India’s Aadhaar card or the is the 12-digit identity number based on biometrics data.
India is making linking Aadhaar card with the bank accounts mandatory and 31st December 2017 has been set as a deadline to do this.
But what about Non-Residential Indians (NRIs) who are Indian citizens and live abroad?
Do NRIs need to get an Aadhaar card? Do they need to link it with their bank accounts?
In a press release, the Consul General of India, Perth has said Aadhaar card is available to those who live in India.
“Aadhaar Card enrolment is presently available to residents in India. OCI cardholders who stay in India for a long time (over 182 days in 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment) and have an Indian address can also enrol for Aadhaar.”
“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.”
NRIs can apply for Aadhaar Card after they complete 182 days of their stay in India in 12 months immediately preceding the date of application for enrolment.
And do NRIs need to link their Aadhaar card with their bank accounts or sim-cards?
Source: CGI, Perth
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the issuer of the biometrics-based Aadhaar card and UID, has clarified on this. NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) and OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India) need not link their Aadhaar card with bank account, SIM or Permanent Account Number (PAN), the UIDAI has said.
"NRI/OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) are not eligible to obtain Aadhaar as per the Aadhaar Act and hence are fully exempted to produce Aadhaar for any verification... NRI/OCI need not verify their bank account or SIM or PAN with Aadhaar. If required, they may inform the service provider(s) that they being NRI/OCI are exempted from Aadhaar verification," the UIDAI said on Twitter.
