The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has made it clear that NRIs and PIOs are not required to link services to their Aadhaar. A mechanism will be prepared to verify status of Indians living abroad.
UIDAI said that Prevention of Money Laundering Rules 2017 and IT Act specifies that only those individuals need to link bank accounts and PAN who are eligible to enrol for Adahaar.
Most NRIs/PIOs/OCIs may not be eligible for Aadhaar enrolment and therefore authorities cannot seek Aadhaar as an identity document.
Several NRIS had reported in the recent past that authorities demanded Aadhaar from them with regard to various services.
"The laws regarding submitting/linking of Aadhaar for availing the services/benefits applies to the residents as per the Aadhaar Act 2016... Most of the NRIs/PIOs/OCIs may not be eligible for Aadhaar enrolment as per Aadhaar Act...," the UIDAI said in a note to central ministries and states, according to news agency PTI.
