EPFO makes Aadhaar-based face authentication mandatory for UAN generation in UMANG app

Starting from August 1, 2025, Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) in the UMANG App would be mandatory to generate a Universal Account Number (UAN).

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has now made the generation/allotment of UAN through Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) in the UMANG App mandatory. The provident fund body has taken this decision to ensure error-free generation/allotment of UAN.

UAN is allotted by EPFO to individual members when they start working with establishments covered under the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 1952.

This universal number serves as an umbrella for multiple member identification numbers (Member IDs) allotted to individuals by different establishments/companies during their respective careers.

As the UAN remains valid throughout a member's career, ensuring its accurate generation is crucial. To this end, the EPFO has made it compulsory to generate UAN only through Aadhaar-based FAT in the UMANG App.

"...in order to ensure error-free generation of UAN, it has been decided that w.e.f. 1st August, 2025 the allotment/generation of UAN will be done only through the Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) in UMANG App," the EPFO said in a circular dated July 30, 2025.

However, the existing process of generation of UAN through the employer will continue in respect of exceptional cases like international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, the EPFO added.

Earlier, through a circular dated April 8, 2025, the EPFO had introduced a "simple and robust process" for allotment/generation and activation of UAN in the UMAG app by leveraging the Aadhaar-based face authentication technology. Back then, the provident fund body had introduced the following three facilities in the UMANG app:

1. Direct UAN Allotment and Activation
2. UAN Activation for Existing UANs
3. Face Authentication Service for Existing Activated UANs

What EPFO said on April 8

To avail the above facility, EPFO had said that the only requirement would be to download the UMANG app and the Aadhaar Face RD App from the Play Store.

"The above facility can be availed by the Members themselves using their smartphones without any intervention of EPFO/Employers."

The facility is also available for downloading the e-UAN card PDF for handing over to the Employer for onboarding with EPFO.

Citing the benefits of using Aadhaar-based face authentication, EPFO had said it would lead to a foolproof validation of Aadhaar data, as all data of the user is pre-populated directly from the Aadhaar database and completion of the UAN activation process during UAN generation itself.

Further, there would be no requirement for the initiation of the UAN activation process afresh. "By availing this facility, members would gain immediate access to EPFO services such as passbook viewing, KYC updates, claim submission, etc," the EPFO had said.