UAN Full Form: EPFO UAN Activation, KYC, PF Transfer and Claims
Independent guide. We are not part of EPFO or the Government, and we never ask for your UAN password, Aadhaar, bank details or OTP.
UAN stands for Universal Account Number. It is the 12-digit number EPFO gives you as a Provident Fund member. It never changes when you change jobs: each new employer adds a new PF account (Member ID) under the same UAN. Activate it once to see your passbook, update KYC, transfer PF and file claims online.
- Full form
- Universal Account Number
- Issued by
- EPFO, Ministry of Labour & Employment
- Length
- 12 digits
- Valid for
- Life; one UAN across all jobs
- Get or activate
- UMANG app with Aadhaar face authentication
- Cost
- Free
- Helpdesk
- 14470
- Complaints
- EPFiGMS (epfigms.gov.in)
Looking for the e-Shram UAN? e-Shram, the Labour Ministry's database of unorganised workers, also gives each registered worker a 12-digit Universal Account Number. It is a different number. You can't register on e-Shram if you are an EPFO or ESIC member or pay income tax. See eshram.gov.in. This page is about the EPFO UAN.
What is a UAN?
Every time you join an employer covered by EPF, you get a new PF account number for that job, called the Member ID. Your UAN sits above all of them. EPFO calls it an umbrella that links the multiple Member IDs given to you by different employers. It is permanent and does not change with your job.
Once activated, your UAN lets you download your passbook and UAN card, see all your Member IDs, update KYC, file e-nomination, correct your details, transfer old PF balances and file claims online, on the Member Portal or the UMANG app.
| UAN | Member ID | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your personal number as an EPFO member | Your PF account with one employer |
| How many | Only one, for life | A new one with each employer |
| Format | 12 digits | Set up under the employer's establishment code |
| Use | Log in, KYC, claims, transfers | Holds the money credited for that job |
Two UANs is a problem, not a convenience. If a new employer created a fresh UAN instead of using yours, the online transfer can't join them. Give every new employer your existing UAN on day one.
How to get or find your UAN
- Your employer generates it when you join, if you don't have one. EPFO allots the number on the employer's request.
- You generate it yourself on the UMANG app with Aadhaar face authentication (FAT). The old "Direct UAN Allotment" option on the Member Portal has been discontinued. A self-generated UAN is activated at once, and you can download the e-UAN card PDF to hand to your employer.
- Forgot it? Use "Know Your UAN" on the Member Portal: enter your Member ID, Aadhaar or PAN with your name, date of birth and mobile, and the UAN is sent to your registered mobile. Your employer also has it.
How to activate UAN (UMANG face authentication)
UAN activation through the Member Portal has also been discontinued; it is now done on the UMANG app. You need your Aadhaar number, the mobile number linked to Aadhaar (for the OTP), and the AadhaarFaceRD app installed. You cannot activate a UAN by SMS.
- Install UMANG and AadhaarFaceRD from the official app store.
- In UMANG, open EPFO services → "UAN Services Through Face Auth".
- Choose "UAN Allotment and Activation" (no UAN yet) or "UAN Activation" (existing UAN).
- Enter Aadhaar and the Aadhaar-linked mobile, give consent and enter the OTP.
- Complete the live face scan. Your UAN arrives by SMS and is active on the Member Portal.
Already activated? UMANG also offers "Face Authentication of already activated UANs"; you don't need to activate again. Stuck? Call the EPFO helpdesk on 14470.
Seeding KYC: Aadhaar, PAN and bank account
To use online services, your UAN needs at least your mobile number, Aadhaar and bank account. Linking your PAN is also worthwhile. Check your Aadhaar details first on our Aadhaar guide: EPFO matches your name, date of birth and gender against it.
- Bank account: enter the account number and the branch IFSC. Since April 2025, employer approval for seeding a bank account is no longer needed, and you don't have to upload a cheque leaf or passbook image with an online claim.
