What you need before you start
Just one of these: your Aadhaar number with its linked mobile phone nearby (the fastest route — verification happens by OTP), or a driving licence (this route generates an enrolment that is completed with in-person verification at a participating facility). Creation is completely free — as per current ABDM guidance there is no fee at any step, and anyone asking you to pay for ABHA creation is not an official channel.
Method 1 — Create your ABHA on the official website
- Step 1: Go to the official portal, abha.abdm.gov.in, and choose “Create ABHA number.”
- Step 2: Select Aadhaar, enter your Aadhaar number, and agree to the consent declaration.
- Step 3: Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile, then your mobile number for communications.
- Step 4: Your 14-digit ABHA number is generated. Choose an ABHA address — a handle like yourname@abdm that acts like an email ID for your health records.
- Step 5: Download your ABHA card (a PDF/image with your number, QR code and photo) straight from the portal — print it or keep it on your phone.
Method 2 — The ABHA app
Install the official ABHA app (by the National Health Authority) from the Play Store or App Store, and the same Aadhaar-OTP flow runs on your phone. The app then becomes your health locker: your linked prescriptions, lab reports and hospital records appear there, and you approve or reject every sharing request. You can re-download your ABHA card from the app any time — losing the PDF loses nothing.
Method 3 — At a clinic or hospital desk
Any ABDM-enabled clinic or hospital can create your ABHA during registration in under a minute — you give your Aadhaar-linked mobile, receive an OTP, and the front desk does the rest. This is often the most practical route for parents registering children or for anyone less comfortable online. Clinics running ABDM-ready systems (such as VixitAi HMS) build this into normal registration, so asking “can you make my ABHA?” at the desk is entirely routine.
Downloading your ABHA card later
Log in to abha.abdm.gov.in (or the ABHA app) with your ABHA number or address plus OTP, and use “Download ABHA card.” The card shows your name, photo, 14-digit number and a QR code that clinic desks scan to pull up your ABHA instantly. There is no physical card that arrives by post — the downloadable card is the card, and it is valid everywhere.
What your ABHA actually does for you
- One identity across providers — no more repeating your history at every new clinic, or carrying a plastic bag of old reports.
- Records that reach you — visits, prescriptions and lab reports from ABDM-enabled providers appear in your ABHA app automatically.
- Consent-controlled sharing — nothing is shared with anyone unless you approve it, and you can revoke access any time. The key components of ABHA guide explains how this works underneath.
- Free forever — creation, the card, and record linking cost nothing.
Common problems, quickly solved
OTP not arriving? Your mobile may not be linked to Aadhaar — update it at an Aadhaar centre, or use the driving-licence route. Made an ABHA years ago and forgot it? Use “Login” with your mobile number to recover it rather than creating a duplicate. Worried about privacy? ABHA is voluntary, sharing is consent-based per request, and you can deactivate your ABHA whenever you wish — as per current ABDM policy, you stay in control.
For clinic & hospital owners reading this
Your patients are arriving with ABHA cards in growing numbers — over 65 crore have been created — and they increasingly expect the desk to scan the QR and link their visit. If your software cannot, that expectation lands as awkward apologies. Our practical ABDM guide for clinics covers getting ready without disrupting your workflow; VixitAi HMS ships with ABHA linking built into registration.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create an ABHA card online?
Go to the official portal abha.abdm.gov.in (or the ABHA app), choose “Create ABHA number,” verify with your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile, pick an ABHA address, and download your card. The whole process takes about five minutes and is completely free.
How do I download my ABHA card?
Log in at abha.abdm.gov.in or in the ABHA app using your ABHA number/address and OTP, then use the “Download ABHA card” option. You get a PDF/image with your 14-digit number, photo and QR code — there is no physical card by post; the download is the card.
Is the ABHA card free?
Yes — creating an ABHA, downloading the card and linking health records are all free as per current ABDM guidance. No official channel charges for ABHA creation.
Can I create an ABHA without Aadhaar?
Yes — you can enrol using a driving licence, completed with in-person verification at a participating health facility. The Aadhaar-OTP route is faster if your mobile number is linked to Aadhaar.
What is the difference between the ABHA number and ABHA address?
The ABHA number is your permanent 14-digit health ID; the ABHA address (like yourname@abdm) is a handle against which records are linked and shared. You choose the address during registration, and both appear on your ABHA card.
VixitAi HMS plans & pricing
Every plan includes free setup support, data migration and built-in ABHA/ABDM readiness — no per-user charges, no lock-in. Click a plan to sign up directly:
Prefer the details first? See the full pricing page or the live price table with the monthly/yearly toggle.
VixitAi HMS links ABHA at the front desk as part of normal registration — ABDM readiness included in every plan, from ₹1,999/month.
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