Aadhaar photocopy ban soon: Hotels, event firms must shift to new verification system

UIDAI moves to stop paper-based Aadhaar checks; hotels and organisers will need to register and use a new digital verification method.

A major change in Aadhaar verification is on the way, with the government preparing to stop hotels, event organisers and similar establishments from collecting and storing physical photocopies of Aadhaar cards. A senior official confirmed that the new rule, already approved by UIDAI will be notified soon.

The move follows concerns that retaining photocopies violates the Aadhaar Act and exposes people to privacy risks. UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said the upcoming system will require all entities performing Aadhaar checks to officially register and use a secure digital verification method instead of paper-based processes.

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According to UIDAI, the new setup will allow verification using QR code scanning or through a new Aadhaar mobile application currently being tested. This app-to-app authentication will work even without connecting every request to the central Aadhaar server, reducing delays caused by server disruptions.

Officials said the framework will also give registered entities access to an API that can be integrated into their existing software, enabling smooth offline verification at places such as hotels, airports, and retail outlets selling age-restricted items.

Kumar noted that eliminating photocopies will significantly strengthen user privacy by avoiding the risk of Aadhaar documents being leaked or misused. The new system is also designed to support the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which will become fully operational within 18 months.

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The upcoming Aadhaar app will offer additional features, including uploading updated address documents and allowing family members without mobile phones to be added to the same account.