ABHA Card Download: Get Yours (or a Lost Card) in 2026
The ABHA card download process works the same whether you're getting your card for the first time or replacing one you lost. Your Ayushman Bharat Health Account lives online, so the card is just a printable copy of it. Log in on the official portal, the ABHA app or Aarogya Setu 2.0, verify with an OTP on your phone, and save the PDF. There's no fee, no form and no office visit. If the mobile number linked to your account has changed, you can still get in with Aadhaar.
Pick your fastest ABHA card download route
Most people waste time because they start on the wrong screen. Your quickest route depends on two things: what you remember (number, address, Aadhaar or just your phone) and which device you're holding. Use the table below, then jump to the steps.
Match your situation to a route
Your situation | Best route | What you need | Time |
You know your 14-digit ABHA number | abha.abdm.gov.in login | ABHA number + OTP | 1–2 min |
You only remember your @abdm address | ABHA app or website | ABHA address + OTP | 1–2 min |
You forgot both number and address | Website "Login with mobile" | Registered mobile + OTP | 2–3 min |
Your mobile number has changed | Login with Aadhaar | Aadhaar + OTP on Aadhaar-linked mobile | 3–5 min |
You already use Aarogya Setu | Aarogya Setu 2.0 app | App login | 1 min |
Elderly parent without a smartphone | ABDM-enabled hospital help desk | Aadhaar card | 10–15 min |
Why there is no "wrong" route
Every route reaches the same account. The ABHA number is a 14-digit ID, while the ABHA address is a username such as rahulkumar@abdm. Either one opens your profile. If you're unsure how the two differ, our guide on ABHA address vs ABHA number explains it in plain language.
A quick word on scale
You're far from alone in this. As of July 2026, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) had created close to 94 crore ABHA accounts and linked over 105 crore health records, according to the Health Ministry. Nearly half of all ABHA holders are women. That's why the download screens are built for first-time users, not tech experts. If you can receive an OTP, you can download your ABHA card.
Download ABHA card PDF from the official website
The official portal is abha.abdm.gov.in, run by the National Health Authority (NHA). It works on any phone browser or computer. This is the route we recommend for printing, because the PDF lands straight in your downloads folder.
Step-by-step: website ABHA card download
Open abha.abdm.gov.in in Chrome, Safari or any browser.
Tap Login and choose how you want to sign in: ABHA number, ABHA address, mobile number or Aadhaar.
Enter the detail and tap Get OTP. The OTP goes to your registered mobile, or to your Aadhaar-linked mobile if you chose Aadhaar.
Enter the OTP. If several profiles share one mobile, pick the right family member.
On your profile page, tap Download ABHA Card.
Save the PDF and open it once to check that the photo and details look right.
The abha.abdm.gov.in login options explained
The abha.abdm.gov.in login screen offers four doors into the same room. Mobile login is the most forgiving, because it lists every ABHA linked to that number. Aadhaar login is your backup when the old SIM is gone. ABHA number and address logins are fastest when you have them saved. Try them in that order of convenience, not the order shown on screen.
What your ABHA health card shows
Your ABHA health card PDF carries your name, photo (pulled from Aadhaar when you verified with it), date of birth, gender, mobile, 14-digit ABHA number, ABHA address and a QR code. The QR code is the most useful part. Hospitals can scan it to register you, and you can scan their QR code to skip the queue. We explain that second trick in our guide to ABHA Scan and Share.
The card itself costs nothing. Printing at a local cyber café usually runs ₹10–20, and lamination adds ₹20–40. You don't need a plastic PVC card. A clear phone screenshot works at most ABDM-enabled counters.
Get your card through the ABHA app or Aarogya Setu 2.0
If you'd rather stay in an app, you have two official choices. Both handle ABHA card download and both keep you logged in, so the next time is even quicker.
Using the ABHA app
The NHA's ABHA app is available on Android and iOS. Install it, log in with your ABHA address or mobile number, and verify the OTP. Your card appears on the home screen. Tap the download or share icon to save the PDF or send it on WhatsApp to a family member. The ABHA app also lets you switch between profiles if you manage accounts for parents or children on one phone.
Using Aarogya Setu 2.0
Aarogya Setu, the COVID-era app, was relaunched as Aarogya Setu 2.0 on 29 June 2026 by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda. It is now a personal health record app under ABDM. You can create or log in to your ABHA, view your card, manage family records and use Scan & Register at hospitals. If the app is already on your phone, update it from the Play Store or App Store and log in. We cover the full list of changes in our explainer on Aarogya Setu 2.0.
