India’s digital ecosystem is evolving and expanding for 36 million overseas Indians. After such remarkable developments as Digital OCI Card and e-Arrival Card for Indian-origin foreign citizens, the Government of India is working to make Aadhaar international for the diaspora. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) aims to connect the growing diaspora population to India’s digital ecosystem.
Aadhaar to go global for NRIs and OCIs
At the Global Fintech Fest 2026, UIDAI CEO Saurabh Vijay revealed that the authority is working on the legal framework for international Aadhaar. It is also developing policies to make Aadhaar available to OCI cardholders without the compulsory 182-day stay requirement in India, aiming to help them stay better connected to India’s digital and financial ecosystem for greater investments in the country.
Current Aadhaar rules for NRIs and OCI cardholders
Before wondering what changes global Aadhaar could make, it is important to understand the Aadhaar rules that apply today. An NRI with a valid Indian passport can apply for Aadhaar, and the 182-day residency condition does not apply to them. However, the enrolment process still requires an in-person visit to an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre in India.
For OCI cardholders, the rules are different. An OCI cardholder can currently enroll for Aadhaar as a resident foreign national after residing in India for at least 182 days in the 12 months immediately before applying. The applicant needs the required OCI and foreign passport documents along with applicable address proof.
Current limitations of Aadhaar for overseas Indians
Having an Aadhaar number does not currently mean that an NRI or OCI cardholder can use Aadhaar from abroad in the same way a person living in India can. Aadhaar is primarily designed around India’s domestic digital identity and authentication ecosystem, so its use becomes more limited when you are accessing Indian services while physically outside the country.
