UIDAI's circular of 30 April 2026: Aadhaar App credentials are a valid way to prove identity

UIDAI launched the Aadhaar App on 28 January 2026. A circular dated 30 April 2026 then set out the status of the credentials the app produces.

What the circular says

• An Aadhaar Verifiable Credential shown, shared or verified through the Aadhaar App is a legally valid way to establish the identity of an Aadhaar holder.
• It stands alongside the Aadhaar letter, e-Aadhaar, masked e-Aadhaar, the Aadhaar card and m-Aadhaar.
• The circular refers to section 4(3) of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and to the Information Technology Act, 2000.
• The 12-digit Aadhaar number is not transferred to the verifier. The holder can share complete or partial details.

Why this matters for privacy

The credential is digitally signed, so a verifier can tell it has not been altered, and the holder chooses what to share. For a hotel this means a guest can prove who they are without handing over a full copy of a card.

What it does not decide

The circular is about the validity of the credential as proof of identity. It does not set rules for hotel guest registers, how long a hotel must keep records, or police reporting. Those remain the hotel's own duties under the rules that apply to it.

How CheckInKYC uses it

CheckInKYC verifies the digitally signed Secure QR today. The Aadhaar App route is built and is being enabled, which needs UIDAI's technical approval and keys before it can go live. We will not switch it on for a hotel before that.

This article explains public information in plain words, as of 18 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.