Every employee with PF contributions holds a Universal Account Number. Until it is activated it sits dormant — activation is a two-screen process and completely free.
Steps to activate
- Open the official UAN member portal.
- Choose "Activate UAN" and enter your UAN, Aadhaar and your name as per PAN/Aadhaar.
- An OTP arrives on your employer-linked mobile; enter it and set a password.
- Log in and start using EPFO member services.
Key takeaways
- UAN activation is free and official-portal-only.
- The OTP goes to your employer-registered mobile.
- An activated UAN unlocks every EPFO member service.
If you do not know your UAN
Your employer or payroll team can share it — it appears on most payslips. EPFO also offers a "Know your UAN" facility using Aadhaar and PAN.
Why it matters
- Activation needs only an OTP to the employer-recorded mobile — there is never a fee and never a third-party site.
- An activated UAN exposes contributions, interest and claims to you directly.
- Anyone charging to activate your UAN is selling a free public service.
What you should do
- Activate on the official portal only; never share your password or OTP.
- Reconcile the interest statement each year on epfindia.gov.in.
- Update your mobile number in EPFO when you change jobs or numbers.