The Aadhaar card has become one of the most essential identity documents in India, required for services ranging from mobile SIM cards to bank accounts.
However, with rising concerns around data privacy and fraud, many users are hesitant to share their Aadhaar number widely.
To address this, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) introduced the Virtual ID (VID), a 16-digit temporary number that can be used in place of your Aadhaar number for authentication purposes.
The VID acts as a protective layer, ensuring that your actual Aadhaar number is not exposed during verification processes.
Whether you are completing KYC for a bank or activating a SIM card, you can provide the VID instead of your Aadhaar number.
The system verifies your identity seamlessly, while keeping your sensitive information secure from misuse.
What is Aadhaar Virtual ID (VID)?
The Virtual ID is a revocable, temporary 16-digit number mapped to your Aadhaar. It allows authentication without revealing your Aadhaar number, thereby reducing the chances of data leaks and identity theft.
One key feature of VID is that it can be regenerated multiple times. Each time you generate a new VID, the previous one becomes invalid automatically.
How to generate your Aadhaar VID
Generating a VID is quick and can be done online in just a few steps:
- Visit the official UIDAI portal: https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/
- Log in using your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your registered mobile number
- On the dashboard, find and select the "Generate Virtual ID (VID)" option
- Click on "Generate ID" to proceed
- Your VID will be created instantly and displayed on the screen
- It will also be sent to your registered mobile number via SMS
Why you should use VID
- Helps protect your Aadhaar number from being shared unnecessarily
- Reduces the risk of identity theft and fraud
- Can be used for most authentication purposes
- Easy to generate and revoke anytime