Labour Card Registration Online Using the e-Shram Portal – Step-by-Step Guide 2026

The e-Shram portal addresses a long-standing gap in India's social protection framework — the 38+ crore unorganised sector workers who fall outside the formal employment net had no single national identity or registration mechanism before it was launched. Understanding how to register, what benefits it provides, and how it connects to formal credit access matters for anyone in the unorganised workforce.

This page covers:

• What the e-Shram portal is and who operates it
• Who can register — eligible worker categories
• Benefits of e-Shram registration
• Documents required for registration
• How to register on the e-Shram portal, step-by-step
• How to download your e-Shram card
• How to update your e-Shram registration details
• Difference between labour card and e-Shram card
• How e-Shram registration connects to home loan eligibility

The e-Shram portal is a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW), launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in August 2021. It provides a centrally administered registration and identification system for India's vast unorganised sector workforce — construction workers, street vendors, agricultural labourers, domestic workers, migrant workers, ASHA workers, and others who are not covered under the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) or Employees' State Insurance (ESI) schemes.

Upon registration, each worker receives a 12-digit e-Shram card bearing a unique Universal Account Number (UAN) — a portable identity that remains with the worker regardless of where they work, enabling portability of welfare benefits across states and employment types.

Age requirement: 16-59 years. Workers already covered under EPF or ESI (organised sector employees) are not eligible.

• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) accident insurance: Registered workers are automatically enrolled in PMSBY, providing:
  • Rs. 2 lakh in case of accidental death or total permanent disability
  • Rs. 1 lakh in case of partial permanent disability
  • Insurance premium covered by the central government for registered workers
• Eligibility for government welfare schemes: The e-Shram database is integrated with several government welfare schemes — registered workers are identified automatically as potential beneficiaries when new schemes are launched, without needing to separately apply for each.
• Portable UAN: The 12-digit Universal Account Number serves as a unique identifier across states and employers, enabling benefit portability for migrant workers.
• Social security foundation: As the database grows, e-Shram is intended to serve as the foundation for expanded social security coverage for the unorganised workforce over time.

• Aadhaar card (mandatory — Aadhaar number and registered mobile number for OTP verification)
• Bank account details (account number and IFSC code)
• Mobile number linked to Aadhaar (for OTP)
• Occupation details and income information

1. Visit the e-Shram portal on your mobile or computer
2. Click 'Register on e-Shram' on the homepage
3. Enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and the captcha code
4. Click 'Send OTP' and enter the OTP received on your mobile
5. Enter your Aadhaar number and verify again via OTP
6. Your basic details will be auto-filled from the Aadhaar database — verify and correct if needed
7. Fill in your occupation, employment type, bank account details, and monthly income range
8. Review all entered details for accuracy
9. Submit the form
10. Your 12-digit UAN (Universal Account Number) will be generated and displayed — this is your e-Shram registration number
11. Download your e-Shram card from the portal

If you do not have internet access, registration can also be done at any Common Service Centre (CSC) near you — the CSC operator will complete the process on your behalf.

1. Visit the e-Shram portal
2. Click 'Already Registered' or navigate to the member login section
3. Enter your UAN or Aadhaar-linked mobile number
4. Verify via OTP
5. Click 'Download UAN Card' to save your e-Shram card as a PDF

If your address, occupation, bank account, or other details change, update your registration through the portal:

1. Log in using your UAN and Aadhaar-linked mobile number
2. Navigate to ‘Update Profile’
3. Edit the relevant details
4. Submit — updates reflect immediately in the national database

Some states have their own labour cards (particularly for BOCW — Building and Other Construction Workers) which continue to operate alongside the central e-Shram registration. Workers in construction should ideally be registered under both for maximum benefit access.

An e-Shram card alone is not sufficient income documentation for a home loan application — lenders require formal income proof such as bank statements, ITR filings, or salary slips. However, for unorganised sector workers, e-Shram registration establishes a formal government identity and can serve as part of a broader KYC documentation set.
 

For workers in the informal sector looking to access housing finance, Bajaj Finance offers home loans from 7.25% p.a.* with amounts up to Rs. 15 Crore* and tenures up to 32 years. Eligibility is assessed on income documentation — bank statements, ITR, or other verifiable income evidence alongside identity proof. Check your eligibility today.

The e-Shram portal represents a significant step toward bringing India's unorganised workforce into the formal social protection framework. Registration is simple, free, and takes under 10 minutes with an Aadhaar-linked mobile number.