Every time you share your Aadhaar card for KYC — for a new SIM card, mutual fund, bank account, or rental agreement — you're exposing a unique 12-digit identity number. UIDAI recommends sharing a masked Aadhaar: first 8 digits hidden, last 4 visible. This way, you prove your identity without exposing the full number.
What Is Masked Aadhaar?
A masked Aadhaar shows only the last 4 digits of your Aadhaar number (e.g., XXXX XXXX 1234). UIDAI explicitly endorses this format for KYC submissions. The masked format can be verified through the same QR code on your Aadhaar card, making it valid for most verification purposes.
Where Is Masked Aadhaar Accepted?
- Telecom KYC: All major providers (Jio, Airtel, Vi) accept masked Aadhaar
- Banking: RBI and most banks accept masked Aadhaar for account KYC
- Mutual Funds: SEBI permits masked Aadhaar for KYC
- Rental agreements: Most landlords accept masked copies
- Hotels: Masked Aadhaar is valid for guest identity verification
How to Mask Your Aadhaar — Step by Step
- Open the Aadhaar & PAN Card Masker
- Upload your Aadhaar card image (photo or scanned)
- Click "Mask Image" — the tool draws a black bar over the first 8 digits
- Download the masked image as PNG — original resolution preserved
Critical: The masking happens entirely in your browser. Your Aadhaar image never leaves your device. No upload to any server. Compare this to online masking tools that require you to email your Aadhaar or upload it to a third-party server.
FAQs
Is masked Aadhaar legally valid?
Yes. UIDAI circular explicitly permits masked Aadhaar for KYC, stating users should share only the last 4 digits.
Can I mask Aadhaar on mobile?
Yes — the tool works on mobile browsers. Upload from your phone's gallery, mask, and download.
What about PAN card masking?
The same tool masks PAN cards — it hides the middle digits while keeping the first 5 and last 4 characters visible.