As the most essential document of identity and address in daily life, Aadhaar card is used in almost every government and non-government work. Be it opening a bank account, getting a SIM card, traveling by air or train or checking-in at a hotel, it becomes necessary to carry the original copy of Aadhaar. Often people get nervous when their wallet falls from their pocket or bag, gets lost while travelling, or the card gets damaged due to water and rubbing. If your original plastic i.e. polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Aadhaar card is lost, then instead of getting the duplicate lamination done from any unauthorized shop or printing center in the market, you can re-order a new digitally verified card directly from the official portal of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). For this, you do not need to stand in long queues, rather a new PVC card can be ordered directly to your home address through the speed post of the Postal Department by paying a nominal government fee of just ₹ 50 from your smartphone or computer. What is Aadhaar PVC card and why is it better than normal print? The PVC Aadhaar card issued by UIDAI is a synthetic plastic card in the shape of an ATM or credit card. Compared to laminated paper cards in the open market, it is equipped with many state-of-the-art security standards: Weatherproof and Durable: It is completely waterproof and strong, so there is no risk of it getting torn or damaged by getting wet. Digital QR Code: A secure QR code is printed on the card, which can be scanned with UIDAI’s QR Scanner app for instant offline verification even without internet. Hologram and Micro-Text: It has high security government hologram, subtle micro-text and ghost image printed on it to prevent tampering. Guilloche Pattern and Issue Date: The card bears an intricately carved pattern and the exact date of issue of the card, ensuring its authenticity. Step-by-step method to order Aadhaar PVC card at home The online process to re-order a new PVC card is very simple and transparent: Visit the official portal: First of all, open the official portal of UIDAI (uidai.gov.in or myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in) in the web browser of your phone or laptop. Select ‘Order Aadhaar PVC Card’ option: Click on ‘Order Aadhaar PVC Card’ option under ‘My Aadhaar’ section on the homepage. Enter identification details: Enter your Aadhaar number or 28 digit Virtual Enrollment ID (EID) and the security captcha code shown on the screen. OTP Verification: If your mobile number is registered with Aadhaar, click on ‘Send OTP’. Accept the terms and conditions by entering the 6 digit one-time password sent to your phone. Payment Process: A digital preview of the card will appear on the screen (only for registered numbers). After this, click on ‘Make Payment’ and make the prescribed payment of ₹ 50 online through UPI, Net Banking, Credit or Debit Card. Download SRN Receipt: Once the payment is successful, a 28 digit Service Request Number (SRN) and payment slip will be generated on the screen, save it safely for future status tracking. Can you order even if your mobile number is not linked? Many people have this problem that their old mobile number has been switched off and they are afraid that how will they get the card without OTP. UIDAI has also provided a special facility for this: When you fill your details on the ‘Order Aadhaar PVC Card’ page, the checkbox given below “My mobile number is not registered” Tick on. After this you can enter any of your current or alternate mobile numbers. A temporary OTP will come on that number, by entering which you can complete the process and pay the fee of ₹ 50. Please note that due to security reasons, when ordering from a non-registered mobile number, the digital preview of the card is not shown on the screen, but the card is sent directly to the permanent address recorded in your Aadhaar database. In how many days does the card reach home and how to track the status? After successful payment, the new security-enhanced card is printed and handed over to India Post by the Printing Division of UIDAI within 5 working days. Delivery by Speed Post: This card is usually delivered safely to the address entered in your Aadhaar within 7 to 15 days through the Speed Post service of the Department of Posts. Tracking Facility: If you want to know where your card has reached, you can check the current status by visiting myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and entering your SRN number in the ‘Check Aadhaar PVC Card Status’ option. After the tracking number is issued by the postal department, its live tracking is also possible from the India Post website.
