need of a passport until there is need of passing a port! But, for those who have one, it may be the first thought for identity proof.

Of course, it is evidence of citizenship too. But for those who look and sound Indian, such evidence is highly unlikely to be asked. Thus many OCI holders, who are, necessarily, not Indian citizens, breeze through life and officialdom as if they are, because, why would anybody ask!

Thanks everyone.

The only reason for showing her foreign passport to the Aadhar centre is - that is her proof of identity. She does not have any Indian identification like voter card, driving license, ration card etc.

Just try another center then or ask her to verify the form no. that the lady was using. Most likely they tried to use Form 1 which is for Indians/NRIs thereby leading to the passport field issue.

Foreign citizens must apply through Form 7 which has a column that specifies "foreign passport no." and there should be no issue with entering one there that doesn't start with an alphabet.

Form 7 is for Foreign citizens who are resident in India. My daughter is foreign citizen + non-resident.

As I commented previously, Aardhar is for residents.

I think that many non-residents get one either by passing as resident (having home here, or family address etc etc), or because the officials don't know the requirements and will give to anyone of apparently Indian origin. The same officials might also ignorantly refuse Aardhar to foreign residents who don't appear to be Indian.

(Same thing applies to driving licence)

Aadhaar Card for NRI/OCI/PIOs

A. Aadhaar card for PIO/OCI/NRIs

Aadhaar Card enrollment is presently available to residents in India. OCI Cardholders who stay in India for a long time (over 182 days in twelve months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment) and have an Indian address can also enroll for Aadhaar Card in India. NRIs, although they are citizens of India, are not eligible for Aadhaar Card if they have not stayed for more than 182 days or more in the last 12 months. Upon completion of 182 days of their stay in India in the last 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment, NRIs can apply for Aadhaar Card.

B. Overseas Indians Don’t Need Aadhaar for Mobile Connections

Department of Telecom (DoT), Government of India has exempted overseas Indians from linking Aadhaar with their Indian mobile connections and has issued suitable advisory to telecom service providers. DoT has issued a letter to all mobile phone service licensees to use alternative method to re-verify existing customers belonging to certain categories including foreigners (covering PIOs and OCI cardholders) and NRIs.

https://aadhaarcard.co.in/aadhaar-en...d-for-oci-pio/