If you want cashless treatment at a good hospital without worrying about the bill, the first step is PMJAY registration. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) offers a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for hospitalisation, and it is widely described as the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme. This guide explains how to complete PMJAY registration online, who can apply, which documents you need, how the offline route through a Common Service Centre works, how long approval takes, and how to avoid common mistakes. All sections are written in simple paragraphs so that you can follow them without any confusion.
What Is PMJAY Registration?
PMJAY registration is the process through which an eligible family or individual is verified, enrolled in the scheme’s database and issued an Ayushman card. It is important to understand that PMJAY is not a scheme where anyone can simply sign up and become a member. Eligibility is decided by the government using specific databases and criteria. So, in practice, “registration” usually means checking whether you are on the beneficiary list, completing identity verification with Aadhaar-based e-KYC, and then getting your card generated.
Government guidance explains that if you qualify, you do not need to fill in long application forms or pay registration fees to be included in the list. What you need to do is get verified and have your card created, which can be done online through the official portal or the Ayushman App, or offline through an empanelled hospital or a Common Service Centre (CSC). Once the card is approved, you can use it for cashless and paperless treatment across India.
Why PMJAY Registration Is Important
Registration is the bridge between being eligible on paper and actually receiving treatment. Without a verified record, the hospital cannot easily confirm that you are covered, and you may face delays during admission. When your registration is complete, the hospital’s Ayushman Mitra can check your details in minutes, raise a pre-authorisation request for planned procedures and begin treatment smoothly.
This matters most for expensive treatments such as heart surgery, cancer treatment, kidney dialysis, knee replacement and neurosurgery, where costs can run into lakhs. Completing registration in advance means that when an emergency arises, you are not forced to deal with paperwork while a family member is in pain. It also protects you from medical expenses that can push a family into debt.
Who Can Apply for PMJAY?
Eligibility is based mainly on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data. In rural areas, families are included based on deprivation criteria such as living in one-room kutcha houses, having no adult earning member, or being landless and dependent on manual labour. In urban areas, eligibility is linked to occupation categories such as rag pickers, domestic workers, street vendors, construction workers, plumbers, electricians, security guards, and similar workers. Many states have expanded their lists beyond these categories, and frontline workers such as ASHA and Anganwadi workers have also been added.
A very important group is senior citizens. Under the Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme launched on 29 October 2024, every citizen aged 70 years and above is eligible for PMJAY benefits regardless of income. A Lok Sabha reply in December 2025 reported that over 93 lakh Vay Vandana cards had been created by that date. If you are a senior citizen, you can register through the beneficiary portal or the Ayushman App using the Vay Vandana option. This makes the scheme a strong form of senior citizen health insurance at no cost to the family.
Documents Required for PMJAY Registration
The list of documents is short, but you should keep everything ready before you begin. The most important is your Aadhaar card, which is used for identity verification and e-KYC. You also need an active mobile number to receive OTPs. Other common documents include a ration card or family ID, proof of address, and in some cases proof of occupation or category. Some guides also mention caste or income certificates for particular categories, but requirements differ by state and by beneficiary type.
For a senior citizen applying for Vay Vandana, Aadhaar showing age 70 or above is the key document. Before you start, make sure that the name, date of birth, and mobile number on your Aadhaar are correct. A mismatch is one of the most common reasons why e-KYC fails or approval is delayed, and fixing Aadhaar details can take time, so it is better to check early.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility Online
Before you try to register, find out whether your family is included. Visit pmjay.gov.in and click on the “Am I Eligible” option. Enter your mobile number and verify the OTP. Then select your state and search using the options provided, such as name, ration card number, mobile number, or family ID. The exact options differ by state.
If your family is listed, the portal shows matching records. If not, you may see a “No Result Found” message. Do not give up at this stage. Try a different search option, check spelling, and make sure that you selected the correct state. You can also visit an empanelled hospital or CSC, where staff can search the database with more parameters.
Step 2: Log In to the Beneficiary Portal
The main platform for registration and card creation is the beneficiary portal at beneficiary.nha.gov.in. Open the website and choose the Beneficiary login. Enter your mobile number, fill in the captcha, and verify the OTP sent to your phone. After logging in, select your state and scheme. Then search for your family using the available details, such as PMJAY ID, ration card number, family ID, or Aadhaar number.
When the family list appears, you will see each member’s status. If a member is eligible but the card has not yet been created, the portal will offer the option to begin e-KYC. This is the point at which online registration really happens, so check that all names and details are correct before you continue.
Step 3: Complete Aadhaar e-KYC
e-KYC is the step that confirms that you are who you say you are. On the portal or in the app, select the beneficiary and choose the e-KYC option. You will be asked to authenticate using your Aadhaar, usually through an OTP sent to the mobile number linked with Aadhaar. In some cases, biometric authentication such as fingerprint may be used, especially at CSCs or hospitals.
After you authenticate, you may need to confirm your details, upload or capture a photo, and submit the request. A message such as “e-KYC complete” should appear when the step succeeds. If it fails, check that your Aadhaar number is correct, that the linked mobile can receive OTPs, and that the details match the beneficiary record. If the app shows that the beneficiary is “unidentified”, it usually means Aadhaar has not been linked in the database, and you will be guided to link it.
Step 4: Wait for Approval and Check Status
After e-KYC, your application goes through verification. Some guides say that if you have not received approval within about 9 to 10 days, you should check your card status on the official portal. In practice, the time can vary by state and by workload. You can track progress by logging in to the beneficiary portal or the Ayushman App and looking at the status next to your name. The status may show pending, under approval, approved, or rejected.
