Is it Legal for Hotels to Have Pictures/Photocopies of Your Aadhaar Card for Check- In?

No. It is not legal for a hotel to take and store a photograph/photocopy of your Aadhaar card simply because you’re checking in unless they are specifically authorised and registered to verify Aadhaar, which most hotels are not.

The Aadhaar (Sharing of Information) Regulations, 2016, includes rules on how Aadhaar numbers/records may be shared and the requirement that entities must not retain Aadhaar data longer than necessary and must protect confidentiality.

UIDAI has suggested the citizens to use Masked Aadhaar Card instead, for Offline verification. Alternatively, citizens can also use other ID Proofs such as Voter ID, Driver's License, PAN Card etc. to verify their identity.