At a hotel counter guests show an Aadhaar in many forms: the plastic card, a printed letter, a PDF on a phone. They are not equal when it comes to checking that the document is genuine.
What is the Secure QR code?
Newer Aadhaar cards and the e-Aadhaar PDF carry a Secure QR code that UIDAI has digitally signed. A verifier can check the signature, so a changed or invented card fails. Verifying it is how a hotel can be confident the details were issued by UIDAI.
What is e-Aadhaar?
e-Aadhaar is the electronic copy a person downloads from UIDAI's myAadhaar portal. It carries the same signed QR code, so a guest who has the file on their phone can use it instead of photographing a card.
What is masked Aadhaar?
A masked Aadhaar shows only the last four digits of the number instead of all twelve. It is a way to share an identity document while exposing less. UIDAI lists masked e-Aadhaar among the accepted forms in its circular of 30 April 2026.
What about older cards with an unsigned QR?
Some older cards and letters carry a QR code that is not digitally signed. It can be read, but it cannot be proven genuine. A careful process flags it and asks for another ID, or advises the guest to download a fresh e-Aadhaar from myAadhaar.
Which should a hotel prefer?
- Best: a signed Secure QR (card or e-Aadhaar) or a credential from the Aadhaar App.
- Acceptable with care: an older card, with a manual check and clear notes.
- Not enough on its own: a photograph or photocopy of a card.
CheckInKYC reads the signed Secure QR, warns on unsigned codes and lets reception check a guest in with another ID when needed.
Sources and further reading
This article explains public information in plain words, as of 19 October 2026. It is not legal advice and rules can change. CheckInKYC is operated by SWASTIK ENTERPRISES, a UIDAI-registered OVSE (No. OR11274063); nothing here says UIDAI endorses or certifies any hotel or product.
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