Over 65 or under 15? Indians can use Aadhaar to visit Nepal, Bhutan

New Delhi:

Aadhaar cards are now valid travel documents for Indians under 15 and over 65 travelling to Nepal and Bhutan, according to a home ministry communique.


Indian citizens going to Nepal and Bhutan don’t need a visa if they have a valid passport, a photo ID card issued by the government of India or an election ID card issued by the Election Commission, it said. But now, those in the two age brackets can use Aadhaar card too.

Earlier, persons over 65 and under 15 could show their PAN card, driving licence, Central Government Health Service (CGHS) card or ration card to prove their identity and visit the two countries. “Now, persons in the age group of over 65 years and below 15 years have been allowed to use Aadhaar as a valid travel document,” the official told PTI.

Giving details, the official said a certificate of registration issued by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, to Indian nationals is not an acceptable travel document for travelling between India and Nepal. “However, the emergency certificate and identity certificate issued by the Indian Embassy in Nepal will be valid for single journey for travelling back to India,” he said.

Teens between 15 to 18 years will be allowed to travel between India and Nepal on the basis of an identity certificate issued by the principal of their school in a prescribed form, the officer said.

In case of a family travelling together, all persons will not be required to carry relevant documents if one of the adult members has valid travel papers, he said. However, the other family members must have some proof of their identity with a photograph and their relationship as a family, such as a CGHS card, ration card, a driving licence or an ID card issued by school/college, the official explained.

Indian nationals travelling to Bhutan need to have either an Indian passport with minimum validity of six months or a voter identity card issued by the Election Commission of India. AGENCIES

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