After Death: Closing Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, and Other Government IDs
When someone in your family dies, nobody thinks about their Aadhaar number or Voter ID. You’re dealing with the cremation, the death certificate, the bank accounts, the insurance claims. Government IDs feel like they can wait.
They can — for a bit. But leaving them active too long creates real problems. Aadhaar numbers linked to bank accounts can be exploited for fraud. An active PAN can be misused for fictitious tax filings. A name still on the voter roll means someone could cast a vote in your loved one’s name. None of this is hypothetical — UIDAI has already deactivated over 2 crore Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals precisely because these risks are real.
This guide covers how to close every major government ID after a death in India — the exact process, documents needed, and realistic timelines. If you’re working through the first 30 days after a death, this is one of the things on that list.
Aadhaar: The Online Process (Finally Exists)
For years, there was no way to deactivate a deceased person’s Aadhaar. Families had to just hope nobody misused it. That changed on June 9, 2025, when UIDAI launched a “Report Death of Family Member” feature on the myAadhaar portal.
How to Deactivate Aadhaar Online
- Go to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in
- Log in with your own Aadhaar number (not the deceased’s)
- Select “Report Death of Family Member”
- Enter the deceased’s Aadhaar number, full name, date of death, and your relationship
- Upload the death certificate (scanned copy)
- Submit
UIDAI validates the information and deactivates the Aadhaar within 90 days of submission.
What “Deactivated” Actually Means
An important distinction: Aadhaar numbers are never deleted or reassigned. Under the Aadhaar Act, they’re permanent. Deactivation means the number is marked as inactive — it can no longer be used for authentication, eKYC, or any Aadhaar-linked service. The biometric data (fingerprints, iris scan) becomes unusable.
Automatic Deactivation Through CRS
UIDAI also receives death data directly from the Registrar General of India through the Civil Registration System (CRS). This means some Aadhaar numbers get deactivated automatically without families needing to report anything. So far, about 1.17 crore numbers have been deactivated through this channel.
But this automatic process currently covers only 24 CRS-enabled States and Union Territories, and there can be delays. If you want certainty, report it yourself through the portal.
Lock Biometrics as an Immediate Step
While you wait for deactivation (which takes up to 90 days), you can lock the deceased’s biometric data immediately. Go to the UIDAI website and use the biometric lock feature. This prevents anyone from using fingerprint or iris authentication linked to that Aadhaar — a good safeguard against fraud in the interim.
You’ll need the deceased’s Aadhaar number and the registered mobile number to do this.
PAN Card: No Online Process, but Still Important
Unlike Aadhaar, there’s no online method to surrender a deceased person’s PAN card. The process is entirely offline.
But First: File the Final ITR
This is critical. Do not surrender the PAN until you’ve filed the deceased’s final income tax return. Under Section 159 of the Income Tax Act, the legal representative (heir, executor) is responsible for filing ITR for any income the deceased earned in the financial year of death.
If you surrender the PAN first, filing that return becomes significantly harder. We’ve covered the entire process in our guide to filing ITR for a deceased person — read that before you start the PAN surrender.
How to Surrender PAN
- Write a letter to the Income Tax Officer (ITO) of the jurisdiction where the deceased’s PAN was registered
- Include: deceased’s full name, PAN number, date of birth, date of death, and other relevant personal details
- Attach a certified copy of the death certificate
- Submit the letter (in person or by registered post)
Processing takes about 10-15 days.
Is It Mandatory?
No, surrendering PAN of a deceased person is not legally mandatory. But it’s strongly recommended. An active PAN can be misused for fraudulent transactions, fake ITR filings, or financial identity theft. The effort is small — one letter and a death certificate copy — and it closes a real vulnerability.
Voter ID: Form 7 on NVSP Portal
Removing a deceased person’s name from the electoral roll is straightforward and can be done entirely online.
