Aadhaar Name Correction 2026: Minor vs Major Changes
UIDAI's revised rules from 18 September 2026 split Aadhaar name changes into minor and major. See which is yours and the documents required.
Aadhaar Name Correction 2026: Minor vs Major Changes
Quick answer: Under UIDAI's revised procedure, in effect from 18 September 2026, Aadhaar name changes fall into two groups. Minor corrections are small fixes such as expanding initials, changing the order of your names, adding or removing a middle name or surname, fixing a spelling slip, and removing dots or random capital letters. These need valid proof of identity and no Gazette notification. A major change, meaning a completely different name, needs a Gazette notification and the prescribed identity documents. Marriage and divorce surname changes have their own route with an affidavit. The fee is ā¹75, and you can update your name only twice in your lifetime, so get the correction right the first time.
What Changed on 18 September
UIDAI issued a revised procedure for name corrections that replaced its 2021 one. The main change is that small fixes are now clearly separated from full name changes, so you no longer need a legal process for a correction that is only about format.
- Minor corrections: no Gazette notification, only valid proof of identity
- Major changes: a Gazette notification, plus the prescribed identity documents
- Marriage and divorce: a separate route, with an affidavit confirming that the change comes from the marriage or divorce
Minor Changes: What Counts
These are treated as corrections. You don't need a Gazette notification, but depending on the correction, you need valid proof of identity.
- Expanding initials: "R R D Prasad" to "Rudra Rama Durga Prasad"
- Shortening a name to initials
- Adding or removing a middle name or surname
- Reordering the parts of your name: "Kumar Ramesh" to "Ramesh Kumar"
- Fixing a minor spelling difference between phonetically similar names, such as "RaMesh" to "Ramesh"
- Removing dots from your name
- Fixing random capitalisation
There is also a separate provision for records where the original document was correct but the Aadhaar entry was typed wrongly. This route needs a prescribed affidavit, and a different one applies for minors. A mistake that appears only in the regional-language version of your name has its own process.
Major Changes: What Counts
A major change is a complete change of name, or any change that amounts to a different identity. For example, "Rahul Kumar" becoming "Arjun Mehta" is major, while "R Kumar" becoming "Rahul Kumar" is not.
A major change needs a Gazette notification of the new name, along with the prescribed identity documents. UIDAI checks both the documents and the notification. If your change involves a legal name change, the notification and the newspaper advertisements that support it come first, and the Aadhaar update follows.
Marriage and Divorce Name Changes
A surname change after marriage or divorce is not treated as a full name change. You submit a valid proof of identity and an affidavit in the format UIDAI prescribes, confirming that the change is because of marriage or divorce and does not change your identity. Your marriage certificate and an ID showing your new surname, such as an updated passport, support the application.
The revised procedure also covers gender change, and children recorded as "Baby of" before they were given a name.
Which Category Is Yours?
- "R Kumar" to "Rahul Kumar": minor. Expanding initials.
- "Kumar Rahul" to "Rahul Kumar": minor. Reordering.
- "Rahul K." to "Rahul K": minor. Removing a dot.
- "Priya Sharma" to "Priya Verma" after marriage: marriage route, with the affidavit
- "Rahul Kumar" to "Arjun Mehta": major. Gazette notification.
- Adding a title such as "Dr": not allowed on Aadhaar
Name Format Rules
- Your name must be in block letters
- Titles, ranks and professional designations such as Dr, Capt or Adv are not allowed
- Aliases and "urf" names are not allowed
- Random capitalisation and dots in names are corrected, not kept
Documents You Need
- Spelling or format correction: a valid proof of identity that shows the correct name exactly, such as a passport, PAN card, Voter ID or driving licence
- Marriage or divorce: the affidavit in the prescribed format, your marriage certificate or divorce order, and an ID in your new name
- Major change: the Gazette notification, plus the prescribed identity documents
The new name must match the supporting document letter for letter. Carry originals to the centre.
How to Apply
Name changes are handled in person, not through the online document-update facility.
- Visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or an enrolment and update centre
- Fill in the update form with your corrected name in block letters
- Submit your original documents for your category
- Complete identity and biometric verification
- Pay the fee
- Collect the acknowledgement with your Update Request Number (URN) and use it to track the request
Fee, Timeline and the Two-Update Limit
- Government fee: ā¹75 for a demographic update
- Timeline: typically 7 to 30 working days. Delays are usually caused by wrong uploads or name mismatches.
- Limit: your name can be updated twice in your lifetime. Anything beyond that needs special approval and a valid reason.
Because of the limit, a correction that fixes only half of the problem is costly. If your name is wrong in two ways, such as initials and spelling, fix both in one request.
Fix Your Name Everywhere Else Too
Aadhaar is cross-checked against PAN, passport, bank KYC and income tax records. After your Aadhaar name is corrected, check that the other records show the same name. A mismatch can hold up PAN-Aadhaar linking, a passport application, a visa application or a bank account update.
- PAN: correct the name if it differs from the new Aadhaar name
- Passport: a name change is a reissue, which has its own documents
- Bank accounts: update the KYC name at your bank
Common Reasons for Rejection
- A proof of identity that doesn't show the requested name exactly
- Unclear, cropped or mismatched documents
- A title, rank or alias in the new name
- Treating a major change as a correction, without a Gazette notification
- Requesting a surname change after marriage without the prescribed affidavit
- Going beyond the two-update limit without special approval
- Repeated attempts after a rejection, without fixing the reason
Where DocuPro Fits In
DocuPro helps with Aadhaar name correction and Aadhaar name change in Bangalore. We tell you which category your change falls in, prepare your document checklist, book your appointment, fill in the update form and track your URN. For a legal name change, we also help with the affidavit, newspaper advertisements and Gazette notification. Our fee for an Aadhaar name change starts at ā¹1,799 + GST, and the government fee of ā¹75 is charged at actuals. The visit to the Aadhaar Seva Kendra for biometric verification is mandatory, and we can accompany you.
UIDAI approves every request, so we can't guarantee the outcome or speed up processing. What we do is make sure you file under the right category with documents that match your requested name, so the request isn't rejected and one of your two updates isn't used up on an avoidable mistake.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a minor name correction on Aadhaar?
A small fix such as expanding initials, reordering names, adding or removing a middle or last name, fixing a spelling slip, removing dots or fixing random capitals. It needs valid proof of identity and no Gazette notification.
2. What counts as a major name change?
A complete change of name, or any change that amounts to a different identity. It needs a Gazette notification and the prescribed identity documents.
3. Do I need a Gazette notification to expand my initials?
No. Expanding initials is a minor correction. You need valid proof of identity that shows the full name.
4. What if I changed my surname after marriage?
You apply with proof of identity and the prescribed affidavit confirming that the change is because of marriage. A marriage certificate and an ID in your new surname support the request.
5. How many times can I change my name on Aadhaar?
Twice in your lifetime. A further change needs special approval and a valid reason.
6. What is the fee?
ā¹75 for a demographic update. The fee may differ if a biometric update is done together with it.
7. Can I do an Aadhaar name change online?
No. Name changes are done at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or an enrolment and update centre, with biometric verification. The online document-update facility doesn't cover name changes.
8. Can I add "Dr" or my nickname to my Aadhaar name?
No. Titles, ranks, professional designations and aliases are not allowed.
9. How long does the correction take?
Typically 7 to 30 working days. Track it with your Update Request Number.
10. Does my Aadhaar name need to match my PAN and passport?
Yes. Aadhaar is cross-checked against PAN, passport and bank records, so a mismatch can delay linking and applications. Correct the other records after Aadhaar.
Aadhaar name correction rules, documents and fees referenced in this article reflect the situation as of October 2026 and are set by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which can revise requirements at any time. Always verify current requirements with UIDAI or an Aadhaar Seva Kendra before applying. DocuPro is an independent, privately owned document facilitation service; it is not a government agency, and approvals, timelines and outcomes are decided by the concerned authorities.