If the status is approved, you can move to the final step. If it is rejected, read the reason if one is shown, correct the issue, such as an Aadhaar mismatch, and apply again. If the status stays under approval for too long, ask the Ayushman Mitra at a hospital or CSC to check your record.
Step 5: Download Your Ayushman Card
When the status shows approved, click Download Card against the beneficiary’s name on the portal. You may be asked to complete a final Aadhaar authentication. The card is then generated as a PDF with your name, ID, and QR code. In the Ayushman App, the NHA’s FAQ suggests waiting about 15 to 20 minutes after successful e-KYC before logging in again, and then selecting the download option next to the family member’s name.
Save the PDF on your phone, upload a copy to cloud storage, and keep a printout. Having the card ready makes cashless hospital admission far smoother. If you ever lose the card, you can simply log in again and download a new copy.
PMJAY Registration Through the Ayushman App
The official Ayushman App, developed by the National Health Authority, allows you to check eligibility, do e-KYC, and download the card from your phone. The NHA describes it as an Android app. To use it, install it from the Google Play Store, open it, select Beneficiary, and log in with your mobile number and OTP. Search for your family, review the status for each member, and follow the instructions to complete e-KYC. After approval, download the card from the family list.
The app is especially helpful if you are registering several family members, because you can handle everyone’s e-KYC one by one in the same place. Make sure that you have a stable internet connection and that your phone can receive OTP messages.
Offline PMJAY Registration Through CSC or Hospital
Not everyone is comfortable using a smartphone, and the scheme allows offline registration as well. You can visit an empanelled hospital and meet the Ayushman Mitra, or go to a nearby Common Service Centre. The operator searches for your name using different parameters. If your name is found, you will be asked to show Aadhaar or another government photo ID so that the record can be validated. After approval, the card is issued, and the record is added to the verified beneficiary list.
Some older sources mention that CSCs charged a small fee of around ₹30 for printing the card, while the NHA’s own FAQ states that a beneficiary need not pay any cost for the Ayushman card. Because practices can differ, it is best to ask about charges in advance and to insist on an official receipt if any printing fee is collected. If someone asks for a large amount to “approve” your card, refuse and report it.
How to Add a Family Member to PMJAY
If a new member has joined your family, for example through marriage or birth, or if a member was missed earlier, you can request that they be added. Guides explain that you can log in to the beneficiary portal, search for your family, and follow the option to add a member, or you can use a CSC to do it. You will usually need Aadhaar and proof of relationship. Each state may have different rules about who can be added and when, so confirm locally.
Remember that the ₹5 lakh cover is per family per year, not per person, so adding members increases the number of people sharing the same limit. It is still important to register everyone so that each person can use the card when needed.
Special Case: Ayushman Vay Vandana Registration for Seniors
Senior citizens aged 70 and above can register for the Vay Vandana card even if their family is not otherwise on the PMJAY list. On the beneficiary portal, look for the Vay Vandana option, enter the required details, and complete Aadhaar-based verification. You can also seek help at an empanelled hospital or CSC.
Because many older people need treatments such as cataract surgery, joint replacement, and cardiac care, registering early is a smart move. Family members can help by preparing the Aadhaar details and ensuring that the registered mobile number works. Once approved, the senior can download the card and use it at any empanelled hospital across India.
Common Problems During PMJAY Registration
People often face a few recurring problems. If the OTP does not arrive, check the network, confirm that the mobile number is active, and try again after a few minutes. If you see “No Result Found”, test different search options and confirm the state. If e-KYC fails, check Aadhaar details for spelling or date-of-birth mismatches. If the portal is slow or shows an error, try another time of day or use the Ayushman App. If the status remains under approval for a long time, ask a CSC or hospital to check the record.
A good approach is to fix one issue at a time and keep notes of what you tried. If nothing works, visit a CSC or empanelled hospital with your documents so that staff can see the problem directly and guide you.
After Registration: How to Use the Card
Once the card is ready, find a suitable hospital by using the hospital search on pmjay.gov.in or the hospital locator in the app. Choose your state and district and filter by speciality, such as cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics or nephrology. Call the hospital to confirm that it is currently accepting Ayushman patients and that the required procedure is available.
At the hospital, go to the Ayushman Mitra desk with your card and a government photo ID. The Ayushman Mitra will verify your details, and the hospital will raise a pre-authorisation request where required. In emergencies, treatment can begin first, and paperwork follows. Do not pay for services that are part of the approved package, and if you are asked to, request the nodal officer or call the helpline.
Beware of Fake Websites and Agents
Because PMJAY is popular, scammers create fake websites, SMS messages, and WhatsApp links that claim to offer “instant registration” for a fee. Such offers should be treated with suspicion. Never share your OTP, bank details, or Aadhaar number with unknown callers or unofficial websites. Check that the web address belongs to the government, and use only the official portals, the Ayushman App, or an authorised CSC. If anyone demands money to add your name to the list, do not pay, and report the matter to the helpline or your State Health Agency.
Final Thoughts
PMJAY registration online is straightforward when you follow the right order: check eligibility, log in to the beneficiary portal or Ayushman App, complete Aadhaar e-KYC, wait for approval, and download your card. Keep your Aadhaar details accurate, save copies of the card in more than one place, and identify an empanelled hospital before you need one. With a ₹5 lakh health cover, cashless hospitalisation and special benefits for senior citizens aged 70 and above, the scheme can protect your family from heavy medical expenses. Use only official sources, avoid agents who ask for money, and confirm the latest rules on the official portal, because procedures can change.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information. Eligibility rules, fees, helpline numbers, and portal features can change and may differ by state. Please confirm current details on pmjay.gov.in, beneficiary.nha.gov.in, or with your State Health Agency. It is not insurance or legal advice.