Documents Required for Senior Citizen Card in India

When applying for a Senior Citizen Identity Card, you need to submit documents across four categories: identity proof, address proof, age proof, and a photograph. Below is the complete list of accepted documents.

Last reviewed: 15 September 2026 | Senior Citizen Information Researcher

Identity Proof Documents

You need at least one valid government-issued identity document. Accepted identity proof includes:

Document	Issuing Authority	Notes
Aadhaar Card	UIDAI	Most commonly accepted; contains photo and demographic data
Voter ID Card	Election Commission of India	Election Commission Photo ID card
Passport	Ministry of External Affairs	Valid passport with photo
Driving Licence	RTO / Transport Department	With photograph
PAN Card	Income Tax Department / NSDL / UTIITSL	Contains photo and date of birth
Government Photo ID Card	Central/State Government	Any government-issued photo identity card
Pension Card	Government departments	With photograph of the pensioner
CGHS Card	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare	Central Government Health Scheme card

Address Proof Documents

You need documents that prove your current residential address within the state where you are applying:

Document	Notes
Aadhaar Card	With current residential address
Ration Card	Current and valid ration card
Voter ID Card	With current address
Registered Rent Agreement	For a period of more than one year
Utility Bills	Electricity, water, gas, telephone bill (not older than 3 months)
Bank Passbook	With current address (from Scheduled Public Sector Banks or Regional Rural Banks)
Registered Sale Deed	Property registration document
House Allotment Letter	From government housing schemes
Landline Telephone Bill	In the applicant's name

Age Proof Documents

To verify that you meet the age requirement (60 years or above), submit one of the following:

Document	Issuing Authority
Birth Certificate	Municipal Authority / Registrar of Births & Deaths
Passport	Ministry of External Affairs
PAN Card	Income Tax Department / NSDL / UTIITSL
School Leaving Certificate	Recognised educational institution
Pension Card	Government department
Bank Certificate	From the bank branch manager with date of birth
Voter ID Card	Election Commission of India (with DOB)

Photograph Requirements

• Recent passport-size colour photograph
• White or light background preferred
• Face should be clearly visible
• No caps, hats, or sunglasses
• Size: typically 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm (varies by state)
• Some states require an additional photograph for pasting on the ID card (not to be stapled with the form)

Documents for PM-SYM & PMVVY Schemes

Beyond the Senior Citizen Card, you may also need documents when applying for related government pension schemes. Below are the additional documents required for PM-SYM and PMVVY:

Scheme	Additional Documents Required
PM-SYM (Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan)	Aadhaar Card, savings bank account / Jan Dhan account, mobile number, age proof (18-40 years), income certificate or self-declaration of unorganised sector employment
PMVVY (Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana)	Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, senior citizen identity proof (60+), bank account details for pension credit, passport-size photograph
NPS (National Pension System)	Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, bank account details, nominee details, KYC verification through point of presence (PoP)

Document Preparation Tips

• All photocopies should be clear and self-attested (signed by the applicant)
• Carry original documents for verification at the time of submission
• Ensure all documents are valid and not expired
• Name and details should match across all documents
• For online applications, upload scanned copies in the specified format (usually PDF/JPG)

Frequently Asked Questions