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How to Change Your Photo in Aadhaar

How to Change Your Photo in Aadhaar

Your Aadhaar photo is part of how you are identified, so it is worth updating when it no longer looks like you. The usual reasons: an old enrolment photo taken years ago, a poor or blurred original, a significant change in appearance, or a child’s photo that has aged out. A clear, current photo matters most where Aadhaar is checked visually at airports, exam centres, and KYC counters. There is no rule forcing a photo refresh on a schedule for adults, so you do it when the picture stops being a fair likeness. If staff keep double-checking your face against the card, that is the practical cue.

Table of Content

1. Step-by-Step: Photo Change at Aadhaar Centre

2. Fee for Aadhaar Photo Change

3. Timeline and Tracking for Photo Update

Step-by-Step: Photo Change at Aadhaar Centre

A photo update is captured live by the operator you cannot upload your own image. Carry your Aadhaar; no other document is needed.

Find an Aadhaar Seva Kendra on the Bhuvan Aadhaar portal, and ideally book a free slot. 2. At the centre, ask for a photo (biometric) update and give your Aadhaar number. 3. Authenticate with your fingerprint or iris so the operator can confirm it is you. 4. Sit for a fresh photograph taken by the centre’s camera.
Check the capture, pay the fee, and collect the slip with its Update Request Number (URN).

Because the photo is taken on the spot under controlled lighting, there is no passport photo to bring. The live capture is also why this cannot be done online it stops anyone substituting someone else’s picture.

Fee for Aadhaar Photo Change

A photo update falls under UIDAI’s biometric update category, so it costs ₹125 at the centre the rate revised in October 2025, up from the earlier 100 that some sites still quote. There are ₹ no document charges, since no documents are needed. A useful saving: if you also need a demographic change, such as a new address, doing it in the same visit as the photo update makes the demographic part free, because a demographic update bundled with a biometric one carries no extra fee. So combine errands in one trip where you can.

Timeline and Tracking for Photo Update

After your visit, the new photo usually appears on your Aadhaar within a few days, though UIDAI’s official service standard allows up to 90 days. You will get an SMS once it is processed, and can then download a fresh eAadhaar showing the new picture. Until then, track progress with the Update Request Number from your slip on UIDAI’s “Check Aadhaar Status” page. If it has not reflected after the full window, raise it on the 1947 helpline with your URN. Do not re submit a second photo update while the first is still pending, as that only adds confusion.

Photo update at a glance:

Detail	What to know
Mode	In person only live capture at a centre, no online option
Fee	₹125 (biometric update category)
Documents	None just your Aadhaar
Photo	Taken by the centre’s camera; no passport photo needed
Timeline	Usually a few days; up to 90 days officially

Source: UIDAI, uidai.gov.in.

Written By

Vimal Vijayan

Senior Content Editor

Vimal Vijayan is a senior editor with a background in philosophy, research, music, and teaching, bringing a multidisciplinary lens to financial content and analysis. He specialises in refining complex financial ideas into clear, engaging narratives that support informed decision-making. With a strong interest in markets, problem-solving, and editorial precision, he combines analytical thinking with storytelling to produce content that is both insightful and accessible. Outside work, he enjoys chess, where strategy and patience continue to sharpen his perspective.

Reviewed By

Amit Prakash Singh

Co-Founder, Square Yards & Chief Business Officer, Urban Money

Amit Prakash Singh is the Chief Business Officer at Urban Money. With over nine years of experience at Square Capital, he has played a crucial role in establishing it as one of India's premier loan advisory services. Amit's deep financial insights and extensive knowledge have driven significant business growth and strategic advancements. He has successfully built and managed large sales teams, optimised costs, and created leaders within the industry. Amit's financial expertise and strategic vision are key to the ongoing success and expansion of Square Yards and Urban Money.

Last Updated: 2nd July 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to change photo in Aadhaar?

Visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or enrolment centre with your Aadhaar, ask for a photo update, and authenticate with your fingerprint or iris. The operator takes a fresh photograph on the centre’s camera, you pay the fee, and you get a slip with a URN to track it. It is captured live in person; you cannot upload your own photo.

Can photo be changed online in Aadhaar?

No. UIDAI does not allow photo updates online or through self-service, because the photograph must be captured live at a centre. This live capture, paired with your fingerprint or iris check, prevents anyone substituting a different person’s picture. While demographic details like address can be changed online, a photo change always needs an in-person visit to a Seva Kendra.

What is the fee for Aadhaar photo change?

It is 125, because a photo update is treated as a biometric update under UIDAI’s October 2025 ₹ charges, up from the older 100. No document charges apply. If you also update a ₹ demographic field, such as your address, in the same visit, that demographic change is free when combined with the photo update, so it is worth doing together.

How long does photo update take in Aadhaar?

Usually a few days, though UIDAI’s official service standard allows up to 90 days. You receive an SMS once it is processed and can then download a fresh eAadhaar with the new photo. Track it in the meantime using the Update Request Number on your acknowledgement slip. If it overruns the full window, contact 1947 with your URN.

What type of photo is accepted for Aadhaar?

You do not supply a photo at all the centre’s camera captures it live during your visit, under controlled lighting and background. This ensures it meets UIDAI’s quality standards for facial recognition. So there is no need to carry a passport-size photograph, and self-uploaded or studio photos are not accepted for an Aadhaar photo update.

How many times can photo be changed in Aadhaar?

There is no fixed limit on photo updates; you can refresh it whenever there is a genuine need, such as a poor original or a real change in appearance. Each update is a chargeable biometric update at 125 for adults. There is no scheduled renewal you update only when the existing ₹ photo no longer represents you well.

Where to go for Aadhaar photo update?

Go to an Aadhaar Seva Kendra run by UIDAI, or an authorised enrolment centre in many banks and post offices. Find your nearest one on the Bhuvan Aadhaar portal, which lists addresses and the services each offers. Because a photo update needs live capture, it cannot be done at home; booking a free appointment first saves waiting time.

Can I see my Aadhaar photo online?

Yes. Download your eAadhaar from the myAadhaar portal or the Aadhaar app, and the PDF shows your current photo. You can also see it on your PVC card or by scanning the secure QR code, which contains the photograph. So while you cannot change the photo online, you can always view the one currently on record before deciding to update it.