How to Add a Nominee to a PF Account Online?

In Summary

To add a nominee to a PF account, log in to the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal using your Universal Account Number (UAN) and password. Open the Manage section, select E-Nomination, review your profile and enter the required family and nominee details. If you nominate more than one person, specify each nominee’s share as required by the portal. Save the nomination and complete the Aadhaar-based e-signing process.

Before starting, make sure your UAN is active, your profile information is accurate and you can access the mobile number linked to Aadhaar for authentication. Saving the form alone may not complete the process, so check that e-signing is successful and the nomination has been registered.

Keep the following points in mind:

• Nominee eligibility: The applicable rules depend on your family circumstances and the relevant EPF provisions.
• Multiple nominees: Enter each nominee’s details and allocate shares as required by the portal.
• Different benefits: EPF, Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) and Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) benefits do not necessarily follow identical nomination rules.
• Final confirmation: Check the official EPFO portal to confirm that your nomination has been submitted and registered successfully.

Follow these steps to submit an EPF e-nomination. The wording and order of options may vary if EPFO updates the portal.

Step 1: Open the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal

Visit the official EPFO Member Portal. Log in using your UAN, password and the security verification displayed on the page.

Use the official EPFO website rather than links received from unknown callers or messages.

Step 2: Open the e-nomination section

After logging in, go to Manage and select E-Nomination.

Review the personal information displayed in your profile. If any required information is missing or incorrect, follow the portal’s instructions to update it before proceeding.

Step 3: Review your family declaration

The portal asks you to provide or confirm your family declaration. Answer according to your circumstances and the definitions applicable under the scheme.

This step matters because nominee eligibility depends on whether you have a family as defined by the applicable EPF rules. Do not select an answer simply to make a preferred person eligible; follow the portal instructions.

Step 4: Enter the nominee’s details

Add the required information for each eligible nominee. Depending on the portal’s current requirements and your circumstances, you may need details such as:

• Name and date of birth
• Relationship with the EPF member
• Aadhaar details
• Address
• Photograph
• Guardian details if the nominee is a minor

Enter the information accurately and check that it matches the relevant records. Provide bank details if the portal requests them for the process you are completing.

Step 5: Allocate the nominee shares

If you nominate more than one person, enter the share for each nominee as required by the portal.

Example: Suppose the nomination form allows you to divide the eligible EPF amount between two nominees, and you choose a 60:40 split. If the eligible amount were Rs. 2,00,000, the illustrative allocation would be Rs. 1,20,000 and Rs. 80,000 respectively.

This is only an example of percentage allocation, not a calculation of the actual claim payable. The final amount and eligibility depend on the account balance, scheme rules and claim circumstances. Check that the shares entered in the portal satisfy its validation rules.

Step 6: Save the nomination

Review the family and nominee information, including the shares, and select the option to save the EPF nomination.

Saving the information is not necessarily the final step. Continue to the e-signing stage.

Step 7: Complete Aadhaar-based e-signing

Select the e-sign option shown by the portal. Follow the on-screen instructions to authenticate using Aadhaar and the one-time password (OTP) sent to the mobile number linked to Aadhaar.

Do not share your OTP with anyone. Enter it only on the official portal when you initiate the authentication yourself.

Step 8: Confirm that the nomination is registered

After completing the e-signing process, check the portal to confirm that the nomination has been submitted and registered successfully. If the nomination remains pending, follow the status or error message displayed by EPFO rather than assuming the process is complete.

You can return to the portal to review or update your nomination when your circumstances change.

Nominee eligibility is governed by the applicable EPF rules and the member’s family circumstances.

In general, a member who has a family under the scheme must nominate eligible family member or members as prescribed. A person who does not have a family under the applicable definition may be permitted to nominate another person. The nomination may need to be changed if the member subsequently acquires a family.

The definition of family is scheme-specific. Do not assume that every relative is automatically eligible or that the same rules apply to EPF, EDLI and EPS.

If you are uncertain about whether a particular person can be nominated, check the instructions on the official EPFO portal or seek clarification from EPFO before submitting the form.

EPFO’s current member portal states that filing nominations is mandatory under the EPF Scheme, 2026. Members can file or update e-nominations during their service period.

Keeping nomination details current can also help make the claim process clearer for family members. If you have not filed a nomination, or your family circumstances have changed, check your account on the official portal and complete the applicable proc

These schemes are related but serve different purposes:

• EPF: The provident fund account holds eligible contributions and interest in accordance with the scheme. Nomination rules govern who may claim the amount following a member’s death.
• EDLI: The Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme provides insurance benefits subject to its conditions. EPFO information states that EPF nominations also apply to EDLI under the relevant rules.
• EPS: The Employees’ Pension Scheme provides pension benefits according to its own eligibility and family provisions. A nominee should not assume that an EPF nomination automatically entitles them to receive every pension benefit.

For a death-related claim, check the specific benefit being claimed and the applicable EPFO process. Nomination alone does not guarantee that every benefit will be payable to the same person.

Review your nomination when your family circumstances change, such as after marriage, the birth or adoption of a child, or another change that may affect nominee eligibility.

You should also review the record if a nominee’s personal details change or if you want to revise the allocation among eligible nominees. Follow the current portal process and complete the required e-signing again when submitting a new or revised nomination.

Do not assume an older nomination remains valid in every circumstance. The applicable rules determine whether it continues to operate.

If you cannot submit or e-sign the nomination, use the following checks:

1. Check your profile: Confirm that the required member details are present and accurate.
2. Check Aadhaar authentication: Ensure you can access the mobile number linked to Aadhaar and receive the OTP.
3. Review nominee details: Correct spelling, date-of-birth or other mismatches where necessary.
4. Read the portal message: Follow the specific error or pending-status instructions rather than repeatedly submitting the same form.
5. Contact EPFO if needed: Use the official EPFO website or its published helpdesk channels for assistance.

Never give your UAN password, Aadhaar OTP or other authentication details to an unsolicited caller claiming to help with e-nomination.

Adding or updating an EPF nominee is an important account-maintenance task. Review your member profile, follow the family declaration rules, enter accurate nominee details, allocate shares where applicable and complete Aadhaar-based e-signing. Finally, confirm that the nomination has been registered.

Because eligibility and benefit rules differ across EPF, EDLI and EPS, check the relevant scheme provisions and current EPFO instructions if your family circumstances are unusual or you are unsure who can be nominated.