Aadhaar Virtual ID (VID): How to Generate It

Why Use Virtual ID Instead of Aadhaar Number

Every time you hand over your 12-digit Aadhaar the receiver can store it. A VID breaks that habit. Because it is temporary and revocable, a number you shared last month can be made useless this month simply by generating a new one. Agencies that logged the old VID can no longer authenticate with it. This limits how widely your real Aadhaar number spreads across SIM shops hotels and forms which are the places most likely to mishandle it. You still prove who you are but you stop scattering your permanent number across databases you don’t control.

How to Generate Aadhaar Virtual ID (2026)

The fastest no-internet route is SMS. The portal and app work just as well. You need a mobile number registered with Aadhaar.

1. By SMS: Send GVID followed by the last 4 digits of your Aadhaar to 1947 from your registered mobile
2. By portal: Open myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and select the Virtual ID (VID) Generator
3. Enter your Aadhaar number and the captcha then request an OTP
4. Enter the OTP and choose Generate VID
5. Note the 16-digit VID shown on screen. It is also sent to you by SMS

To see your current VID again without making a new one send RVID followed by the last 4 digits to 1947 or choose Retrieve VID on the portal or app.

How Long is VID Valid

Your VID does not expire on a fixed date. It stays valid until you generate a new one with a minimum life of one day. At any moment only one VID is active for your Aadhaar so a fresh VID always replaces the previous one rather than adding to it. This means you are never forced to renew it on a schedule. You can keep the same VID as long as you want and change it only when you have a reason to such as after sharing it with a service you don’t fully trust.

Where Can VID Be Used

A VID works anywhere your Aadhaar number is accepted for authentication or eKYC. Common uses include buying or reissuing a SIM hotel check-in bank or investment KYC and downloading your eAadhaar. By UIDAI mandate every Authentication User Agency must accept a VID in place of the Aadhaar number. If a provider refuses they are breaking UIDAI’s rules and you can insist. The only things a VID cannot do are reveal your Aadhaar number or on its own unlock a locked Aadhaar. For everyday verification treat it as a full substitute.

Difference Between VID and Aadhaar Number

Your Aadhaar number is permanent while your VID is disposable. The Aadhaar number never changes and identifies you for life which is exactly why over-sharing it is risky. A VID is a temporary 16-digit mask you can regenerate at will and it maps to your Aadhaar only inside UIDAI’s systems. Both pass the same authentication check so a service cannot tell the difference in outcome. The practical rule: keep your Aadhaar number for the rare cases that demand it and use a VID for everyday verifications where you would rather not expose it.

VID vs Aadhaar Number	Virtual ID (VID)	Aadhaar Number
Length	16 digits	12 digits
Permanence	Temporary and revocable	Permanent for life
Reveals the other?	No cannot derive Aadhaar	Is the real number
Used for authentication	Yes fully accepted	Yes

Security Benefits of VID

The VID’s real value is control. Because nobody can reverse it into your Aadhaar number a leaked VID exposes far less than a leaked Aadhaar. Because you can regenerate it you can switch off a number the moment you suspect misuse instantly invalidating whatever a service had stored. There is also a useful pairing with the biometric or Aadhaar lock: generate a VID first then lock your Aadhaar number. With the number locked the VID becomes your only authentication route giving you a private revocable key while your permanent number stays sealed. Used this way VID is one of the strongest free privacy tools UIDAI offers.