HomeCirculars › RBI/2011-12/314

Aadhaar Letter Accepted as Valid KYC Document for NBFCs (Circular dated December 26, 2011)

Live · in forceNo withdrawal recorded as of 20 Jun 2026. Reviewed by Vikram Jain; always verify against the official RBI source below.
Issued by RBI: 26 Dec 2011  ·  Decoded by BankPulse: 20 Jun 2026, 05:49 IST
⏱ ~1 min read
📄 Official RBI source ↗
Quick answerRBI, via circular dated December 26, 2011, allowed NBFCs to accept the UIDAI letter containing name, address, and Aadhaar number as an officially valid document for opening accounts, per PMLA rules. NBFCs must still verify the customer's current address separately.

What changed

The Government of India, via Notification No. 14/2010 dated December 16, 2010, amended PML Rules, 2005 to include the UIDAI letter as an officially valid document under Rule 2(1)(d). RBI directed NBFCs to accept this letter for account opening, aligning with the Master Circular on KYC/AML.

What it means for you

NBFCs can now use the Aadhaar letter as a primary KYC document, simplifying customer onboarding. However, they must still obtain separate proof of the customer's current address. This adds the Aadhaar letter to the list of OVDs, which already includes voter ID and NREGA job cards.

What you must do

Who it affects

All Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Residuary Non-Banking Companies (RNBCs)

Can we open an account solely based on the Aadhaar letter?

Yes, the UIDAI letter is now an officially valid document for identity. But you must also obtain separate proof of the customer's current address as per existing KYC norms.

Does this notification change address verification requirements?

No. The notification reiterates that NBFCs must satisfy themselves about the current address of the customer by obtaining required proof, even when using Aadhaar.

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AI-drafted · 3-model AI consensus fact-check · under the editorial review of Vikram Jain · decoded & published by BankPulse · 20 Jun 2026, 05:49 IST
Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6890&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by Vikram Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; never reproduces RBI text verbatim.