- Aadhaar not seeded, or wrong Aadhaar linked? Since August 2025 you can request seeding or correction through the Joint Declaration facility. If your Aadhaar details exactly match your UAN profile, your employer can seed it directly; if they differ, the employer forwards it to EPFO. If the employer isn't available, the PRO at your PF office can file it for you.
Passbook and balance
- Passbook: download it from the Member Portal (including the quicker "Passbook Lite") or the UMANG app once your UAN is active. It shows each month's employee and employer contributions per Member ID.
- SMS: send an SMS to 7738299899 from your registered mobile for your latest contribution and balance (10 languages).
- Missed call: EPFO's FAQ lists 011-22901406 for PF account details by missed call from your registered mobile.
- Transfer Certificate (Annexure K): the full record of a transferred account (balance with interest and service history) can now be downloaded from the Member Portal.
Changing job vs withdrawing
- Give your existing UAN to the new employer.
- Make sure your date of exit from the old job is updated (by the old employer, or by you on the portal).
- Check the passbook. If the old balance hasn't moved, file the online transfer request (Form 13) on the Member Portal or UMANG.
- Track it with the claim status option. After transfer you can download the Transfer Certificate.
Since 15 Jan 2025, employer approval for online transfer claims has been removed in most cases; EPFO expected about 94% of transfer claims to go straight to it. Wrong Member ID linked to your UAN? You can de-link it online on the Member Portal.
With an activated UAN, seeded Aadhaar and verified bank account, you can file claims online without your employer's attestation. Main claim types:
| Claim | Form | When |
|---|---|---|
| PF advance (partial withdrawal) | Form 31 | While working, for needs such as illness, education, marriage or housing |
| PF final settlement | Form 19 | After leaving service or retiring |
| Pension withdrawal benefit or scheme certificate | Form 10C | Leaving with pension service under 10 years, or to carry pension service forward |
| Monthly pension | Form 10D | On becoming eligible for EPS pension |
Online, these are filed as one composite claim form (Aadhaar) on the Member Portal or UMANG, confirmed with an Aadhaar OTP.
- Auto-settlement: since June 2025, advance claims up to ₹5 lakh can be settled automatically, without human intervention, typically within 3 days.
- New withdrawal rules approved on 13 Oct 2025 by EPFO's Central Board of Trustees (CBT): 13 partial-withdrawal provisions merged into three categories (essential needs, housing, special circumstances); 12 months' minimum service for all; employer share included; 25% of contributions kept as a minimum balance. The Labour Ministry explained that 75% can be withdrawn at any time and, if you are unemployed, the remaining 25% after one year; full withdrawal is allowed on retirement, permanent disability, leaving India permanently and similar cases. Premature final settlement waits 12 months instead of 2.
The EPF Scheme, 2026 replaced the old scheme on 29 Jun 2026. The claim options and amounts the Member Portal shows you are the ones that apply; check them before you file.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Name, date of birth, gender or parents' name wrong | File a Joint Declaration (JD) request on the Member Portal. Since 19 Jan 2025, if your UAN is Aadhaar-validated you can correct name, date of birth, gender, nationality, parents' names, marital status, spouse name and dates of joining and leaving yourself, without documents. If the UAN was issued before 1 Oct 2017, the employer must certify it in some cases. |
| Two UANs | Link the old Member ID to your current UAN by filing a transfer. If the portal can't do it, contact your PF office or raise it on EPFiGMS. |
| Wrong Member ID shows in your UAN | De-link it online on the Member Portal. |
| Old balance not transferred | Check the date of exit is updated, then file the transfer request online. |
| Claim rejected | Read the reason in claim status, fix KYC or profile details, and re-file. Complain on EPFiGMS if it isn't resolved. |
Safety: EPFO never asks on a call
EPFO never asks for your Aadhaar, PAN or bank details over the phone, and never asks you to deposit money. Don't respond to such calls or messages, and never share your UAN password or any OTP.
