Your UAN connects your provident fund records across jobs. If HR asks for it when you join a company, first check whether you already have one. A job change usually requires a new PF member account linked to your existing UAN.
This blog explains what UAN means, how to find it and which process to follow if you need to generate or activate one.
What is UAN?
UAN stands for Universal Account Number. It is a 12-digit number allotted by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to identify an EPF member and link their PF member accounts across employers.
The UAN normally remains the same throughout your working life. Your employer-specific PF Member ID can change when you change jobs.
UAN Example
Suppose Priya starts her first EPF-covered job at Company A. She gets a UAN, and her PF contributions are recorded against Company A’s Member ID.
Two years later, she joins Company B. She shares her existing UAN during onboarding. Company B links her new PF Member ID to that UAN.
Priya now has two employment-related Member IDs under one UAN. She can review those records through EPFO services. She should also check whether her earlier PF balance has transferred; linking accounts and transferring money are separate actions.
Is UAN the Same as a PF Account Number?
No. UAN identifies the member across jobs, while a PF account number or Member ID identifies a particular employment-related PF account.
| Point of comparison | UAN | PF account number / Member ID |
|---|---|---|
| What it identifies | The EPF member | A PF account associated with an establishment |
| Format | 12-digit number | Includes establishment and member identifiers |
| When you change jobs | Normally stays the same | A new Member ID is generally linked for the new employment |
| Main purpose | Connects PF records across employers | Records contributions for the relevant employment |
Your UAN is also different from an internal employee code, which your company uses for HR and payroll records.
How to Find Your UAN Number Online
Use “Know Your UAN” on the official EPFO Member e-Sewa portal if you have forgotten your number. You can also check a payslip or ask your current or previous employer.
Find UAN Through the EPFO Portal
- Visit the gross salary and deductions.
- Select Know Your UAN.
- Enter the mobile number and captcha requested, then complete OTP verification.
- Provide your name, date of birth and the identification details requested. The lookup may offer Aadhaar, PAN or Member ID options.
- Submit the details to retrieve your UAN if EPFO finds a matching record.
Use the details recorded with EPFO and follow the fields displayed on the live portal. A failed lookup does not prove that you have never been allotted a UAN.
Find UAN Through Employment Records
Check recent or older salary slips, onboarding documents and your employer’s HR portal. If the UAN is missing, contact HR or payroll with your employment details and PF Member ID, if available.
Do not confuse a PF deduction on your payslip with confirmation that the corresponding contribution has reached your PF account. Check the contribution record separately.
Read more about gross salary and deductions.
How to Generate a New UAN Through UMANG
For standard new UAN allotment, use Aadhaar-based face authentication through the UMANG app. EPFO made this route mandatory from 1 August 2025.
Its circular retains the employer-based process for specified exceptional categories, including international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan.
Check for an existing UAN before starting. If you already have one, retrieve or activate it instead.
What You Need
- A valid Aadhaar number.
- Access to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar for OTP verification.
- The official UMANG app.
- Aadhaar Face RD for the face-authentication step, as directed by the app.
- A compatible smartphone with a working camera and internet connection.
PAN and bank details are relevant to tax and claim-related records. They should not be presented as universal prerequisites for the Aadhaar-based UAN generation flow.
Steps to Generate and Activate UAN
- Install UMANG and the Aadhaar Face RD app from the official app-store listings.
- Open UMANG and select EPFO.
- Open UAN Services Through Face Auth.
- Select UAN Allotment and Activation.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number, and give the requested consent.
- Verify the OTP and complete the live face scan as instructed.
- After successful verification, save the UAN sent to your mobile and download the e-UAN card.
The new UAN is activated as part of this process. Share it with your employer through the authorised onboarding channel so the employment-related PF record can be linked correctly.
How to Activate an Existing UAN
If you already have a UAN but have not activated it, select “UAN Activation” in UMANG.
EPFO’s current Member Portal states that web-based UAN activation has been discontinued and directs members to UMANG’s Aadhaar-based face-authentication service.
- Open UMANG → EPFO → UAN Services Through Face Auth.
- Select UAN Activation.
- Enter the UAN, Aadhaar and mobile details requested.
- Give consent, verify the OTP and complete face authentication.
- Follow the confirmation and login instructions shown after successful activation.
If your UAN is already active, a job change does not require a fresh UAN. UMANG also has a separate face-authentication service for already activated UANs.