Which app should you pick?
Feature | ABHA app | Aarogya Setu 2.0 | Website |
Download card PDF | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Scan hospital QR for OPD token | Yes | Yes | No |
Manage family profiles | Yes | Yes | One login at a time |
Find hospitals and blood availability | Limited | Yes | No |
Best for | Quick access | All-in-one use | Printing |
Other ABDM-enabled personal health record apps, such as DRiefcase or Eka Care, can also show your ABHA. Stick to official or ABDM-listed apps. Never enter your Aadhaar OTP on a random website that promises a "free ABHA card print".
Lost ABHA card? Here is exactly what to do
Losing the printed card feels worse than it is. A lost ABHA card is just lost paper. Your account, your number and every linked record stay exactly where they were. The fix is simply another ABHA card download.
Why your records are safe
ABDM doesn't keep your medical files on the card or in one central store. Records stay with the hospital or lab that created them and are shared only when you give consent through an OTP or app approval. Someone who finds your card can see your name and number. They cannot open your reports without access to your phone. If privacy is on your mind, read our honest breakdown: is ABHA safe.
Re-download in three steps
1. Go to abha.abdm.gov.in and choose Login with mobile number.
2. Enter the OTP and select your profile from the list.
3. Tap Download ABHA Card and save the PDF.
Forgot the number itself? That's a separate problem with a simple fix. Our step-by-step guide shows how to find ABHA number by mobile number or Aadhaar.
If your old mobile number no longer works
This is the trickiest case, but it's still solvable.
Log in with Aadhaar. The OTP goes to the mobile linked to your Aadhaar, not your ABHA.
Once inside, go to your profile and update the mobile number.
If your Aadhaar-linked number has also changed, update it first at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra (the fee is ₹75 for a mobile update).
Still stuck? Visit the ABHA help desk at any ABDM-enabled government hospital with your Aadhaar card.
IN SIMPLE TERMS In simple terms: your ABHA card is like a photocopy of an online account, so losing the paper doesn't lose anything important. You just log in again with your phone or Aadhaar and print a fresh copy. If your phone number has changed, use Aadhaar to get in and update it. |
Fix the five most common download problems
Most failed ABHA card download attempts come down to a handful of predictable glitches. Here's what causes them and how to get past each one.
Troubleshooting table
Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
OTP not arriving | Wrong mobile or network delay | Wait 60 seconds, resend once, then try Aadhaar login |
"No ABHA found" | Account made with a different number | Try Aadhaar login or the other family mobile |
Several profiles on one number | Family accounts share a phone | Check name and birth year before selecting |
PDF won't open | Browser blocked the file | Retry in Chrome or download from the ABHA app |
Wrong name or photo | Aadhaar data was old | Update Aadhaar first, then re-verify ABHA (re-KYC) |
When you accidentally have two ABHA accounts
Many families discover two accounts for one person. Usually one was made at a hospital help desk and another on a phone. Keep the account with more linked records. You can deactivate or permanently remove the spare. Our guide on how to delete ABHA account walks through both options and what happens to records.
When a hospital insists you show the card
Some counters ask for your ABHA before registration. You can show the PDF, a screenshot or just the number. If you don't have an ABHA at all, a hospital still can't refuse you care. ABHA is voluntary, and the NHA has said treatment cannot be denied for not having one. Our guide on is ABHA mandatory explains exactly where hospitals can and can't ask for it.
Make your ABHA card useful for the whole family
A downloaded card sitting in a folder does nothing. The real value comes when it's ready at the right moment and linked to your family's records.
Set up cards for children and elderly parents
Every family member needs their own Ayushman Bharat Health Account. Parents can create an ABHA for a child using the child's Aadhaar and manage it from their own phone. For elderly parents, create the account with their Aadhaar and your mobile number if they don't use a smartphone. Then do one ABHA card download per person and label each PDF clearly, such as "ABHA_Papa_2026".
Don't confuse it with the Ayushman card
This is the most common mix-up in Indian households. The ABHA card is a health-records ID. The Ayushman card (PM-JAY) is the one that gives ₹5 lakh of free hospital cover per family per year. Since October 2024, every senior aged 70 and above qualifies for that cover through the Ayushman Vay Vandana card, regardless of income. Read our side-by-side comparison of the ABHA card vs Ayushman card before your parents' next hospital visit.
