UAN (Universal Account Number)
UAN is a 12-digit number issued by EPFO that links all your PF accounts across employers. Once activated, the same UAN follows you job to job. You can transfer balances, check passbook, withdraw, and update KYC online without touching the employer.
What is UAN (Universal Account Number)?
UAN was rolled out in 2014 to fix the old problem of employees ending up with multiple PF account numbers, one for each employer, which made transfers slow and lossy. Now, when an employee joins their first job, the employer registers them on the EPFO portal, generates a member ID, and links it to a fresh UAN. From the second job onwards, the employee just shares the same UAN. The new employer creates a new member ID under the same UAN. Employees can log in at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in with their UAN and password. There they can see their PF passbook, raise transfer claims (Form 13), withdraw partially (housing, illness, marriage) or fully (after retirement or two months of unemployment), update Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details, and download UAN card. Linking Aadhaar and PAN with UAN is now mandatory. Without these, contributions can fail and online withdrawal is blocked.
Example
Anjali joined company A in 2020 (UAN 100123456789, member ID DLCPM00012340000123456). In 2023 she joined company B; she shared the same UAN. Company B created a new member ID under it. She raised a transfer request online, and the old PF balance moved to the new account in 15 days.
How UAN (Universal Account Number) is used
Payroll software collects UAN at onboarding and remits monthly EPF contributions against the right member ID. ECR (Electronic Challan-cum-Return) uploads to EPFO are keyed by UAN.
UAN (Universal Account Number) FAQs
Can I have two UANs?
No, ideally. If two get created by mistake (a new employer didn't use the existing one), you must merge them via EPFO grievance portal. The duplicate gets de-activated.
What if my new employer doesn't ask for UAN?
Always volunteer your UAN at joining. Otherwise the new employer creates a fresh UAN, and you end up with duplicate UANs and split balances.
Is UAN the same as PF number?
No. PF number (member ID) is per-employer. UAN is one universal number that ties all PF numbers together for life.