UAN Activation for Freshers: How to Activate and Use Your EPF Account

Last updated: 11 October 2026 · By the Asuraa Team

Quick answer: Freshers now generate and activate a UAN through the UMANG app using Aadhaar face authentication. An EPFO circular of 30 July 2025 made UMANG the only route for new UANs from 1 August 2025, except for international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan. After activation, share the UAN with HR and complete KYC and e-nomination on the EPFO member portal.

Key takeaways

• From 1 August 2025, new UANs are generated and activated only through the UMANG app using Aadhaar face authentication, per an EPFO circular dated 30 July 2025.
• Employer-based UAN generation remains only for exceptions such as international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan.
• EPFO allotted 1.26 crore UANs in 2024-25, but only 35.30% were activated by members, according to PIB.
• The employer's 12% PF share is split into 3.67% to EPF and 8.33% to the pension scheme, on a wage ceiling of Rs 15,000 a month.
• EPFO's member portal states that nominations are mandatory under paragraphs 33, 34 and 61 of the EPF Scheme, 1952.

Your Universal Account Number (UAN) is the single ID that ties together every provident fund account you will have across your career. For most freshers it is also the first piece of payroll admin you have to do yourself, because the way UANs are created changed in 2025. This guide explains the current process, what to do after activation, and the mistakes that cause claim rejections years later.

What is a UAN and why do freshers need it?

A UAN is a number issued by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) that stays with you for life, while each employer opens a separate member ID under it. You need it activated to see your PF passbook, update KYC, file nominations, transfer balances when you switch jobs and make online claims. EPFO's member portal describes activation as essential for using its online services.

Activation is widely skipped. EPFO allotted 1.26 crore UANs in 2024-25, but only 44.68 lakh, or 35.30%, were activated by members, according to a PIB release of 9 April 2025.

How do you generate and activate a UAN in 2026?

New UANs are generated and activated through the UMANG app using Aadhaar face authentication. An EPFO circular dated 30 July 2025 made this the only route for new UANs from 1 August 2025, with employer-based generation kept only for exceptions such as international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, as summarised by KPMG.

The steps, as described in the PIB release:

1. Install two apps. Download UMANG and the AadhaarFaceRD app on your phone.
2. Open the UAN service. In UMANG, go to UAN services and choose "UAN Allotment and Activation" through face authentication.
3. Enter Aadhaar and mobile. Type your Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to that Aadhaar, and tick the consent box.
4. Verify the OTP. Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
5. Capture a live photo. Hold the phone steady; the outline turns from red to green when capture succeeds.
6. Receive your UAN by SMS. Once your face matches Aadhaar records, the UAN is generated and sent to you.
7. Download the UAN card. You can get it from UMANG or the member portal. The UAN is automatically activated on the portal.

If you already have a UAN from an internship or earlier job but never activated it, the same UMANG service lets you activate it. Do not generate a second one.

What do you need before you start?

You need an Aadhaar number linked to a working mobile number, a phone that can run both apps, and good light for the face capture. Check that the name, date of birth and gender in Aadhaar match your school and college certificates, because mismatches cause trouble later when your employer links KYC and when you file claims.

What if face authentication or the OTP fails?

Most failures come from three causes: the mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, the Aadhaar details are outdated, or the photo capture is poor. Fix them in this order:

• No OTP arrives. Confirm which mobile number is linked to your Aadhaar. If it is an old number, update it through UIDAI before trying again.
• Face does not match. Retry in daylight or a well-lit room, remove glasses, and keep your face inside the outline until it turns green.
• Details mismatch. If your Aadhaar name or date of birth differs from your certificates, correct Aadhaar first, because the same mismatch will block KYC later.

If it still fails, tell your HR team in writing so they know your joining paperwork is pending for a genuine reason.

What should you do after activating your UAN?

Share the UAN with your employer, then finish KYC and nomination on the member portal. A short checklist:

1. Give your UAN to HR so your employer can link your new member ID to it and start monthly contributions.
2. Log in to the member portal and check that your name, date of birth and joining date are correct.
3. Verify KYC. Make sure Aadhaar, PAN and bank details show as approved by your employer.
4. File your e-nomination. The portal says nominations are mandatory under paragraphs 33, 34 and 61 of the EPF Scheme, 1952 and are needed for online death claims.
5. Check the passbook after your first salary. Contributions should appear once your employer files its monthly return.

For the joining paperwork that usually comes with this, see our joining documents checklist.

