Last updated: 17 September 2026
Quick Answer: Two documents are required to register for an e-Shram card: your Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to it. Keep your bank account number and IFSC ready too, because the form asks for them and benefits are paid there. No photo, income certificate or birth certificate is needed, and registration is free.
The list of e-Shram card documents required is short because the portal pulls your name, photo and address from Aadhaar. What trips people up is the mobile number: the one-time password (OTP) only goes to the number linked with Aadhaar.
Overview
| Item | What applies |
|---|---|
| Run by | Ministry of Labour & Employment, on eshram.gov.in |
| Who can register | Unorganised workers aged 16 or above, not in EPFO or ESIC, not paying income tax |
| Needed to register | Aadhaar number and Aadhaar-linked mobile |
| Also keep ready | Bank account number with IFSC, asked on the form for benefit payments |
| Not needed | Photo, income certificate, education certificates, date-of-birth proof |
| Fee | ₹0, online or at a CSC |
| What you get | A Universal Account Number (UAN), a permanent 12-digit number |
What e-Shram card documents are required?
You need your Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to that Aadhaar, and you should keep your bank account number with IFSC ready. The Ministry's e-Shram FAQs list the first two as essential; its leaflet adds a bank account, which the form asks for.
| Keep ready | Why the portal needs it | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar number | e-KYC: your identity, photo and address come from Aadhaar | Yes |
| Aadhaar-linked mobile | The OTP to verify you is sent to this number | Yes online; a CSC can use your fingerprint |
| Bank account number and IFSC | So government benefits can be paid straight to you | Keep ready: the form has a bank details step |
| Occupation, education, family details | You declare them on the form, no papers | Declared only |
Why do you need your Aadhaar number?
Your 12-digit Aadhaar number is the base of the whole registration. e-KYC (electronic Know Your Customer) means the portal checks your identity against Aadhaar records, so you don't carry separate ID or address proof.
Why must your mobile be linked to Aadhaar?
Online registration only works if the OTP reaches you. It's sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar, so keep that phone with you and switched on.
Why keep your bank account and IFSC ready?
The form has a bank details step, and benefits are paid to this account, so write down your account number and IFSC before you start. IFSC is the 11-character code of your bank branch, printed on your passbook or cheque book. If you have more than one account, use the one you check most often.
What details does the e-Shram form ask you to declare?
e-Shram registration online is open to unorganised workers aged 16 or above who are not members of EPFO or ESIC and don't pay income tax. You confirm these points yourself on the form, with no documents:
- EPFO and ESIC status: whether you're a member of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO, your PF account) or the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC, the ESI health cover). Members can't register, and neither can income tax payers or members of the government-funded National Pension System (NPS).
- Your work: your main occupation, and a second one if you have it.
- Education and skills: your highest qualification; no minimum education is needed.
- Family and nominee: a nominee's name and date of birth, so keep these ready.
EPFO, ESIC and the income tax department check this data from time to time, so answer truthfully. For the full eligibility rules and what the card gives you, read our e-Shram registration and eligibility guide.
Do you need to upload proof like income or date-of-birth documents?
No. The e-Shram FAQs say that, at present, you don't need to give any proof of your date of birth or income. There's no income limit either, only the rule that you don't pay income tax.
You don't need educational certificates either: the FAQs set no education requirement, and you only type in your qualification. A cancelled cheque or passport-size photo isn't needed, because your photo comes from Aadhaar.
Which documents do you need at a CSC versus self-registration online?
The documents for an e-Shram card are the same either way; only the way you're verified changes. You can apply for an e-Shram card online yourself on the e-Shram self-registration portal using an Aadhaar OTP, or at a CSC or State Seva Kendra.
| Self-registration online | At a CSC or State Seva Kendra | |
|---|---|---|
| What to have | Aadhaar number, Aadhaar-linked mobile, bank details | Aadhaar number, mobile number, bank details |
| How you're verified | OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile | OTP, or fingerprint (biometric) if your mobile isn't linked |
| Papers handed over | None | None; the Ministry says no document is submitted at a CSC |
| Fee | ₹0 | ₹0; you don't pay any registering entity |
| Card | Download it after registering | The CSC prints it for you |
If a CSC operator asks for money or photocopies, remember the Ministry's rule: registration is free. If you'd rather have someone walk you through the portal, Jaagruk Bharat offers help with your e-Shram card application. Your UAN and card still come from the Ministry's e-Shram portal.
What if your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar?
Register at your nearest CSC or State Seva Kendra with fingerprint verification instead of an OTP. The e-Shram FAQs give this route for workers without an Aadhaar-linked mobile. You can find a centre through the CSC locator on eshram.gov.in, and if you get stuck, call the national e-Shram helpline on 14434.
If you'd rather register online, first link your current number to Aadhaar. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) lists mobile number update in its Aadhaar app, or you can visit an Aadhaar centre. Once the new number shows in Aadhaar, the OTP will reach it. If you've already registered and only your number has changed, see how to update the mobile number on your e-Shram card.
