Aadhaar name correction new rules 2026: Which document do you need for spelling mistake, marriage or major name change?

Changing the name on your Aadhaar card is not a one-size-fits-all process. Whether you have spotted a spelling mistake, want to add or remove a surname, need to change your name after marriage or divorce, or want to adopt an entirely new name, the documents required will depend on the type of change.

UIDAI’s revised 2026 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which came into effect on September 18, sets out separate requirements for different types of name updates.

Under the revised rules, Aadhaar holders have to submit the prescribed supporting documents for their particular request. UIDAI will verify the authenticity of documents, affidavits and Gazette notifications submitted for the update.

Spelling mistake in Aadhaar: What should you do?

Minor spelling corrections are covered under the minor name change category when the correction is phonetic in nature.

The SOP also treats changes such as expanding an abbreviation or initials, adding or removing a middle or last name, and changing the sequence of names as minor name changes.

Removing dots from a name and correcting random use of capital letters are also included among the changes covered by the revised SOP.

These changes are treated differently from a name alteration that amounts to a change in identity.

Aadhaar surname change after marriage or divorce

If you want to change your surname because of marriage or divorce, UIDAI has prescribed a separate procedure.

The applicant needs to submit the Affidavit in Annexure D along with Proof of Identity (PoI).

The affidavit has to establish that the requested name change is a consequence of marriage or divorce and does not represent a change in the applicant's identity.

Aadhaar name entered incorrectly: What if it was a data-entry error?

There is a separate provision for cases where the name was entered incorrectly in Aadhaar despite the enrolment or update document carrying the correct name.

UIDAI treats such cases as data-entry errors.

For adults, the revised SOP requires the Affidavit in Annexure B, along with Proof of Identity (PoI) or Proof of Relationship (PoR).

For minors, the applicable Affidavit in Annexure C has to be submitted along with PoI or PoR.

Aadhaar name correct in English but wrong in regional language

The revised SOP also covers cases where a person's name is correctly recorded in English but has been incorrectly entered in the regional language.

For such requests, applicants have to provide the prescribed affidavit along with Proof of Identity (PoI).

Complete name change in Aadhaar: When is Gazette notification required?

A complete change of name is treated differently from a minor correction.

If the requested alteration amounts to a change in identity, UIDAI classifies it as a Major Name Change.

In such cases, the SOP specifies a Gazette Notification for name change as the required document.

This category therefore applies to people seeking a substantive change in their name rather than a simple spelling or formatting correction.

How to change your name in Aadhaar

The process begins with identifying the category under which your requested change falls. Once you know the category, you can arrange the relevant documents before visiting an Aadhaar centre.

Here is the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Identify the reason for changing your Aadhaar name.

Step 2: Check which category your request falls under — minor name change, marriage/divorce-related change, data-entry error, regional-language error or major name change.

Step 3: Collect the applicable Proof of Identity (PoI), Proof of Relationship (PoR) or other supporting documents.

Step 4: Prepare the prescribed affidavit or obtain a Gazette Notification, if applicable.

Step 5: Visit an Aadhaar Enrolment/Update Centre.

Step 6: Submit the name update request and supporting documents.

Step 7: Complete the verification required for the update.

Step 8: Collect the acknowledgement for your request.

Step 9: Use the details mentioned in the acknowledgement to track the status of your Aadhaar update.

About the Author

For about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geopolitics. We bring the latest updates on all the listed companies on BSE and NSE, startups, mutual funds, Union ministries, geopolitics, and untapped human interest stories from around the world, helping our readers to stay informed on the latest developments around the globe. Our Coverage Areas 1. Companies: Comprehensive news and analysis on listed and unlisted companies, corporate announcements, corporate chatter, C-suite, business trends, hiring alerts, layoffs, work-life balance, world's top billionaires and richest and more. 2. Personal finance: Insights into mutual funds, small savings schemes like - PPF, SSY, post office savings scheme, stock to watch, personal loans, credit cards, top bank FDs, real estate, income tax and more. 3. Politics: Comprehensive coverage of general elections, state elections and bypolls, Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Parliament, PMO, PIB, finance ministry, home ministry, among other union ministries and government departments. 4. National News: From metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and e to untapped stories from rural India, we cover human interest, health, education, crime and courts, and law and order, among other areas of public interest. 5. Economy: In-depth analysis of India's macro and micro-economic indicators like- GDP, inflation, forex, fiscal deficit, current account deficit, interest rate cycle, economic recovery, RBI circulars, indirect taxes, GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy imports, exports and everything that impacts Indian economy. 6. Geopolitics: Well-rounded and deeply researched coverage on US News, Oval Office European Union, Ukraine Russia War, middle-east crisis, royal families and global leaders like - Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping and premiers of other leading economies in the world. Meet the Team 1. Gulam Jeelani, Political Affairs Editor 2. Sugam Singhal, Senior Assistant Editor 3. Chanchal, Assistant Editor 4. Sanchari Ghosh, Chief Content Producer 5. Pratik Prashant Mukane, Chief Content Producer 6. Sayantani Biswas, Chief Content Producer 7. Ravi Hari, Deputy Chief Content Producer 8. Garvit Bhirani, Deputy Chief Content Producer 9. Akriti Anand, Senior Content Producer 10. Jocelyn Felix Fernandes, Senior Content Producer 11. Swastika Das Sharma, Content Producer 12. Mausam Jha, Content Producer 13. Riya R Alex, Trainee Content Producer

^{Get Latest real-time updates}

Stay updated with the latest Trending, India, World and US news.

HomeNewsIndiaAadhaar name correction new rules 2026: Which document do you need for spelling mistake, marriage or major name change?