- EPFO's online services are free. In June 2025 it warned that cybercafes and fintech agents were charging members large sums for things you can do yourself, and that sharing your data with them is risky.
- Use only the official Member Portal, UMANG, and epfindia.gov.in links.
- Keep a strong password and don't save it on shared computers.
- Lost money to a fraud? Call 1930 or report on cybercrime.gov.in at once.
Complaints
- Call the EPFO helpdesk on 14470 for help with UAN services.
- File a grievance on EPFiGMS (epfigms.gov.in) with your UAN. You get a registration number to track it, can add documents, and can rate the reply.
- Unresolved? You can also use CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in), the Government's public grievance portal.
History of the UAN
UANs allotted to members, each linked to the member's currently active PF account.
Every new member must get a UAN linked to the establishment's code.
Employer approval removed for most online transfer claims; profile correction simplified (announced 19 Jan 2025).
UAN generation and activation by Aadhaar face authentication on UMANG launched.
Revamped Form 13: transfers no longer need approval at the destination office.
Auto-settlement limit for advance claims raised from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
CBT approves simplified partial withdrawals.
EPF Scheme, 2026 notified, replacing the earlier scheme.
FAQs
What is the full form of UAN?
Universal Account Number: the permanent 12-digit number EPFO gives each Provident Fund member.
Do I get a new UAN when I change jobs?
No. You keep the same UAN for life. Give it to your new employer, who adds a new Member ID under it.
How do I activate my UAN now?
On the UMANG app, using "UAN Activation" under "UAN Services Through Face Auth", with your Aadhaar, Aadhaar-linked mobile and a live face scan. Activation on the Member Portal has been discontinued.
Can I create a UAN myself?
Yes, with "UAN Allotment and Activation" on UMANG, if your Aadhaar isn't already linked to a UAN. Then give the e-UAN card to your employer.
Is there a fee to activate UAN or file a claim?
No. All EPFO online services are free. Don't pay agents or cybercafes.
How do I correct my name or date of birth?
File a Joint Declaration on the Member Portal. If your UAN is Aadhaar-validated, you can usually approve it yourself without documents; older UANs (before 1 Oct 2017) may need employer certification.
How do I check my PF balance without logging in?
SMS 7738299899 or give a missed call to 011-22901406 from the mobile registered with your UAN.
Is the e-Shram UAN the same as my EPFO UAN?
No. e-Shram gives a separate 12-digit number to unorganised workers, and EPFO members can't register on e-Shram.
Official sources
- EPFO – Member Portal: services, UMANG notices, helpdesk 14470 and safety alert (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- EPFO – FAQs (UAN, Member ID, claims, SMS and missed-call services, EPFiGMS) (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – UAN generation and activation using Aadhaar Face Authentication via UMANG, 9 Apr 2025 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – EPFO simplifies online process for member profile updation, 19 Jan 2025 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – EPFO simplifies PF transfer process, 19 Jan 2025 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – Revamped Form 13 transfer functionality, 25 Apr 2025 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – EPFO urges members to avoid unauthorised agents, 16 Jun 2025 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – Auto-settlement limit for advance claims raised to ₹5 lakh, 24 Jun 2025 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – 238th CBT meeting: simplified partial withdrawals, 13 Oct 2025 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – Ministry of Labour & Employment on benefits of EPFO reforms, 15 Oct 2025 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – Ministry of Labour & Employment Year End Review 2025, 30 Dec 2025 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – 239th CBT meeting: new EPF, EPS and EDLI Schemes, 2 Mar 2026 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – EPF Scheme, 2026 notified (G.S.R. 525(E), 29 Jun 2026), 29 Jul 2026 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- PIB – e-Shram portal completes five years (12-digit e-Shram UAN), 25 Aug 2026 (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- EPFO – EPFiGMS grievance portal (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
- Ministry of Home Affairs – National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (accessed 31 Oct 2026)
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