Withdrawing or transferring your PF (EPF)

Your PF money is paid into your bank account, or moved to the PF account of your new job.

OnlineAt the office

For whom: EPF members who want to take out part or all of their PF, or who changed jobs and want to move their old PF. EPFO is a central government body; its offices in Andhra Pradesh are listed here too.

Tell us your situation first; then the documents and steps open.

1Your situation

A few questions. We show only the documents and steps your answers need.

Which of these are you?
What do you want to do with your PF?
Why are you taking it all out?
Can you log in to the EPFO member portal with your UAN and password?

Which of these are you?

Indian citizen living in IndiaIndian citizen living abroad (NRI)OCI cardholderForeign national

What do you want to do with your PF?

Move it to the PF account of my new jobTake out part of it (advance)Take out all of it

Why are you taking it all out?

I retired at 55 or olderI left my job and am not working nowI am leaving India to settle or to work abroadI am a woman and left my job to get marriedRetrenched, voluntary retirement, or permanently unable to work

Can you log in to the EPFO member portal with your UAN and password?

YesNo: my UAN is not activated, or I do not know itI cannot apply online

Your answers stay on this phone.

Your situation is complete.

Each step below says who it is for. Confirm yours at the office, then change your answer here.

Another route for you

The EPF Scheme, 2026 treats a person who holds a foreign passport as an "International Worker" (an OCI cardholder is a foreign national holding a foreign passport). The rules differ: you can take out the full PF only when you retire from the job after the age of 58, if you become permanently and totally unable to work, or, if a social security agreement between India and your country covers you, when you stop working here. Unless an agreement covers you, the money is paid only into a bank account in India. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan are treated as Indian workers.

→ Ask EPFO how to apply: call 14470, or go to the EPFO regional office for your employer. The agreement countries are listed on the International Workers page of epfo.gov.in.

2Documents you need

Tick the ones you have. They are kept in this browser.

Aadhaar (linked to your UAN)originalHave itNeed it
A bank account in your name, linked to your Aadhaaroriginal · An account in a scheduled bank or a co-operative bankHave itNeed it
PAN cardoriginalHave itNeed it
Medical certificate of permanent and total incapacity for work (only for that reason)original · From the establishment's medical officer, or a registered doctor the establishment names; if you have ESI, from your ESI dispensary doctor; if the establishment has closed, from any registered doctorHave itNeed it
Paper claim formoriginalIf you don't have it: Ask your employer or the EPFO office.Have itNeed it

Nothing to get ready before these steps.

3Your steps

· Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.

Do this now
If you work in a country that has a social security agreement with India, you may count as an "International Worker", whose rules differ.
Check the list of agreement countries on the EPFO website. If your country is on it, ask EPFO (14470) before you apply.
Where
Online
Open the official page
Not confirmed: We could not read EPFO's procedure for International Workers' claims; EPFO can tell you.
Sources: 1, 11, 7
I have done this step
Do this now
If you do not know your UAN (Universal Account Number), find it on the member portal with "Know Your UAN", using your details.
Where
Online
Open the official page
Sources: 5, 4
I have done this step
Do this now
Activate your UAN in the UMANG app: choose EPFO services, then "UAN Activation" under "UAN Services Through Face Auth", and confirm with Aadhaar face authentication (by showing your face).
If you have no UAN yet, choose "UAN Allotment and Activation". The member portal no longer activates UANs.
Where
Online
Fee
Free · All EPFO services are free.
Open the official page
Sources: 5, 14, 12
I have done this step
Do this now
Log in to the EPFO member portal with your UAN and password.
Never tell anyone your password or an OTP.
Where
Online
Open the official page
Sources: 5, 6, 9
I have done this step
Do this now
Check that your Aadhaar, bank account and PAN are linked to your UAN (KYC).
Add any that is missing on the portal. Since April 2025 a bank account can be added without your employer's approval.
Where
Online
Fee
Free · All EPFO services are free.
Open the official page
Sources: 1, 6, 12, 4
I have done this step
Do this now
Give your new employer your UAN and the details of your old PF account.
With them, the old account can move automatically.
Where
Your new employer
Sources: 3, 1
I have done this step
Do this now
If the old account has not moved, apply on the member portal to transfer the old PF account to the new one (Form 13).
Since 15 January 2025 most transfers need no approval from the employer.
Where
Online
Fee
Free · All EPFO services are free.
Time limit
EPFO must settle a complete claim within 20 days (EPF Scheme, 2026, para 54).
Open the official page
Sources: 1, 3, 12, 6
I have done this step
Do this now
When the transfer is done, download the transfer certificate (Annexure K) from the member portal.
Check that the balance and your period of service have moved.
Where
Online
Open the official page
Sources: 13
I have done this step
Do this now
On the member portal, apply for a partial withdrawal (advance, Form 31) and choose the purpose: illness, education, marriage, a house, or special circumstances.
You need 12 months of membership (not if you are leaving the job). A quarter of all contributions, with interest, must stay in the account; you can take up to all of the rest, and at least ₹1,000. Education can be claimed up to 10 times, marriage up to 5 times, a house up to 5 times, and special circumstances up to twice a year; these counts started afresh on 29 June 2026.
Where
Online
Fee
Free · All EPFO services are free.
Time limit
EPFO must settle a complete claim within 20 days (EPF Scheme, 2026, para 54).
Open the official page
Sources: 1, 3, 6
I have done this step
Do this now
You can apply for the full amount only after you have not worked in any establishment under the Code on Social Security for 12 months in a row.
Until then you can take a partial withdrawal (advance).
Where
You do this yourself
Sources: 1
I have done this step
Do this now
Apply before you leave India: the full amount can be paid just before you leave to settle or to take up a job abroad.
Where
You do this yourself
Not confirmed: We found no official list of the proof EPFO asks for in this case (for example a visa or a job letter); call 14470 and ask before you apply.
Sources: 1
I have done this step
Do this now
If it is because you are permanently and totally unable to work: get a medical certificate.
If you have ESI, get it from your ESI dispensary doctor; if not, from the establishment's medical officer. A member with tuberculosis, leprosy or cancer (even if it began after leaving the job, but before the payment is approved) is treated as permanently and totally unable to work.
Where
Your ESI dispensary, or the establishment's medical officer
Sources: 1
I have done this step
Do this now
On the member portal, apply for the full withdrawal of your PF (Form 19).
The money is paid into your bank account.
Where
Online
Fee
Free · All EPFO services are free.
Time limit
EPFO must settle a complete claim within 20 days (EPF Scheme, 2026, para 54).
Open the official page
Sources: 1, 3, 6
I have done this step
Do this now
The pension part (EPS) has its own claim.
With less than 10 years of service, you can take the withdrawal benefit (Form 10C), or a scheme certificate instead. If you left before the age of superannuation, the withdrawal benefit is paid only 36 months after your last contribution fell due, or when you reach that age, whichever comes first. With 10 years of service or more, you get a monthly pension (Form 10D) instead.
Where
Online
Fee
Free · All EPFO services are free.
Time limit
EPFO must settle a complete claim within 20 days (EPF Scheme, 2026, para 54).
Open the official page
Sources: 2, 3
I have done this step
Do this now
Check the withdrawal or transfer and your balance in the passbook on the member portal ("Passbook Lite").
Where
Online
Open the official page
Sources: 13
I have done this step
Do this now
Ask your employer or the EPFO office for the paper claim form for what you need (withdrawal, advance or transfer).
Where
Your employer, or the EPFO office
Sources: 1, 4
I have done this step
Do this now
Fill in the form and give it to your employer.
The employer checks it, attests (signs) it and sends it to EPFO within 5 days.
Where
Your employer
Time limit
The employer must send it to EPFO within 5 days (EPF Scheme, 2026, para 54(3)).
Sources: 1
I have done this step
Do this now
If your employer will not sign, or the establishment has closed: have the form attested by the manager of the bank where you hold your account.
Write down why the employer did not sign, and give it with the form at the EPFO regional office.
Where
EPFO regional office. In Andhra Pradesh, regional offices: Visakhapatnam (Marripalem), Guntur, Kadapa, Rajamahendravaram (Morampudi) and Vijayawada (Gandhi Nagar); district offices: Nellore, Kurnool, Tirupati, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anantapur, Kakinada, Eluru, Bhimavaram, Ongole and Vijayawada (Durga Agraharam)
Fee
Free · All EPFO services are free.
Not confirmed: Which office handles your claim depends on your employer's PF code; ask your employer or 14470 which one it is.
Sources: 4, 8, 12
I have done this step

