ABHA card create online is a quick, free process that gives you a 14-digit digital health ID under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. With an ABHA number, your prescriptions, lab reports and discharge summaries can be stored and shared digitally with doctors and hospitals across India, but only with your consent. Many Kerala hospitals now ask for an ABHA at registration counters, so creating one before your next visit saves time and paperwork.

What Is an ABHA Card?

ABHA stands for Ayushman Bharat Health Account. It has two parts: a 14-digit ABHA number that works like a unique health ID, and an easy-to-remember ABHA address such as yourname@abdm, which you use to log in to health apps. The ABHA card is a printable or digital card with your photo, details and a QR code that hospitals can scan to fetch your profile at the registration desk.

ABHA is different from the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY card. The PM-JAY or KASP card gives cashless insurance treatment to eligible families, while ABHA is a health record ID that any Indian can create, regardless of income or insurance. Having an ABHA does not mean you get free treatment, but it does make linking your records with schemes and insurance claims much easier.

Ways to Create an ABHA Number

Method	What you need	Best for
Aadhaar OTP	Aadhaar number and linked mobile	Most users
Driving licence	Licence details, mobile OTP and licence photo	People without Aadhaar-linked mobile
ABHA mobile app	Mobile number and personal details	Creating an ABHA address on the go
Hospital or health facility	Aadhaar card	Elderly people who need help

The Aadhaar method is the fastest because your name, date of birth, gender and photo are pulled automatically from UIDAI records after OTP verification. If you choose the driving licence route, your ABHA is created first and then verified at a nearby ABDM-linked facility. Either way, there is no fee for ABHA card create online, and you can create ABHA numbers for family members using their own Aadhaar details.

How to Do ABHA Card Create Online Using Aadhaar

Follow these steps on the official website. Keep the mobile phone linked to your Aadhaar nearby, because you will receive two OTPs during the process: one from UIDAI to verify your identity, and another to confirm the communication mobile number for your ABHA account. The whole process usually takes less than ten minutes on a phone or computer.

1. Open abha.abdm.gov.in and click Create ABHA Number.
2. Select Using Aadhaar, enter your Aadhaar number and accept the consent terms.
3. Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
4. Confirm or enter the mobile number you want to use for ABHA communication.
5. Choose an ABHA address from the suggestions or create your own.
6. Your 14-digit ABHA number is generated; download the card as PDF or image.

How to Download Your ABHA Card Again

If you lose the card, log in on abha.abdm.gov.in using your ABHA number, ABHA address, Aadhaar or mobile number, and verify with OTP. From the profile page, choose the download option to save the card again. The ABHA mobile app also shows your card in the profile section, so you can simply show it on your phone at hospitals instead of carrying a printout every time you visit.

Is ABHA Safe? Privacy Points to Know

Your health records are not stored in one central government database. They stay with the hospitals and labs that created them, and ABHA only acts as a secure link that lets you fetch and share them. Every access request needs your consent, and you can set how long a doctor can view a record. You can see the full consent history in the app and revoke any permission you are no longer comfortable with.

To stay safe, never share the OTP you receive during ABHA creation with anyone calling on behalf of a hospital or insurance company. Create ABHA only on the official website or the government app, not through links sent on WhatsApp. If you suspect misuse, lock your ABHA from the profile settings and contact the ABDM helpline listed on the website. Parents should create separate ABHA numbers for children using their own details.

How to Link Health Records With ABHA

After creating your ABHA, install a Personal Health Record app such as the official ABHA app. Hospitals and labs connected to ABDM can push reports directly to your account when you share your ABHA at registration. You can also scan the facility’s QR code to share your profile instantly. Every time a doctor wants to view your old records, you receive a consent request, and nothing is shared unless you approve it.

You can upload older prescriptions and scan reports yourself to keep them in one place. Records from Ayurveda and Homeopathy clinics can be linked too. If you have health insurance, linking it with ABHA can speed up cashless approval at participating hospitals. You can also lock your ABHA or delete it later from the profile settings if you no longer wish to use the service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Completing ABHA card create online takes only a few minutes and gives you a lifelong digital health ID that works across India. Use the Aadhaar method for the fastest approval, choose a simple ABHA address, and keep the card on your phone for hospital visits. If you are also checking eligibility for Kerala’s free treatment scheme, read our guide to the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi and keep your Aadhaar address updated so verification goes smoothly.