Baal Aadhaar is the blue-coloured Aadhaar card for children below five years of age. Unlike a normal Aadhaar, it is issued without biometrics — no fingerprints, no iris scan — because a small child’s biometrics are not stable. This guide explains Baal Aadhaar: how to apply for a child under five, and the biometric updates due at age five and again at fifteen.
Baal Aadhaar at a Glance
| Point | What to know |
|---|---|
| What it is | Blue-coloured Aadhaar for children below 5, issued without biometrics |
| Issued with | A parent’s Aadhaar and the child’s birth certificate |
| Update at 5 | Biometrics (fingerprints, iris, photo) must be given; free within the window |
| Update at 15 | Biometrics must be updated again; free within the window |
| Where | Aadhaar Seva Kendras, banks and post offices |
Baal Aadhaar: What It Is
Baal Aadhaar is the Aadhaar card for children under five. It is blue in colour, so that it is easy to tell apart from a normal Aadhaar, and it is issued on the basis of the child’s birth certificate and a parent’s Aadhaar. No biometrics are taken for Baal Aadhaar, because the fingerprints and iris of a small child change as the child grows, and they would not be reliable for identification.
The child’s Aadhaar number is linked to the parent’s Aadhaar, and the parent’s photograph and details are used for the enrolment. The Baal Aadhaar is a valid identity document for the child — for school admission, for health services, and for schemes that ask for the child’s Aadhaar. It is the first identity document most children get, and it should be applied for as soon as the birth certificate is available. The UIDAI portal is the official source for Aadhaar services.
How to Apply for Baal Aadhaar
Applying for Baal Aadhaar starts with the birth certificate. The parent takes the child’s birth certificate and their own Aadhaar card to an Aadhaar enrolment centre — an Aadhaar Seva Kendra, a bank branch or a post office that does enrolment. The child’s details are entered, the parent’s Aadhaar is linked, and the parent’s photograph is taken. The child’s photograph is also taken, but no fingerprints or iris scan are done.
After enrolment, the parent gets an acknowledgement with the enrolment number, and the Baal Aadhaar is sent to the registered address. The parent can check the status on the UIDAI portal using the enrolment number. If the child does not yet have a birth certificate, get that first — our guide to the birth certificate explains the process, and the MeeSeva portal is the official source for certificate services in AP.
Documents You Will Need
The documents for Baal Aadhaar are simple: the child’s birth certificate, and the Aadhaar card of one parent. The birth certificate proves the child’s name and date of birth, and the parent’s Aadhaar links the child to the parent. If the birth certificate has an error — a wrong spelling or a wrong date — correct it first, because the Baal Aadhaar will carry whatever the birth certificate says.
Carry the originals and copies, and keep the enrolment acknowledgement safe. If the parent’s Aadhaar has an error, correct it at an Aadhaar enrolment centre before applying for the child’s Baal Aadhaar, because the child’s record will be linked to the parent’s. Our guide to Anganwadi Services in AP explains the centre that helps mothers and children, and Balika Raksha explains the scheme for the girl child.
The Biometric Update at Age 5
When the child turns five, the Baal Aadhaar must be updated with biometrics. The child’s fingerprints, iris scan and photograph are taken for the first time, and the Baal Aadhaar becomes a normal Aadhaar — though the card may still be blue until it is reprinted. This update is free if it is done within the window the UIDAI allows around the fifth birthday, so the parent should not delay.
The update is done at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra, a bank or a post office, with the child’s Baal Aadhaar and the parent’s Aadhaar. The parent should take the child in person, because the biometrics must be given by the child. If the update is not done, the child’s Aadhaar may stop working for services that need biometric authentication — school, health and schemes. Our guide to NTR Baby Kit Scheme 2025 explains the kit given to newborns, and Mission Vatsalya Scheme 2026 explains the wider child protection programme.
The Biometric Update at Age 15
The biometrics must be updated again when the child turns fifteen. By fifteen, the child’s fingerprints and iris have changed since the age-five update, and the Aadhaar must be refreshed so that it still matches the child. Like the age-five update, the age-fifteen update is free if it is done within the window the UIDAI allows around the fifteenth birthday.
The process is the same: the child goes in person to an Aadhaar Seva Kendra, a bank or a post office, with the Aadhaar card and a parent’s Aadhaar, and the fingerprints, iris scan and photograph are taken again. After the update, the Aadhaar is a full adult Aadhaar, and it will serve the child for life. The AP government portal lists the services available at Sachivalayams, and Mission Shakti in Andhra Pradesh explains the wider programme for women and children.
Where to Enrol and Update
Baal Aadhaar enrolment and the biometric updates are done at Aadhaar Seva Kendras, and at banks and post offices that have enrolment centres. The parent should check the UIDAI portal for the nearest centre and its timings, and should go early, because the centres are busy. Some centres take appointments, and some work on a first-come basis.
Do not pay any agent for Baal Aadhaar enrolment or for the updates. The enrolment is free for a child under five, and the updates at five and fifteen are free within the window. If a problem arises — a delayed card, a wrong detail, a failed update — the parent can check the status on the UIDAI portal, or raise a grievance — our guide on raising a grievance on the NBM portal explains the route for AP services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Baal Aadhaar?
Baal Aadhaar is the blue-coloured Aadhaar card for children below five, issued without biometrics, on the basis of the child’s birth certificate and a parent’s Aadhaar.
How do I apply for Baal Aadhaar?
Take the child’s birth certificate and your Aadhaar card to an Aadhaar Seva Kendra, a bank or a post office. The child’s details are entered, your Aadhaar is linked, and the card is sent to your address.
When must the biometrics be updated?
At age five, when fingerprints, iris and photograph are given for the first time, and again at age fifteen. Both updates are free if done within the window the UIDAI allows.
Is Baal Aadhaar free?
Yes. Enrolment for a child under five is free, and the biometric updates at five and fifteen are free within the window.
Where do I enrol for Baal Aadhaar?
At Aadhaar Seva Kendras, and at banks and post offices that have enrolment centres. Check the UIDAI portal for the nearest centre.
Baal Aadhaar is the child’s first identity document, and it is free. Apply as soon as the birth certificate is ready, and mark the fifth and fifteenth birthdays for the biometric updates — done in the window, they are free, and they keep the Aadhaar working for life.
Last updated: November 2026