How to Log In and Check Your PF Passbook
Visit the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal, enter your UAN, password and captcha, and complete any additional verification requested.
For your contribution statement, use the official EPFO Member Passbook service or the supported passbook service in UMANG. Select the relevant Member ID to review the available entries.
Check whether contributions appear against the correct employment record and whether earlier balances have transferred.
Other PF Balance Enquiry Options
EPFO’s passbook page lists:
- Missed call: 9966044425.
- SMS: Send EPFOHO UAN ENG to 7738299899 for an English response.
Use the mobile number registered with EPFO and ensure the applicable registration and KYC requirements are met. These are balance-enquiry services; they do not replace account correction or transfer processes.
How to Download Your UAN Card
Sign in to Member e-Sewa, open the UAN Card option and save the PDF. You can also download the e-UAN card through the supported UMANG UAN service after successful generation.
The card provides a convenient reference for onboarding. Your PF passbook serves a different purpose: it records account transactions and contributions.
How to Link Aadhaar and Check UAN KYC
Review the Aadhaar and KYC status in your EPFO profile before submitting identity-sensitive requests. The correction route depends on whether Aadhaar is missing, mismatched or incorrectly linked.
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Aadhaar | Identity verification and Aadhaar-based authentication |
| Bank account | Receiving eligible claim payments |
| PAN | Tax-related verification where applicable |
For Aadhaar seeding, EPFO’s August 2025 guidance distinguishes these situations:
- Name, date of birth and gender match: Your employer can seed Aadhaar through the employer portal’s KYC functionality without separate EPFO approval.
- Demographic details do not match: The employer can submit a correction through the Joint Declaration process.
- The wrong Aadhaar is linked: The correction can be routed through Joint Declaration for the concerned EPFO office’s approval.
- The employer is unavailable: Approach the Public Relations Officer at the PF office for assistance with the prescribed process.
Check the recorded status after submission. A saved request should not be treated as a completed verification.
What Happens to Your UAN When You Change Jobs?
Give your existing UAN to the new employer. You should normally continue using that number while the new PF Member ID is linked to it.
After joining, review your employment history and contribution entries. Check the earlier account’s exit details and whether the previous balance has transferred. If action is still required, use the transfer service available in Member e-Sewa or seek help from HR or EPFO.
If two UANs have been allotted, report both to your employer and EPFO and ask for the prescribed resolution and transfer process. Do not generate another number to work around the issue.
Read more about full and final settlement when leaving an organisation.
Common UAN Problems and What to Do
| Problem | What to do next |
|---|---|
| UAN lookup finds no match | Recheck the identifying details and ask HR to verify existing records before generating a new UAN. |
| You forgot the password | Select Forgot Password on Member e-Sewa and complete the recovery checks displayed. |
| You cannot access the old EPFO mobile number | Use the alternative-mobile recovery option if offered, or contact EPFO for assistance. |
| Aadhaar OTP does not arrive | Confirm that you can access the Aadhaar-linked number; use the resend option or seek help if the issue persists. |
| Face authentication fails | Follow the retry instructions, check camera access and Aadhaar Face RD, and contact support if repeated attempts fail. |
| Aadhaar and UAN details differ | Correct the inaccurate record through the applicable profile or Joint Declaration process. |
| Recent contributions are missing | Confirm that you selected the correct Member ID and ask payroll to verify filing and remittance. |
| The service is temporarily unavailable | Check official notices and retry later. |
For unresolved issues, use EPFiGMS to register a grievance and retain its reference number. EPFO’s Member Portal lists 14470 for assistance with UAN services.
Keep passwords and OTPs private. EPFO warns that it does not call members asking for personal details or monetary deposits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Contract Employees Have a UAN?
Yes. Contract-based employees who are contributory EPFO members can have a UAN. Contract status alone does not exclude a covered worker from EPFO membership.
Is the e-Shram UAN the same as the EPFO UAN?
They are separate identifiers used in different systems. e-Shram also issues a 12-digit Universal Account Number to registered unorganised workers. That registration should not be treated as an EPFO PF account.
Can I Withdraw PF Just Because My UAN Is Active?
An active UAN enables access to online services. Withdrawal eligibility and the amount available depend on the applicable claim rules and your records.
Do I Need to Create Another UAN If I Have Forgotten Mine?
No. Try to Know Your UAN, employment records or HR first. Recovering an existing number avoids duplicate records.
