Aadhaar biometric update for children is one of those tasks many parents forget until a school, scholarship portal or bank suddenly rejects their child’s Aadhaar. When a child is enrolled before the age of five, UIDAI records only a photo and demographic details, because fingerprints and iris patterns are not yet stable. Once the child grows up, these biometrics must be captured and refreshed. This guide explains when the update is due, what it costs, where to go and how to track it in 2026.

What Is the Mandatory Biometric Update?

UIDAI calls this process the Mandatory Biometric Update, or MBU. The first MBU is due when the child turns five, when all ten fingerprints, both iris scans and a fresh photograph are captured for the first time. The second MBU is due at fifteen, because a teenager’s fingerprints and face change significantly during growth. Without these updates, the Aadhaar number may fail authentication, and UIDAI has the power to keep it inactive until the biometrics are refreshed.

Children below five hold the blue Baal Aadhaar, which is linked to a parent’s Aadhaar and has no biometrics. After the first update at five, the child’s Aadhaar works independently. The Aadhaar number itself never changes during this process. Only the stored biometric data is replaced, so all existing links with schools, bank accounts and ration cards continue to work once the update is completed successfully.

Aadhaar Biometric Update for Children: Fees and Free Age Windows

Child’s age at update	Type of update	Fee
5 to 7 years	First MBU	Free
7 to 15 years	Delayed first MBU	₹125 (special free drive ran till 30 Sept 2026)
15 to 17 years	Second MBU	Free
Above 17 years	Delayed second MBU	₹125

UIDAI raised the fee for biometric updates to ₹125 from October 2025. To clear the backlog, it also ran a special drive making the update free for all children between 5 and 17 years until 30 September 2026. If you missed that drive, the update is still free inside the normal windows of 5 to 7 and 15 to 17 years. Always ask for the printed acknowledgement slip, which shows the amount collected and the Update Request Number.

Documents Needed for the Update

Because this is a biometric update, no proof documents are usually needed. You only need the child’s Aadhaar number or Aadhaar letter, and the child must be physically present at the centre. A parent or guardian should accompany children below eighteen. If you also want to correct the child’s name, date of birth or address in the same visit, carry the relevant supporting documents, such as a birth certificate or school record, because demographic changes need separate proof.

• Child’s Aadhaar card or Aadhaar number
• Parent or guardian’s Aadhaar for identification
• Mobile number linked to the child’s Aadhaar, if any
• Birth certificate or school ID only if demographic details also need correction

How to Complete Aadhaar Biometric Update for Children

Biometric data cannot be updated online, because fingerprints and iris scans need certified devices. You must visit an Aadhaar enrolment centre. In Kerala, these include Aadhaar Seva Kendras, many Akshaya centres, post offices and bank branches. Booking an appointment at a UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendra avoids long queues, especially during school vacations. Follow the steps below for a smooth visit.

1. Open myAadhaar or the UIDAI appointment page and choose Book an Appointment.
2. Select your city and the nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra, then pick a convenient slot.
3. Take the child to the centre with the Aadhaar card on the booked date.
4. The operator captures ten fingerprints, both irises and a new photo.
5. Check the details on the screen and confirm with your own biometric if asked.
6. Collect the acknowledgement slip carrying the Update Request Number (URN).

How to Check the Update Status

Most biometric updates are processed within a few weeks, although UIDAI allows up to 90 days in some cases. To check progress, visit myAadhaar, choose the check enrolment and update status option, and enter the URN from your slip along with the captcha. Once the status shows completed, download the updated e-Aadhaar. The card looks the same, but authentication with fingerprints and face will now work for the child at schools, exam centres and banks.

If the status shows rejected, the most common reason is poor-quality fingerprints, which happens with very young children or after injuries. Simply visit the centre again; a rejected biometric update can be retried. Keep the child’s hands clean and dry before the visit, and avoid applying henna or lotions, because these can affect the fingerprint scan and lead to another rejection.

Why Parents Should Not Delay It

Many services now depend on an active Aadhaar. School admission records, the APAAR student ID, scholarship payments, bank accounts for minors and entrance exam registrations all use Aadhaar authentication. If the biometrics are outdated, fingerprint verification fails and parents end up rushing to centres during deadlines. Completing the Aadhaar biometric update for children inside the free windows saves money and prevents last-minute stress before important exams or admissions.

UIDAI also sends SMS reminders to the mobile number linked to a child’s Aadhaar, and schools in many states are now running special camps. If your child’s school announces such a camp, it is often the easiest option because the update happens on campus. Otherwise, plan the visit during holidays, carry the Aadhaar letter, and keep the acknowledgement slip safely until the new e-Aadhaar is downloaded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Aadhaar biometric update for children is simple, quick and free when done at the right age. Book a slot, take your child to an Aadhaar centre at five and again at fifteen, and keep the URN slip until the new e-Aadhaar is ready. Once the Aadhaar is active, you can also create your child’s student ID using our APAAR ID download guide and set up a digital health record with our ABHA card create online guide.