Aadhaar
- NRIs with a valid Indian passport can enrol for Aadhaar on arrival. The usual rule of living in India for 182 days does not apply to NRIs. Enrolment is free, at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or enrolment centre. The passport is the proof of identity.
- Children of NRIs (5 to 18) enrol with a parent or guardian and their own valid Indian passport.
- OCI cardholders and other foreign nationals can get Aadhaar only after living in India for 182 days in the 12 months before applying, using the foreign passport and OCI card. Their Aadhaar is valid for ten years and must be updated.
- Find a centre on the UIDAI website or the Bhuvan Aadhaar portal.
PAN
- If you already have a PAN, keep it: it stays the same for life. Update your residential status with your bank, broker and fund houses, and in your first income tax return as a resident.
- Link PAN and Aadhaar once you have Aadhaar; an unlinked PAN can become inoperative.
- OCI and foreign citizens without a PAN apply on Form 49AA.
Phone and SIM
Get an Indian SIM in your own name with your passport (and visa or OCI), then switch to Aadhaar-based KYC once you have it. Many banks and apps need an Indian number for OTPs. If you kept your old Indian number abroad, it should already work.
Driving licence
An International Driving Permit lets you drive in India for a limited time after arrival. For the long term, apply for an Indian licence through the Parivahan Sarathi portal of your state transport department. Requirements for foreign licence holders vary by state, so check with your regional transport office.
Voter ID (Indian citizens)
Once you live in India, register as an ordinary voter at your new address on the Election Commission’s voter portal. If you were registered as an overseas elector, update your registration.
DigiLocker
Set up DigiLocker with your Aadhaar. It holds digital copies of your driving licence, vehicle papers, school certificates and more that are accepted as originals.
Sources: UIDAI NRI Aadhaar FAQ; Business Today, Aadhaar for OCI cardholders (April 2026), checked 21 October 2026.
