How to Know My UAN Number: 5 Quick Methods

You're a salaried employee in India and need to know my UAN number. It's your permanent 12-digit identifier in the Employees' Provident Fund system. Unlike your PF account number, which changes with each employer, your UAN stays with you throughout your career. This guide shows how to know my UAN number using methods that work both online and offline.

Key Takeaways

Your UAN is permanent across all jobs; your PF account number changes per employer
Retrieve your UAN via EPFO portal (2024), missed-call (011-22901406), or SMS (7738299899)
If your UAN lookup fails, your employer may not have submitted your EPFO registration yet
UAN activation is a separate step from retrieval and requires Aadhaar linkage
You need your UAN to check your PF balance before comparing loan products

What is a UAN and why does it matter?

Your UAN is assigned by the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (2025) when you first join an employer with PF contributions. It's your permanent PF identity linking all contributions across all employers.

When you know my UAN number, you access all your PF accounts from every employer. Your PF account number differs: it's employer-specific and changes when you switch jobs. If you've worked for three companies, you have three PF account numbers but only one UAN.

You need your UAN to access the EPFO member portal, check your PF balance, download statements, file withdrawal claims, and meet KYC requirements for loans and banking.

How can you find your UAN using the online portal?

The EPFO's "Know Your UAN" service is the fastest way to know your UAN number and works without prior account activation.

Step 1: Visit the Know Your UAN page

Go to unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in and click "Know Your UAN" in the quick access section.

Step 2: Enter your details

You need your mobile number (registered with your employer) and one of: Aadhaar, PAN, or Member ID.

Step 3: Verify with OTP

EPFO sends an OTP to your phone. Enter it to proceed. If you don't receive it within two minutes, the number on file may differ from what you entered. Check your salary slip or ask HR to confirm.

Step 4: Get your UAN

Your UAN appears on screen. Copy it down and save it securely.

What are other ways to find your UAN without internet?

Not everyone has reliable internet or prefers the online approach. EPFO offers two convenient methods for basic phones. These are useful ways to know your UAN number when you can't access the portal.

Missed-call service

Call 011-22901406 from your registered phone and hang up after the ring. EPFO sends an SMS within minutes with your UAN, current PF account number, and last contribution date. This is free and works on any phone with calling.

SMS service

Send "UAN" to 7738299899 from your registered phone. EPFO responds with your UAN and recent contribution details. This costs only your standard SMS rate and works on any phone with texting.

Ask your HR department

Your salary slip shows your PF account number. Take it to HR, and they'll provide your UAN from their EPFO enrollment records without needing portal activation.

What should you do if your UAN lookup fails?

When these methods don't return a result, the most common reason is that your employer hasn't submitted your EPFO registration. EPFO takes 3-7 working days to process registrations.

Check your payslip for a PF deduction. If you see one but no PF account number, your employer enrolled you but EPFO hasn't processed it yet. Wait 7-10 days and try again.

If you see no PF deduction, contact HR and ask if they submitted your registration. By law, employers must register employees within 15 days of joining if salary meets the PF threshold.

If registration was submitted but you still can't find your UAN after 10 days, call EPFO helpline at 1800-118-005. They can trace where your registration is stuck.

How do you activate your UAN once you have it?

Retrieving your UAN is step one. Activating your account is step two, letting you log in and view your PF balance.

To activate, you need your UAN, Aadhaar number, and your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Your name and date of birth must match exactly in both systems.

Go to the EPFO portal and select "Activate your UAN." Enter your details and wait for an OTP on your Aadhaar-linked phone. If activation fails due to mismatched name or date, ask HR to file a corrected Form 11 with EPFO. This takes 3-5 working days. Then try again.

If your Aadhaar-linked mobile is inactive, update it at a UIDAI enrollment center before activating your UAN.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need both a UAN and a PF account number?

Your UAN is permanent across all employers. Your PF account number is job-specific and changes when you switch employers. This lets EPFO link all your accounts and show your complete contribution history in one place.

What should I do if I don't get the OTP for Know Your UAN?

Your phone number probably doesn't match what your employer registered with EPFO. Check your salary slip or ask HR which number was submitted. If it's different, use that number instead or try the missed-call or SMS method.

How long does EPFO take to register a new employee?

Usually 3-7 working days after your employer submits registration. If you just started a job, wait about a week and try again.

Can I find my UAN using only my name?

No. EPFO's service needs your registered phone number (with Aadhaar or PAN) or your Member ID. If you don't have these, visit your nearest EPFO office with your Aadhaar and a salary slip.

Do I need to activate my UAN right after I find it?

No. You can retrieve your UAN anytime. Activate your account only when you want to log in to check your balance or file a claim.

What can I do if my employer hasn't registered me with EPFO yet?

Ask HR to confirm your registration status and submit it if they haven't. By law, they must register you within 15 days of joining if your salary meets the PF threshold. Once submitted, EPFO takes 3-7 working days to process it.

Can I check my UAN on a basic phone?

Yes. Use the missed-call service (dial 011-22901406) or send SMS to 7738299899. Both work on basic phones and are free.

How do I know my UAN number from my salary slip?

Your salary slip shows your PF account number, which is employer-specific. You can't see your UAN directly on the payslip, but you can take it to HR or use the EPFO portal to figure out how to know my UAN number from this account number.