All steps done

If something goes wrong

If it is rejected

Read the reason EPFO gives; EPFO must tell you of any shortcoming in the claim within 20 days of receiving it. Fix what it names and apply again. If you think the rejection is wrong, complain on EPFiGMS with your UAN.

14470

If it is late

EPFO must settle a complete claim within 20 days. After 20 days, complain on EPFiGMS (or in the UMANG app); you get a registration number by SMS. If the complaint is pending for more than 15 days, email rc.csd@epfindia.gov.in with that number, or call 14470.

14470

If you are asked for more money

All EPFO services, such as claims, transfers, KYC and complaints, are free. Do not pay cyber cafés or agents. EPFO never asks for Aadhaar, PAN or bank details on the phone, and never asks you to pay money; never tell anyone your UAN password or an OTP. Report such calls to the local police or the cyber crime branch.

14470

Also

If PF was cut from your pay but the passbook shows no deposit, or your employer has not enrolled you: the employer must not take its own share from your wages, and you can ask the employer for the record of your contributions (Form 3-A or the ECR copy). Ask your employer first; if that does not help, complain on EPFiGMS or at the EPFO regional office.

14470

Also

If the portal and 14470 do not solve it, you can ask the helpdesk (PRO) at the EPFO office that holds your account. EPFO gives WhatsApp helpline numbers for its Andhra Pradesh offices: Guntur 0863-2344123, Kadapa 9491138297, Rajamahendravaram 9494633563, Visakhapatnam 7382396602. Never send your password, an OTP or bank details to any number.

The 15 official pages and papers this guide is written from

Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026: notification G.S.R. 525(E), 29 June 2026, under section 15(1)(a) of the Code on Social Security, 2020 (supersedes the EPF Scheme, 1952)
Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026: notification G.S.R. 527(E), 29 June 2026, under section 15(1)(b) of the Code on Social Security, 2020
EPFO Citizens'/Clients' Charter (issue date November 2022), linked from the EPFO website's 'About' menu
EPFO FAQs (General and Employee)
EPFO Unified Portal for members (Member e-Sewa): home page and notices
EPFO website, home page: 'EPFO and You', For Employees
EPFO: Contact Us (grievance redressal)
EPFO: Locate EPFO Office (state Andhra Pradesh)
EPFiGMS: EPF i-Grievance Management System, home page
EPFO WhatsApp Helpline: numbers by zone and office, linked from the Contact Us page
EPFO: International Workers (Social Security Agreements)
EPFO Urges Members to Avoid Approaching Unauthorized Agents and Use Official EPFO Portals for Free & Secure Online Services
All key services and access to Provident Fund details to be available through a single login: 'Passbook Lite'; online Annexure K
EPFO Reforms (written reply in the Rajya Sabha)
Notification S.O. 1050(E), 4 March 2021: rights of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder, under section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955