UAN Activation and Registration Online for EPF

UAN activation or UAN registration is required to avail EPF services online such as EPF withdrawal, checking EPF balance or PF loan application. Read the complete article to know how to generate and know your UAN, documents required for EPFO UAN activation, UAN activation process, its importance/benefits and more.

UAN Activation Process
Generate UAN	How to Know Your UAN	UAN Activation Online Process
Documents Required for UAN Activation	Importance of UAN	UAN Activation FAQs

What is UAN (Universal Account Number)

UAN or Universal Account Number is a unique identification number allotted to each and every member of EPFO by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.  A member can have only one UAN during his service period but multiple EPF account numbers and member IDs associated with every job he switches linked to this single UAN. By activating and registering your UAN, you can gain seamless access to your EPF account- transfer funds, opt for online withdrawals, etc.

How to Generate UAN for EPF

When an employee joins the service sector for the first time, the employer has to get the UAN generated for him if the company has 20 or more employees. In case a UAN has been assigned to the employee in the previous organization, he has to furnish the details to the new employer.

In order to get a new UAN generated for the employee, the employer has to follow these steps:

1. Login to EPF Employer Portal using the username and password
2. Click on the “Register Individual” tab in the “Member” section
3. Enter the employee’s details such as PAN, Aadhaar, bank details, etc.
4. Approve all details in the “Approval” section.
5. A new UAN is generated by EPFO and the employer can link the PF account with UAN of the employee.

How to Know Your UAN

Once the UAN is generated and EPF account is linked with it, the employer generally provides the UAN and PF details to the employee. However, you can easily find out your UAN online by following a few simple steps mentioned below:

1. Visit EPFO Member Portal to know your UAN.
2. Click on “Know your UAN“.
3. Enter your registered mobile number, captcha code and click on the button “Request OTP”.
4. Enter the OTP that you receive along with a captcha for verification.
5. Enter your Name, DOB, Aadhaar/PAN/member ID and the captcha for verification and click on “Show my UAN” to know your UAN.
   

Image courtesy: EPFO Member Portal

Moreover, you can also retrieve your UAN offline by checking your monthly salary slip or contact your HR department or employer for the same.

UAN Activation Through the UAN Portal

Before you use the EPFO portal to avail any online service related to EPF, you have to register or activate your UAN. Without activation, you cannot avail any online facility provided by EPFO.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to activate UAN online, i.e. for UAN activation online/UAN registration:

1. Visit EPFO Member Portal and click on “Activate UAN”.
   
2. Enter your UAN/member ID along with your Aadhaar number, name, DOB, mobile number, captcha code and click on the “Get Authorization PIN“.
   
3. An authorization PIN will be sent to the mobile number registered with EPFO
4. Enter this PIN and click on “Validate OTP and Activate UAN”
5. Your UAN will be activated and the password will be sent to your mobile number
6. Now you can login to your EPF account using your UAN and password.

Read More: UAN Login, UAN Member e-Sewa Portal and UAN Services

How to Link Aadhaar with UAN

Once you login to your EPF account, you have to seed your details in UAN. Follow these steps to link your UAN with Aadhaar:

1. Login to your EPF account by visiting the EPFO member home page
2. Click on the “KYC” option in the “Manage” section
3. Tick the square in front of Aadhaar and enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and name
4. Now click on the “Save” option
5. Your request will be displayed in “KYC Pending for Approval”
6. Once UIDAI confirms your details, your current employer’s name is mentioned in “Approved by Establishment” and “Verified by UIDAI” is mentioned against your Aadhaar.

Documents Required for UAN Activation

Following documents have to be provided at the time of UAN activation (this is usually taken from you by your employer when you join the service):

• Aadhaar card
• PAN card
• Bank account details and IFSC
• Any other proof of identity or address, if required.

Importance of Universal Account Number (UAN)

• UAN acts as an umbrella under which all PF accounts of a member are present. Earlier, it was difficult to track EPF accounts of the employee which has now become simpler after the introduction of UAN.
• The member can easily transfer his PF from old accounts to the new one online with the help of UAN
• The member can access all online services provided by EPFO by activating his UAN

How to Link Multiple EPF Accounts Under One UAN

After the introduction of UAN, different member IDs or EPF account numbers associated with every job that you switch are linked to a single UAN. Earlier employees had to manually transfer their PF account to a new one each time they switched their job using the “One Member – One EPF Account” service available on the member portal. However, starting April 1st 2024, EPFO automatically transfers existing EPF accounts of member employees to new accounts every time they make a job switch without filling up a form or raising a request.

