Aadhaar Card Photo Update 2026: Online Process, Fees & Documents Required

UIDAI Revised Aadhaar Update Fees Effective October 1, 2025 Photo Updates Now Require a Physical Visit to an Aadhaar Seva Kendra at a Revised Biometric Update Fee of ₹125, With No Supporting Documents Needed and a URN-Based Tracking System to Monitor the 30–90 Day Processing Period…

Aadhaar Card Photo Update 2026

Aadhaar Card Photo Update 2026 requires a physical visit to an authorised Aadhaar Seva Kendra or Aadhaar Enrolment Centre UIDAI does not allow photograph updates through any online or self-service portal, and this restriction remains in effect as of March 2026 regardless of newer online capabilities for demographic updates. The fee for a photo update, which falls under the biometric update category, now stands at ₹125 following UIDAI’s first fee revision in five years effective October 1, 2025 — an increase from the earlier ₹100 flat charge that had been in place for several years. The revised fee structure also sets a further hike to ₹150 from October 2028, giving residents a clear window to complete updates at the current ₹125 rate.

Why UIDAI Does Not Allow Online Photo Updates: The Official Position

UIDAI classifies a photograph as biometric data in the same category as fingerprints and iris scans rather than demographic data like name, address, or date of birth. This classification means a photo update requires in-person biometric capture rather than a document upload or self-service entry, which is why demographic changes like address corrections are available on the myAadhaar portal while photo updates are not.

The photograph update process at a Seva Kendra involves a live camera capture by a trained Aadhaar executive rather than the upload of a personal photo file. This live capture ensures the image is recent, clear, and genuinely represents the current cardholder removing the risk of fraudulent photo substitutions that a self-upload system would introduce.

When You Should Update Your Aadhaar Photo

UIDAI recommends a photo update in specific circumstances:​

• The current Aadhaar photograph no longer resembles the holder due to significant physical changes from ageing, weight change, or facial surgery
• The existing photo is blurry, dark, or unclear — creating identity verification failures at airports, banks, and government offices
• Children who enrolled under age 5 require a mandatory biometric update (including photo) when they reach age 5–7 — this update is free of charge​
• Teens who enrolled in childhood require a mandatory biometric update at age 15–17 — also free of charge​
• Adults whose photo is more than 10 years old and is causing recognition issues at any verification point

2026 Aadhaar Photo Update Fees: Full Revised Structure

UIDAI’s October 1, 2025 fee revision introduced a graduated structure effective through 2028 and a second hike from October 2028:​

Update Type	Current Fee (Oct 2025–Sep 2028)	Fee from Oct 2028
Photo/Biometric update (offline at Seva Kendra)	₹125 ​	₹150 ​
Mandatory Biometric Update (age 5–7 and 15–17)	Free ​	Free ​
Demographic update online (name, DOB, address)	₹75 ​	₹90 ​
Demographic update if combined with biometric update	Free — included in ₹125 ​	Free — included in ₹150 ​
Document update (PoI/PoA) online or at centre	₹75 ​	₹90 ​
Aadhaar physical printout	₹40 ​	Not yet disclosed

A practical implication of the fee structure: if you need to update both your photo and your demographic details (such as your current address), doing both in a single Seva Kendra visit costs only ₹125 the demographic update becomes free when combined with a biometric update.​

Documents Required: Fewer Than You Think

The Aadhaar photo update process requires no supporting documents beyond your existing Aadhaar card itself:​

• Aadhaar card (physical card, e-Aadhaar PDF, or Aadhaar letter) — carry at least one form to the centre
• ₹125 in payment — cash or digital payment as accepted at the specific centre

No passport-size photograph is needed — the Seva Kendra’s live camera captures a fresh image during the visit. No identity proof beyond the Aadhaar itself is required, as the biometric fingerprint or iris scan at the centre serves as identity authentication.

How to Update Aadhaar Card Photo: Step by Step

The complete photo update process at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra:

1. Locate your nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra using the official locator at appointments.uidai.gov.in or uidai.gov.in — search by PIN code or district
2. Book an appointment online at the same portal to avoid long wait times — walk-in access is also available at most centres but waiting times vary by location and time of day
3. Visit the centre on your appointment date — carry your Aadhaar card in any format and the ₹125 update fee
4. Request a biometric (photo) update at the front desk — inform the executive that you specifically need a photograph update
5. Undergo biometric identity verification — the executive scans your fingerprint or iris to confirm your identity against the UIDAI database
6. The executive captures a live photograph using the centre’s camera — ensure your face is well-lit, clearly visible, and not covered by glasses, mask, or headwear that obscures facial features
7. Pay ₹125 — cash is accepted at most centres; some locations also accept UPI or card payments
8. Receive your URN (Update Request Number) on an acknowledgement slip — this slip is essential for tracking your update status
9. Retain the acknowledgement slip until the update is confirmed complete

How to Track Your Photo Update Status

After visiting the Seva Kendra, track the status using the URN from your acknowledgement slip:​

1. Visit uidai.gov.in and click “My Aadhaar” on the homepage
2. Click “Check Aadhaar Update Status”
3. Enter your URN and the CAPTCHA code
4. Click “Submit” — your current update stage displays on screen

Possible status stages: Update in Process → Under Quality Check → Update Successful → Update Rejected. If rejected, the acknowledgement slip’s helpline number or the UIDAI toll-free number 1947 allows you to query the rejection reason.

How to Download the Updated Aadhaar After Photo Change

Once the status shows “Update Successful” which takes between 30 and 90 days from the date of Seva Kendra visit download the updated e-Aadhaar:​

1. Visit uidai.gov.in and click “My Aadhaar” → “Get Aadhaar” → “Download Aadhaar”
2. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and CAPTCHA
3. Click “Send OTP” — the OTP arrives on your registered mobile number
4. Enter the OTP, select whether you want a masked Aadhaar (last 8 digits hidden), and click “Verify and Download”
5. The PDF downloads with a password protection — the password is the first four letters of your name in uppercase followed by your birth year (example: RAJE1990)

Have you already visited a Seva Kendra to update your photo under the new ₹125 fee structure, or are you still using an outdated Aadhaar photograph that has been causing verification problems? Tell us your city and how long your update took to process in the comments below.