How to Make a Self-Attested Copy of Aadhaar Card (Online, Safe & Free)

A SIM card, a bank account, a rent agreement, a job joining kit, a college admission — sooner or later someone asks for a "self-attested copy of your Aadhaar". The usual routine is photocopy, sign, write "Self-attested", scan, upload. You can do the whole thing on your phone or laptop instead, without a printer. This guide covers the parts that are specific to Aadhaar: which sides to sign, how to open the password-protected e-Aadhaar PDF, the purpose line that makes a copy harder to misuse, and when a masked Aadhaar is the better choice.

If you need the general version for mark sheets, certificates or other IDs, read how to self-attest any document online. This post is only about Aadhaar.

What a self-attested Aadhaar copy should have

Keep the Aadhaar number, photo and QR code readable. The office receiving the copy needs to read them, and some will scan the QR code. Don't place text or your signature on top of them unless the form tells you to sign partly across the photo.

Why add a purpose line

A self-attested Aadhaar copy with nothing else on it can be reused anywhere — for another SIM, another account, another form. Writing what the copy is for and the date, for example "For home loan KYC with ABC Bank only — 26/09/2026", makes that much harder. It isn't a legal requirement and no form will reject you for it, but it costs ten seconds and it's a sensible habit with a document this sensitive.

Step 1: Get your Aadhaar as a PDF

If you have the physical card or letter

Take a clear photo of the front and another of the back — flat surface, good light, no shadows, all four corners visible. Then open Images to PDF, add both photos (front first), and download a single two-page PDF. The conversion happens in your browser, so the photos aren't uploaded.

If you have the e-Aadhaar PDF from UIDAI

The e-Aadhaar you download from UIDAI is password-protected. The password is the first four letters of your name as printed on the card, in capital letters, followed by your year of birth. For Suresh Kumar, born in 1990, it is SURE1990.

Most sign tools can't edit a password-protected PDF, so make an unlocked copy first — on your own device:

1. Open the e-Aadhaar PDF in Chrome or Edge (or any PDF reader) and enter the password.
2. Press Ctrl + P (on a phone, use Share → Print).
3. Choose Save as PDF as the printer and save. The new file opens without a password.

Should you use a masked Aadhaar?

When downloading e-Aadhaar, UIDAI gives you the option of a masked Aadhaar, which shows only the last four digits of your number (XXXX XXXX 1234). If the place asking for your copy only needs proof of identity or address — a housing society, a gym, an event, many employers — a masked copy tells them everything they need and exposes less. Some KYC processes do need the full number; if the form says so, use the regular copy.

Step 2: Add "Self-attested", your signature and the date

1. Open the Sign tool. Go to Sign PDF and load your Aadhaar PDF. It opens inside your browser.
2. Type the text. In the Type tab, enter Self-attested and place it in a blank area near the bottom of the first page. Add the purpose line the same way if you're using one.
3. Add your signature. Draw it with a finger or mouse, type your name, or upload a photo of your signature on white paper, then place it next to the text.
4. Add the date. Tick the date option when placing your signature, or add a separate date stamp.
5. Repeat on the back. Go to page 2 and add the same text, signature and date.
6. Download and check. Zoom in and confirm the number, photo, QR code and your signature are all clear, then send it only to the organisation that asked for it.

Why "nothing uploaded" matters for Aadhaar

Aadhaar is the one document most Indians should be least willing to hand to an unknown website, and self-attesting one should not require doing that. DocuSmartly's Images to PDF and Sign tools run entirely in your browser: the photos, the PDF and your signature stay on your device. We also never send Aadhaar or PAN documents to any AI service — our privacy policy explains exactly how identity documents are handled.

Common questions

Will a digitally self-attested Aadhaar be accepted?

For online applications and uploads, a clearly signed and dated PDF is normally what's expected. Some branches and offices still want a signed paper photocopy handed over in person. If you're unsure, check the form or ask before you go.

Do I need a notary or a gazetted officer?

Not for self-attestation — you are the one confirming the copy is genuine. Attestation by an official is a different process, needed only when a form specifically asks for it.

Can I do this on my phone?

Yes. Take the two photos, turn them into a PDF with Images to PDF, and sign in the same browser. Signing with a finger on the touchscreen works well — see how to sign a document on your phone.

What do I write on a self-attested copy of Aadhaar card?

On each page: the words Self-attested, your signature, today's date and, ideally, a purpose line such as For SIM KYC with <company> only. Keep the number, photo and QR code readable.

Can I put both sides on one page?

Yes, if the form prefers it. Put the front and back on one page with any image editor or scanner app, turn that single image into a PDF, and sign it once.

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