Employee-Specific Benefits of UAN Registration

UAN activation/UAN registration has a number of benefits for employees. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Employees can easily keep a track of all their EPF accounts at a single place
• The employee can avail the facility of viewing EPF passbook online
• Partial PF withdrawal can be claimed online
• Transfer of EPF accounts can be done online
• EPFO claim status can also be checked online through the EPF member portal

Common Issues and Solutions in UAN Registration

Given below are a few common issues that an employee may face during UAN registration along with their solutions:

• Incorrect registered mobile number: Sometimes there maybe a mismatch in the mobile number that is registered with EPFO and the one that the employee is currently using/enters while activating his/her UAN. Make sure you avoid these mistakes to complete your UAN registration successfully.
• Incorrect Aadhaar/PAN/member ID details: Ensure that you provide the correct Aadhaar/PAN/member ID information to successfully complete the registration process.
• Mismatch in Other Personal Details: Ensure that you provide the correct name, date of birth and other details and there is no mismatch in the details provided in the EPFO database and those that you provide here or those that are registered with your Aadhaar and PAN card.

UAN Activation and Registration FAQs

Q. Can you activate UAN via offline modes?

UAN registration is done for availing online services provided by EPFO. So, PF UAN activation/registration is done only online.

Q. Can contractual employees register their UAN and avail online facilities?

An organisation with 20 or more employees has to generate UAN for its employees (with a salary of Rs. 15,000/- and above). Both contractual, as well as full-time employees, can avail UAN facilities online after activation.

Q. I have not linked Aadhaar with UAN. Can I transfer funds online?

You cannot transfer funds or claim PF withdrawal if your Aadhaar is not linked with UAN. You have to mandatorily seed your Aadhaar with UAN.

Q. I have changed my job. Should I activate my UAN again?

UAN has to be activated only once. You do not have to re-activate it every time you switch jobs.

Q. Do I have to pay any fee for UAN registration?

No, UAN registration is free of cost and you do not have to pay any fee to activate it.

Q. Can I activate UAN through SMS or mobile app?

There is no provision to activate UAN through SMS as of now. You have to do it online by visiting the EPF member portal/UAN activation portal.

Q. How long does it take to activate UAN?

Once you complete the online UAN activation process, UAN activation happens almost immediately.

Q. Can we activate UAN twice?

There is no need to activate your UAN again in case you have already done it once.

Q. How can I generate UAN and login ID and password?

You can get your UAN from your employer who usually generates it for you. Your UAN itself acts as your login ID, while when you activate your UAN, a password is sent to your registered mobile number that you can use for the first login. Even though this password can be used for subsequent logins, it is advisable to change the same after the initial login.

Q. Can we activate UAN in mobile?

As of now you can only activate your UAN using the EPF member portal online.

Q. Why is my UAN not active?

Your UAN remains inactive until you register or activate it online by visiting the EPFO member portal. In order to avail any online service related to EPF, you need to first register or activate your UAN online.

Q. Is UAN automatically activated?

No, UAN is not automatically activated. It needs to be done online via the EPF member portal.

Q. Why am I allocated two Universal Account Numbers?

In case two Universal Account Numbers or UANs are allotted to you, it could be because your previous employer did not file your date of exit and the transfer of service to your current establishment was also made. In such a situation, you should immediately report the issue to your employer as well as EPFO so that your old UAN can be deactivated and the previous EPF corpus is transferred to the new PF account.

Q. How to get UAN for the first time?

Initially your employer generates UAN for you and provides the UAN and PF details to you. In case, you UAN is generated but not been provided to you yet, you can either contact the HR department or look for it in your salary slip. You can also retrieve it online via the EPFO website using the “Know your UAN” service.

Q. What is the purpose of listing all previous member IDs under the Universal Account Number?

Listing all previous EPF Member IDs under a single UAN enables employees to track their entire EPF history in one place. It also simplifies all EPF transfers between jobs and ensures that all accounts are linked for easy fund management.

Q. How to retrieve UAN if forgotten?

In case you forget your UAN, you can use the “Know your UAN” service available on the EPFO website to retrieve your UAN online. You can also look for your UAN on your salary slip or contact the HR department of your office for the same.

Q. How do I activate my UAN number after registration?

UAN registration and UAN activation refer to the same thing. Once you have successfully registered your UAN, you are not required to carry out any other activation process.

Q. How does UAN help in EPF withdrawal?

To withdraw your EPF amount online, you need to use your UAN and login to the member portal and raise a withdrawal request. 

Q. Can I change my mobile number linked to UAN?

Yes, you can change the mobile number linked to your UAN by logging into the EPFO member portal and using the “Change Mobile Number” option under the Contact Details section under the Manage tab.

Q. What should I do if my UAN is already assigned?

If your UAN is already assigned, all you need to do is activate your UAN using the UAN activation/registration service available on the website. 

Q. How can I check my UAN status online?

You can check the status of your UAN using the “Know your UAN” service available on the EPFO portal.

Q. How to update Aadhaar and PAN in my UAN account?

You can update your Aadhaar and PAN details in your UAN account by logging into the member portal, clicking on the “KYC” option under the Manage section and filling in the relevant KYC details.

Q. Is UAN registration mandatory for salaried employees?

Every organisation which has a minimum of 20 employees requires employers to get UAN generated for its employees. Moreover, employees having a UAN are required to complete UAN registration/activation online in order to access various EPFO related services.

Q. How to recover a lost UAN number?

You can retrieve your lost UAN online using the “Know your UAN” service available on the member portal. You can also find out your UAN offline using your salary slip or contact your HR department.