EPFO relaxes Aadhaar norms for select employee categories: Key details

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced that specific employee categories are exempted from seeding Aadhaar with their Universal Account Number (UAN) for settling physical claims. This relaxation was detailed in a circular dated 29 November 2024.

The exempted categories include:

1. International workers who completed assignments in India but did not obtain Aadhaar.
2. Indian workers who have permanently migrated abroad and gained foreign citizenship without having Aadhaar.
3. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan working for establishments under the EPF&MP Act but residing outside India without Aadhaar.

For such cases, claims will be processed after verifying the member’s identity using alternative documents, such as a passport for international workers or citizenship certificates for Nepalese and Bhutanese employees. Additionally, officials are to confirm PAN, bank accounts, and other details to ensure eligibility.

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The EPFO stressed due diligence in these cases, requiring verification details to be recorded and approval sought from the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) via an e-office file. For balances exceeding ₹5 lakh, employers may be asked to confirm the member’s authenticity. Settlements will be processed through NEFT.

The circular also clarified that while generating UANs remains mandatory for members, the requirement to link Aadhaar has been waived due to their inability to obtain the unique ID at present.