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What Documents Are Needed to Register for an ABHA Card?
- What Is an ABHA Card?
- Documents Required for ABHA Card Registration
- Quick Summary: Documents by Registration Route
- How to Register for an ABHA Card
- Documents for Children, Senior Citizens and Family Members
- Common Mistakes to Avoid During Registration
- How ABHA Fits With Your Health Insurance
- FAQs
- Conclusion
The documents needed to register for an ABHA card are minimal: in most cases you only need your Aadhaar and a mobile number for OTP verification, and where Aadhaar is not used, a supported alternative such as a driving licence may be accepted through the routes available on the official portal. The Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) is created free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), run by the National Health Authority (NHA). This guide explains each document, the verification routes, what to keep ready for children and older family members, and how to avoid common registration hiccups.
Key Takeaways
- Aadhaar with a linked mobile number is the most commonly used document for ABHA card registration, verified through OTP or biometric authentication.
- A driving licence or another route supported on the official ABHA portal may be available if you prefer not to use Aadhaar; check the portal for the options currently enabled.
- A working mobile number is needed to receive OTPs and manage your ABHA account; an email address is optional but useful.
- ABHA registration is voluntary and free, and the ABHA card is a digital health ID, not an insurance policy.
- Parents or guardians can generally create an ABHA for a child, following the process shown on the official portal.
What Is an ABHA Card?
An ABHA card is the printable or downloadable card that displays your Ayushman Bharat Health Account number, your ABHA address and basic profile details. The account itself is a unique digital health identity created under ABDM. It allows you to link your health records, such as prescriptions, lab reports and discharge summaries, and share them with doctors, hospitals, labs and other ABDM-integrated services, but only with your consent.
Alongside the ABHA number, you can create an ABHA address, a username-style handle that is easier to remember and is used in many health apps. It is important to understand that the ABHA card is not health insurance. It does not carry any money, sum insured or coverage on its own. Its value lies in organising your medical history digitally so that care, and potentially paperwork, becomes simpler. Related read: What Is a Digital Health Card in Health Insurance?
Documents Required for ABHA Card Registration
Because ABHA is designed for wide, inclusive access, the documentation is deliberately light. Here is what you will typically need.
Aadhaar card (most common route)
Aadhaar is the most widely used document for creating an ABHA. During registration, you enter your Aadhaar number and give consent for authentication. Verification is usually done through an OTP sent to the mobile number linked with your Aadhaar. At participating health facilities, biometric authentication such as fingerprint or face authentication may also be available. Your name, date of birth, gender and address are generally fetched from Aadhaar after successful e-KYC, which reduces manual data entry and errors.
Driving licence or other supported routes
If you do not want to use Aadhaar, the official ABHA portal has offered alternative routes, such as registration using a driving licence. In such cases, additional verification steps may apply, and the account may need to be verified at a participating facility. The available alternatives can be updated over time, so check the official portal for the routes currently enabled before you begin.
Mobile number
A working mobile number is essential. It is used to receive OTPs, recover your account and receive alerts when someone requests access to your records. If you register using Aadhaar OTP, the mobile number linked to Aadhaar must be active and accessible to you. You can also add a separate communication mobile number to your ABHA profile.
Email address (optional)
An email address is not mandatory, but adding an email can help with notifications and account recovery.
Photograph
When you register through Aadhaar, your photograph is generally taken from your Aadhaar records. With other routes, you may be asked to upload a clear photograph.
Quick Summary: Documents by Registration Route
| Registration route | What you typically need | How verification usually works |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar with OTP | Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to Aadhaar | OTP sent to the Aadhaar-linked mobile, followed by e-KYC |
| Aadhaar with biometrics | Aadhaar number, presence at a participating facility | Fingerprint, iris or face authentication at the facility |
| Driving licence or other supported route | Driving licence details, mobile number, photograph | Mobile OTP plus additional verification, which may include a visit to a participating facility |
| Child or minor ABHA | Child's details and the parent or guardian's own verified ABHA or identity details | Created and managed through the parent or guardian, as per the portal's process |
Always confirm the current options on the official portal, because supported documents and verification methods are decided by the National Health Authority and may be revised.
How to Register for an ABHA Card
When your documents are ready, the process takes only a few minutes. You can register on the official ABHA portal, through the ABHA app, through ABDM-integrated apps such as Aarogya Setu, or at participating hospitals and health facilities.
- Open the official ABHA portal or app: Choose the option to create a new ABHA number.
- Choose your verification route: Select Aadhaar or another supported option such as driving licence.
- Enter your details and give consent: Read the consent terms carefully and agree to authentication.
- Verify through OTP: Enter the OTP received on your Aadhaar-linked or registered mobile number.
- Confirm your profile: Check the details fetched from your document and add a communication mobile number or email if you wish.
- Create your ABHA address: Pick a memorable handle that you will use with health apps and facilities.
- Download your ABHA card: Save the digital card on your phone or print it for your records.
If you register at a hospital, the help desk staff will guide you through the same steps. Remember that genuine ABHA registration is free; you should not have to pay any fee to an agent or website.