How much goes into your EPF every month?

The standard rate is 12% of basic pay plus dearness allowance from you, matched by your employer, but the employer's share is split between EPF and the pension scheme. A Government of Canada trade commissioner summary lists the employer split as 3.67% to EPF and 8.33% to the Employees' Pension Scheme, with Rs 15,000 a month as the wage ceiling for these calculations, so the pension share works out to at most Rs 1,250 a month.

According to the Ministry of Labour's October 2025 release, EPF coverage is mandatory for establishments with 20 or more employees for those earning up to Rs 15,000 a month, and balances earn 8.25% interest. Many employers also cover higher earners. Your payslip shows the exact deduction; our guide on how to read a salary slip explains each line, and CTC vs in-hand salary shows how PF affects take-home pay.

Can you withdraw EPF money as a fresher?

Yes, after a minimum period, but most freshers should not. EPFO's October 2025 reforms cut the minimum service for all withdrawal types to 12 months and merged 13 partial-withdrawal provisions into one framework, while keeping 25% of the balance as a minimum retirement safety net, according to the Ministry of Labour release. On unemployment, 75% can be withdrawn immediately and the rest after one year.

Leaving the money invested is usually the better choice early in your career. Our explainer on PF and gratuity for freshers covers how the balance grows and when gratuity applies.

What do most guides on UAN activation get wrong?

Many guides still describe the old member-portal flow, where you enter your UAN, Aadhaar and mobile on the "Activate UAN" page and verify an OTP, as the way a new employee gets a UAN. Since 1 August 2025, new UANs are generated and activated through UMANG with face authentication, and employers can generate them only in listed exceptions. If your HR team asks you to "get your UAN on UMANG", that is the correct, current process, not a shortcut.

A second common mistake is creating a fresh UAN at every job. One UAN is meant to cover your whole career; each new employer adds a member ID under it. Multiple UANs make transfers and final settlements slower.

How do you stay safe from EPF fraud?

Never share your UAN password, OTP or Aadhaar details with anyone who calls you about your PF. EPFO's member portal states that it never asks members for Aadhaar, PAN or bank details over the phone and never calls members to deposit money. Use only the official portal and the UMANG app, and if you lose money to a fraud, report it on the national cyber crime helpline, 1930, or at cybercrime.gov.in, as advised on the Sanchar Saathi portal.

For how PF fits into your overall pay, see our salary guide for tech jobs in India.

Related guides

• Salary Guide for Tech Jobs in India: Pay, CTC and Take-Home (2026)
• Form 16 Explained for Freshers: What It Is and How to Use It
• How to Answer "What Is Your Expected Salary?" as a Fresher

FAQ

How do I generate a UAN as a fresher in 2026?

Install the UMANG and AadhaarFaceRD apps, open UAN Allotment and Activation under UAN services, enter your Aadhaar and its linked mobile number, verify the OTP and capture a live photo. Once your face matches Aadhaar records, the UAN is sent by SMS and auto-activated on the EPFO member portal. This has been the standard route since 1 August 2025.

Can my employer generate my UAN for me?

Generally no, not since 1 August 2025. An EPFO circular dated 30 July 2025 made UMANG face authentication the only route for new UANs, keeping employer-based generation only for exceptions such as international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan. Your employer still links your member ID to the UAN once you share it.

I had a UAN from my internship. Should I create a new one?

No. Keep using the existing UAN and give it to your new employer, who will add a new member ID under it. If you never activated it, you can activate it through the same UMANG service. Creating a second UAN makes transfers, passbook tracking and final settlement claims slower and more complicated.

What should I do after activating my UAN?

Share the UAN with HR, log in to the EPFO member portal, check your personal details, and make sure Aadhaar, PAN and bank KYC are approved. Then file your e-nomination, which the portal says is mandatory under the EPF Scheme, 1952. After your first salary, confirm the contribution appears in your passbook.

How much PF is deducted from a fresher's salary?

The standard employee contribution is 12% of basic pay plus dearness allowance, and the employer contributes 12% too. The employer's share is split, with 3.67% going to EPF and 8.33% to the pension scheme, calculated on a wage ceiling of Rs 15,000 a month for the pension part. Your payslip shows the exact deduction.

Final thoughts

Generate and activate your UAN through UMANG before your first payday, finish KYC and nomination in the same week, and keep one UAN for your whole career. If you are still job hunting, start with entry-level roles on Asuraa's free job search.