HR glossary
What is UAN?
UAN, or Universal Account Number, is a 12-digit number the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) gives every PF member. It stays the same for your whole career. Each employer opens a new PF account under the same UAN, so your PF history moves with you.
What you use UAN for
- See your PF passbook and balance
- Transfer PF when you change jobs
- Withdraw PF or take an advance online
- Update KYC (Aadhaar, PAN, bank account)
How to get started
- Your employer generates or links your UAN when you join
- Activate it once on the EPFO member portal
- Give the same UAN to every new employer - do not create a second one
How to get or activate your UAN
Since 1 August 2025, a new UAN is generated and activated through the UMANG app using Aadhaar face authentication. You need the UMANG app, the AadhaarFaceRD app, your Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
- Install the UMANG and AadhaarFaceRD apps on your phone.
- In UMANG, open EPFO services and choose UAN allotment and activation with face authentication.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number, give consent and enter the OTP.
- Complete the live face scan. Your UAN is sent by SMS and is already active.
Already have a UAN from an earlier job? Keep using it - give the same UAN to your new employer. If it was never activated, activate it in UMANG the same way.
Employers still generate the UAN for international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan.
FAQ
Questions about UAN (Universal Account Number)
Sources
- EPFO - Member portal (activate UAN, passbook, claims)
- EPFO circular WSU/MemberProfilePt1/E-965649/2025-26/22, 30 July 2025 - UAN only through UMANG face authentication from 1 August 2025