Documents for Children, Senior Citizens and Family Members
Children and minors
A parent or guardian can generally create an ABHA for a child. The child's account is typically linked with the guardian, who manages consent on the child's behalf. Keep the child's basic details, and the guardian's own verified identity or ABHA, ready. The exact process is shown on the official portal.
Senior citizens
Older family members can register using the same Aadhaar-based process. If an elderly person's Aadhaar-linked mobile is not working or belongs to someone else, updating the mobile number with Aadhaar beforehand, or using biometric authentication at a participating facility, can make things easier. Related read: Health Insurance Plans for Senior Citizens.
Each family member needs their own ABHA
ABHA is an individual health ID. Every family member who wants to digitise their records needs their own account, even though families may manage accounts together through linked profiles in some apps.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Registration
- Inactive Aadhaar-linked mobile number: Without access to this number, OTP-based verification cannot be completed. Update it with Aadhaar before you start.
- Mismatched details: If your name or date of birth differs across documents, the details fetched from Aadhaar will generally prevail. Correct errors at the source where needed.
- Using unofficial websites: Register only through the official portal, the official app, ABDM-integrated apps or participating facilities to protect your personal data.
- Sharing OTPs: Never share your OTP with anyone who calls or messages claiming to help you register.
- Confusing ABHA with Ayushman Card: The ABHA card is a digital health ID for everyone. The Ayushman Card is the beneficiary card under the PM-JAY health assurance scheme, for which eligibility rules apply.
- Assuming ABHA is insurance: ABHA does not pay hospital bills. You still need appropriate health cover, whether through a government scheme you are eligible for or a private health insurance policy.
How ABHA Fits With Your Health Insurance
Having an ABHA can help you keep a consolidated, digital record of diagnoses, test results and treatment history. When you need to make an insurance claim, having organised records may make documentation simpler, especially as insurers and hospitals connect to ABDM and the National Health Claims Exchange. However, an ABHA does not change your policy terms, waiting periods or claim decisions. Ask your insurer whether and how they accept ABHA-linked records. Related read: Difference Between Health Insurance and a Health Card.
Government schemes such as Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY cover eligible families for hospitalisation at empanelled hospitals, while private health insurance can offer a wider choice of network hospitals, sum insured options and add-on benefits, subject to policy terms and conditions. Many families find that a digital health ID, combined with suitable health insurance, gives them both organised records and financial protection.
Your ABHA card helps you organise your health records, while a health insurance policy helps you manage the cost of treatment. Explore ManipalCigna health insurance plans to find cover that suits your family's needs, subject to policy terms and conditions.
FAQs
Is Aadhaar mandatory to register for an ABHA card?
Aadhaar is the most common and convenient route, but it has not been the only option. The official ABHA portal has offered alternatives such as registration using a driving licence, which may involve extra verification. Supported routes can change, so check the official ABDM or ABHA portal for the options currently available before you start registering.
Can I create an ABHA card without a mobile number linked to Aadhaar?
OTP-based Aadhaar registration needs access to the Aadhaar-linked mobile number. If that is not possible, you may be able to use biometric authentication at a participating health facility, or another supported route on the portal. Updating your mobile number with Aadhaar beforehand is often the simplest way to complete registration smoothly online.
Is there any fee for ABHA card registration?
No, creating an ABHA is generally free when done through the official ABHA portal, the official app, ABDM-integrated apps or participating health facilities. Be cautious of agents or websites asking for payment to create an ABHA card, and never share your OTP with anyone who claims they can complete the registration for you.
Can parents create an ABHA card for their children?
Yes, parents or guardians can generally create an ABHA for a child. The child's account is usually linked to the guardian, who manages consent for sharing records. The exact documents and steps are shown on the official ABHA portal, so review the current process there before creating an account for your child.
Does having an ABHA card give me free treatment?
No. An ABHA card is a digital health ID that helps you store and share health records with consent. It does not provide insurance cover or free treatment by itself. Treatment costs are covered only if you are eligible for a government scheme such as PM-JAY or hold a health insurance policy, subject to its terms.
What should I do if my details on ABHA are incorrect?
If you registered through Aadhaar, your details are generally fetched from Aadhaar records, so errors usually need to be corrected in Aadhaar before anything else. Some profile details, such as a communication mobile number or email, can be updated from your ABHA account. Check the profile settings on the official portal or app for available options.
Conclusion
Registering for an ABHA card is straightforward because the documents needed are few: typically your Aadhaar and an accessible mobile number, with alternatives such as a driving licence available through supported routes on the official portal. Keep your Aadhaar-linked mobile active, register only through official channels and create a memorable ABHA address. Remember that ABHA organises your health records but does not pay for treatment, so combine it with appropriate health cover. Related read: Difference Between PM-JAY and Private Health Insurance.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and awareness only and does not constitute legal, medical, financial or insurance advice. Government scheme details, eligibility criteria, benefits and processes are decided by the respective authorities and may change from time to time; please refer to the official government portals or contact the relevant authority for the latest information. Health insurance benefits are subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the specific policy. Please read the policy wording and sales brochure carefully before concluding a sale. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation.
