What​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ is the EID number in Aadhaar?

An Enrolment ID (EID) is the first thing which the UIDAI gives you when you physically or electronically register for the first time. The EID is a temporary reference to your newly-registered_UID_Aadhaar number.

Where to find your EID – quick bullet list

Besides the EID in your enrolment/update acknowledgement slip: a 14-digit number followed by date/time stamp.

In your digitally-signed e-Aadhaar version (if a communication slip was used) is state at the top, above or beside the Aadhaar number.

Format: something like 1234/56789/01234 15/10/2024 12:30:45 (14 digits + date/time)

Here’s an example

I did the form filling on 12 March 2025 at an enrolment centre in Mumbai. My slip showed 3456/78901/23456 12/03/2025 10:05:22 as EID. Later I used that number for online status checking and once the number was out, I downloaded the e-Aadhaar. So, yes, it's like a tracking code until your Aadhaar comes.

Why it matters

The EID is the one that you use on UIDAI’s website to check the status of enrolment.

UIDAI

In case your Aadhaar is delayed or you don’t have your slip, you can get your EID through name 
 

KYC or other operations in which you don’t have an Aadhaar number but need proof of enrolment are made easy with an EID.

In brief: EID is not the same as Aadhaar number. Once your 12-digit Aadhaar is there, you’ll be normally using that. However, until then, don’t lose your EID.