What is UAN number in simple words: it is the 12 digit Universal Account Number that EPFO gives each employee once, and it stays with you for your whole working life. Your PF number, also called the member ID or PF account number, is different. A new one is created with every employer, and all of them sit under your single UAN.
Use the decoder below to split any member ID into its parts. It works only in your browser and the tool runs in your browser only and keeps nothing.
Quick facts
UAN full form
Universal Account NumberUAN length
12 digits, numbers onlyMember ID length
22 characters, letters and digitsChanges with job
Member ID changes. UAN does notEPF full form
Employees' Provident FundEPFO full form
Employees' Provident Fund OrganisationUAN card
Download from the member portal or UMANG
What is UAN number and why EPFO uses it
The UAN meaning is simple: one number that follows you, not your employer. In short, UAN number means your lifetime PF identity. Before UAN, each job came with its own PF account, and people lost track of old balances when they moved. The Universal Account Number links every PF member ID you have ever held to one person. It is allotted after your identity is checked against Aadhaar.
With one UAN you can open the member portal, see all your past and present accounts, move old balances to the new one, and file claims. It also stays the same if you take a break from work. At a new job, you hand over your existing UAN instead of getting a new one.
The UAN is a personal number, a bit like an account login. On its own it does not let anyone take money, but together with your password and an OTP it does, so keep those private.
UAN, member ID and PF account number compared
| Point | UAN | PF member ID (PF number) |
|---|---|---|
| What it identifies | You, the employee | One job's PF account |
| Format | 12 digits | 22 characters: letters, then digits |
| How many you have | One for life | One per employer, sometimes more |
| Who creates it | EPFO, through your employer or the UMANG app | Created when the employer registers you |
| Used to sign in | Yes | No |
| Shown on | Salary slip, UAN card, member portal | Salary slip, passbook, service history |
People often say PF account number when they mean member ID. They are the same thing. The establishment ID, which belongs to the employer, is the first part of the member ID.
How the PF member ID is built
A member ID has five parts written together with no spaces. The decoder tool below reads them out for you.
| Part | Length | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| State or region code | 2 letters | The EPFO region, for example MH for Maharashtra or TN for Tamil Nadu |
| Office code | 3 letters | The regional or district EPFO office that handles the employer |
| Establishment code | 7 digits | The employer's registration number with that office |
| Extension | 3 digits | Branch or unit of the employer, usually 000 |
| Member account number | 7 digits | Your serial number within that employer |
Worked example. Take the sample ID MHBAN00123450000012345. Split it as MH, BAN, 0012345, 000 and 0012345. The counts are 2, 3, 7, 3 and 7, which add up to 22. Here MH is the region, BAN is the office, 0012345 is the employer, 000 means the main unit and 0012345 is the employee's own account. This is a made up example, not a real account.
Older payslips sometimes show the ID with slashes, such as MH/BAN/0012345/000/0012345. Remove the slashes and the parts stay the same.
Using the decoder tool
Type a member ID, a UAN, or both into the tool below. It shows each part of the member ID with a short note, checks that a UAN has exactly 12 digits, and reminds you which number stays fixed across jobs.
The tool cannot tell you whether a number is real or whose account it is. It only reads the pattern. For your actual records, log in and open service history. For help finding a missing number, see know your UAN.
Where to find your UAN and PF number
If you are asking how to know UAN number or how to know PF number for your own account, these are the usual places. The most reliable answer to how to check PF number details is the portal itself.
- Salary slip. Most employers print both the UAN and the member ID.
- Offer or joining documents. Some HR teams share the UAN after enrolment.
- SMS from EPFO. Contribution alerts often show the UAN and member ID.
- Member portal. After you sign in, the View menu shows service history with every member ID.
- UMANG app. EPFO services there let you retrieve the UAN with your mobile.
If you have the UAN but not the PF number, sign in and check service history. If you have only a PF number, use the know your UAN option with your member ID, name and date of birth. A Hindi version is on UAN number kaise pata kare.
How a UAN is created
There are two routes. Your employer may generate it while registering a new joiner. Or the employee can create it in the UMANG app under UAN allotment and activation, using Aadhaar and face authentication. The new number comes by SMS and is activated in the same process.
Generation on the member portal itself has been discontinued after a recent upgrade. Employer assisted generation remains for cases such as international workers. Full steps are on our UAN activation guide.
UAN card download and what it shows
The UAN card is a one page PDF with your UAN, name, father's or spouse's name and KYC status. It is a handy record, not an identity proof.
- Log in to the portal using UAN and password.
- Open the View menu and choose UAN Card.
- Download or print the PDF.
The UMANG app also offers the card after face authentication or OTP. If the card shows wrong details, fix them through KYC and profile correction, explained on KYC update.
Frequently asked questions
Is UAN number the same as PF number?
No. The UAN is a 12 digit number for you as a person. The PF number, or member ID, is a 22 character code for one job's account, and you get a new one with each employer.
Can I have two UANs?
You should have only one. If an employer created a second UAN by mistake, ask the employer or EPFO to mark the duplicate, then transfer its balance to your main UAN.
What does the 000 in my member ID mean?
It is the extension code for the employer's unit. Most employers use 000 for the main establishment. A branch registered separately can have another extension.
Can I do a PF balance check with UAN number alone?
Yes, in a few ways. A missed call to 9966044425 or an SMS to 7738299899 from the registered mobile gives the latest balance, and the passbook needs your UAN and password. See EPF balance check.
How do I get my PF number from my UAN?
Once signed in, choose service history under the View menu. It lists each member ID under your UAN with joining and exit dates.
Does my UAN expire if I stop working?
No. The UAN stays valid. Under current EPFO rules, interest generally continues on an old account until retirement age, after which it can be treated as inoperative. Transferring old balances still keeps your records in one place.