Link records so the card means something
Once the card is ready, start connecting reports to it. When you get tested at an ABDM-enabled lab or treated at a linked hospital, the record can flow to your ABHA with your consent. You can also add older paper reports yourself. Our guide on how to link health records to ABHA covers lab reports, prescriptions and discharge summaries step by step.
WATCH OUT Watch out: Never pay anyone for an ABHA card download. The service is free on official channels. Agents charging ₹50–200 are only doing what you can do yourself in two minutes, and they see your Aadhaar OTP while doing it. |
When to see a doctor (and when to get ABHA help)
An ABHA card is a records tool, not a medical service. Please don't let a missing card delay care. Get help when you notice any of these:
A family member has a scheduled follow-up but you can't find old reports. Go anyway and take whatever you have.
An elderly parent shows new symptoms like breathlessness, confusion or chest discomfort. See a doctor first; sort paperwork later.
You see unfamiliar records or consent requests in your ABHA app. Contact the ABDM helpline at 1800-11-4477 straight away.
The OTP fails repeatedly even with Aadhaar login. Visit an ABDM-enabled hospital help desk.
A hospital refuses registration because you have no ABHA. Ask for the medical superintendent or patient grievance desk.
Your child's vaccination records don't match what the clinic has. Ask the paediatrician to verify against the vaccination card.
In an emergency, go straight to the nearest hospital or call 112 or 108. No hospital should hold back emergency treatment because you don't have an ABHA card.
FAQs
Is ABHA card download free?
Yes. ABHA card download is completely free on abha.abdm.gov.in, the ABHA app and Aarogya Setu 2.0. You only pay if you choose to print it, which usually costs ₹10–20 at a local shop. Avoid agents or websites that charge for downloading or "activating" the card, because they also ask for your Aadhaar OTP, which you should never share.
How can I download my ABHA card with my mobile number?
Go to abha.abdm.gov.in, choose Login, select mobile number and enter the OTP. The portal shows every ABHA profile linked to that number. Pick the right person and tap Download ABHA Card. This works even if you've forgotten both your ABHA number and ABHA address, as long as the mobile is registered.
What should I do if I lost my ABHA card?
Nothing is lost except the paper. Your account and records stay safe online. Log in on abha.abdm.gov.in or the ABHA app with your mobile number or Aadhaar, verify the OTP and download the card again. If you think someone is misusing your details, check recent activity in the app and call the ABDM helpline.
Can I do an ABHA card download without the registered mobile number?
Yes. Choose Login with Aadhaar on the portal. The OTP goes to the mobile linked with your Aadhaar, so you can sign in even if your ABHA mobile has changed. Once inside, update the mobile in your profile. If neither number works, visit an ABDM-enabled hospital help desk with your Aadhaar card.
Is the ABHA card the same as the Ayushman card?
No. The ABHA card is a free digital health-records ID for every resident. The Ayushman card under PM-JAY provides ₹5 lakh of cashless hospital cover per family per year for eligible families and for all seniors aged 70 and above. You can hold both, but only the Ayushman card covers treatment costs.
Do I need a printed ABHA card at the hospital?
Usually not. Most ABDM-enabled hospitals accept the PDF on your phone, a screenshot or just your 14-digit number. Many also let you scan their QR code with the ABHA app or Aarogya Setu 2.0 to get an OPD token. Keeping one printed copy is still wise for elderly parents who don't carry smartphones.
Download Seht — free on iOS and Android
The Seht app gives your family one secure place for those cards alongside the reports, prescriptions and discharge summaries they belong with, organised by person. Add Papa's ABHA card next to his last blood test, and it's ready in seconds at the counter.
Download free:
Sources and references
National Health Authority. ABHA — Ayushman Bharat Health Account portal (create, login and download). abha.abdm.gov.in. Accessed 7 October 2026.
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission" backgrounder, July 2026 (104+ crore records linked to 93+ crore ABHA accounts; Aarogya Setu 2.0; Scan and Share). static.pib.gov.in.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. ABDM 3rd Mission Steering Group update, 10 July 2026 (93.95 crore ABHA numbers, 105 crore records, 5.33 lakh facilities), as reported by GKToday.
National Health Authority. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY — Ayushman Vay Vandana card for citizens aged 70+. pmjay.gov.in and beneficiary.nha.gov.in.
Unique Identification Authority of India. Retrieve lost or forgotten Aadhaar / update mobile number. uidai.gov.in.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Scan and Share Onboarding Manual, January 2023. abdm.gov.in.
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Seht helps families stay informed, but is not a substitute for professional healthcare guidance.