How to Delete a Voter ID
- Go to the National Voter Services Portal (NVSP) or your state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) portal
- Select Form 7 — Objection for Inclusion of Name / Deletion of Name
- Fill in the deceased voter’s details: name, EPIC number (Voter ID number), address, and constituency
- Upload a copy of the death certificate
- Submit
What Happens Next
A Booth Level Officer (BLO) will verify the information. This typically takes 2-4 weeks. Once verified, the deceased’s name is deleted in the next revision of the electoral roll.
Offline Option
If you’d rather not do this online, visit the BLO’s office in the deceased’s constituency. Carry the death certificate and the Voter ID card (if available). The BLO can initiate the deletion process directly.
Why bother? Beyond preventing ghost voting, an active Voter ID in a deceased person’s name can occasionally create complications for address-based identity verification for other family members at the same address.
Driving Licence: Visit the RTO
There’s no online process for surrendering a deceased person’s driving licence. You need to visit the Regional Transport Office (RTO) where the licence was issued.
Carry:
- Death certificate (original + copy)
- Original driving licence of the deceased
- Your own ID proof
The RTO will cancel the licence in their records. This is a relatively quick process — usually handled in a single visit. It matters because driving licences are commonly accepted as identity proof, and an active one floating around creates a fraud risk.
Passport: Submit to Regional Passport Office
A deceased person’s passport needs to be surrendered to the Regional Passport Office (RPO) or a Passport Seva Kendra (PSK).
Documents needed:
- Original passport of the deceased
- Death certificate
- Legal heir certificate or succession certificate
The passport is then endorsed as “Cancelled due to holder’s demise” and returned (if you want it back as a keepsake) or destroyed.
This is particularly important if the passport was still valid — an active passport in a deceased person’s name is a serious identity fraud risk.
Master Checklist: All Government IDs at a Glance
| Government ID | Where to Apply | Online? | Documents Needed | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar | myAadhaar portal | Yes | Death certificate, your Aadhaar | Up to 90 days |
| PAN Card | Letter to ITO | No | Death certificate, PAN details | 10-15 days |
| Voter ID | NVSP portal / Form 7 | Yes | Death certificate, EPIC number | 2-4 weeks |
| Driving Licence | Local RTO | No | Death certificate, original DL | Same day |
| Passport | RPO / Passport Seva Kendra | No | Death certificate, original passport, legal heir certificate | Varies |
Order of priority: Start with Aadhaar (it’s online and quick to submit) and Voter ID (also online). Then handle PAN (after filing final ITR). Visit the RTO and passport office when you can — these are less urgent but shouldn’t be left indefinitely.
A Few Things People Forget
Lock the deceased’s Aadhaar-linked mobile number. If their phone number was linked to Aadhaar and is still active, get it deactivated with the telecom provider. Otherwise, someone who gets hold of that SIM can potentially authenticate using the Aadhaar number.
Check for digital accounts linked to these IDs. Aadhaar and PAN are used as KYC for everything from mutual funds to UPI apps. Closing the ID doesn’t automatically close those accounts. You’ll need to handle each one separately.
Don’t forget bank accounts. Banks use Aadhaar-based eKYC extensively. Deactivating Aadhaar doesn’t affect existing bank accounts of the deceased, but it does prevent new accounts from being opened using that identity.
Keep copies of everything you submit. For every letter, form, or portal submission, save a copy or screenshot. You may need proof of having initiated these processes later, especially for the PAN surrender.
If you’re handling a parent’s estate and feeling overwhelmed by the number of things that need closing, that’s normal. Work through them one at a time. The online processes (Aadhaar, Voter ID) take 10 minutes each. The offline ones (PAN, DL, passport) require a visit, but they’re not complicated.
When someone dies, the last thing you want is their identity being misused because a government ID was left active. Anshin is an app where you add everything your family would need if you’re not around — not just your bank accounts and insurance policies, but where your government IDs are stored, which recurring payments need cancelling, your digital accounts, your locker keys. No passwords stored. Just directions, so your family knows exactly where to look and what to close.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. UIDAI, Income Tax, and Election Commission processes referenced are subject to change. Timelines and processes may vary by state and institution. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation. Anshin is not a financial advisory service.