ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) is a free 14-digit digital health ID issued under the government's Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). In 2026, most government hospitals and many private hospitals ask patients for an ABHA number or ABHA address at the OPD counter, since it lets doctors and hospitals access your health records digitally with your consent instead of you carrying paper files every visit.
What Is ABHA and Why You Need It
- ●A unique 14-digit ABHA number (like a bank account number) plus a readable ABHA address such as ramesh1990@abdm
- ●Lets you create a lifelong digital health record linked across hospitals, labs, and clinics that are ABDM-enabled
- ●Speeds up OPD registration through 'Scan and Share' — no repeated form-filling at every hospital visit
- ●Required to link records under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, e-Sanjeevani teleconsultation, and most state e-health apps
- ●Completely free to create, download, and use — no third party should ever charge you for this
Documents & Eligibility
| Who can apply | Any Indian citizen, any age (parent/guardian can create for a minor) |
| Aadhaar method | 12-digit Aadhaar number + Aadhaar-linked mobile number for OTP |
| Mobile-only method | Any active 10-digit mobile number (no Aadhaar needed, but record is 'unverified') |
| Driving Licence method | Valid DL number + details matching DL records |
| Fee | ₹0 — entirely free on abha.abdm.gov.in and the ABHA mobile app |
How to Create ABHA Using Aadhaar (Recommended)
- 1Go to the official portal abha.abdm.gov.in
- 2Click the 'Create ABHA number' button on the homepage
- 3Select the option 'Generate via Aadhaar'
- 4Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and tick the consent checkbox that begins 'I hereby declare...'
- 5Click 'Submit' — an OTP is sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number
- 6Enter the 6-digit OTP in the boxes provided and click 'Verify OTP'
- 7If your mobile number is different from the Aadhaar-linked one, enter it and verify with a second OTP
- 8Fill in or confirm your Name, Gender, Date of Birth, Address and Profile Photo (optional), then click 'Submit'
- 9On the next screen, choose a suggested ABHA address or create your own (e.g., yourname@abdm) and click 'Confirm'
- 10Your ABHA number and ABHA address are created instantly — click 'Download ABHA Card' to save the PDF with your QR code
Creating ABHA through Aadhaar gives you a 'verified' health ID, which is accepted at more hospitals and government health schemes than the mobile-only method.
How to Create ABHA Without Aadhaar (Mobile Number Method)
- 1Visit abha.abdm.gov.in and click 'Create ABHA number'
- 2Select 'Generate via Mobile Number'
- 3Enter your 10-digit mobile number and click 'Submit'
- 4Enter the OTP received by SMS and click 'Verify OTP'
- 5Fill in your Name, Date of Birth, Gender, State and District in the form shown
- 6Click 'Submit' to generate your ABHA address
- 7Download your ABHA card from the 'Download' option on the confirmation screen
The mobile-only method does not verify your identity against Aadhaar records. Some hospitals and PM-JAY empanelled facilities may still ask you to complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC later, so use the Aadhaar method if you already have Aadhaar.
Creating ABHA Through the ABHA Mobile App
- 1Download the 'ABHA' app (by NHA) from Google Play Store or Apple App Store
- 2Open the app and tap 'Create ABHA Number'
- 3Choose 'Aadhaar' or 'Driving Licence' as your ID proof method
- 4Complete OTP verification exactly as on the website
- 5Once created, tap 'My QR' inside the app anytime to show your ABHA QR code at a hospital counter
Using ABHA at a Hospital: Scan and Share
At an ABDM-enabled hospital, look for a 'Scan and Share' QR code displayed at the OPD registration counter. Open your ABHA app, tap 'Scan QR', and scan the hospital's code. Your basic demographic details are shared with your consent, which auto-fills your OPD registration form and creates a linked health record for that visit — no paper form needed.
Fees and Key Facts
| ABHA number creation | Free |
| ABHA card download (PDF/QR) | Free |
| Linking health records | Free, and only with your explicit consent each time |
| Changing your ABHA address later | Allowed, free, via 'Update ABHA Address' on the portal |
| Validity | Lifetime — no renewal required |
ABHA is issued directly by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. There is no application fee at any stage — do not pay any website or agent claiming to charge for ABHA registration.
Common Problems and Fixes
- ●OTP not received — check that your mobile number is correctly linked to Aadhaar via UIDAI, or retry after a few minutes
- ●'Aadhaar details mismatch' error — ensure the name and date of birth you enter exactly match your Aadhaar card
- ●Forgotten ABHA number or address — use 'Login' on abha.abdm.gov.in with your registered mobile number and OTP to retrieve it
- ●Want to switch from mobile-only to Aadhaar-verified — log in and use 'Link Aadhaar' from your ABHA profile page
- ●Card not downloading — try the ABHA mobile app's 'My QR' and 'Download Card' option instead of the website
Helpline and Support
For issues with ABHA registration, linking, or your health records, call the National Health Authority helpline at 1800-11-4477 (toll-free) or email abdm@nha.gov.in. You can also raise a ticket through the 'Help Desk' section on abha.abdm.gov.in.