NRI PF help · Updated 28 Sep 2026

Living abroad with PF still in India? Here's what you can do online.

Much of your Indian PF can be handled online. The blockers are usually record problems: KYC not approved, an exit date missing, or OTPs going to a number you can't reach. Here's what EPFO's own pages confirm, and what you can do yourself, free.

The short answer

Likely cause: Online claims need an activated UAN with bank and Aadhaar KYC approved. From abroad, the usual blocks are unapproved KYC, a missing exit date, or OTPs going to an old number.
The fix: Check your KYC, exit dates and mobile number on the member portal first. EPFO's FAQ says Form 19, 10C and 31 can be filed online without employer attestation once KYC is approved.
Get help when: Your old employer won't act, your KYC can't be approved, or a claim keeps getting rejected and you can't visit an EPFO office.

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Is this you?

If one of these matches, you're on the right page.

You've moved abroad and PF is still sitting in India

Your last Indian job has ended and the balance is still in EPFO. You want to know what you can do online without flying back.

OTPs go to an Indian number you can't use

EPFO's online services confirm steps with an OTP on your registered mobile. If that number is switched off, everything stalls.

Your old employer never marked your exit

The job you left before moving abroad still shows no date of exit, and HR has stopped replying.

KYC isn't approved

Your bank account, Aadhaar or PAN is added on the portal but still waiting for employer approval.

A claim was rejected and you can't visit an EPFO office

The rejection remark needs a correction, and you have to do it from abroad.

You're working in a country that has a social security agreement with India

You've heard the term "International Worker" and want to know if it applies to you.

The guide

What's confirmed, and the steps in order.

Written by Shobhit Kesarwani · Updated 28 Sep 2026

What EPFO's own pages confirm

These points come from EPFO's FAQs on epfindia.gov.in. I've left out rules I can't point you to on an official page.

Online claims without employer attestation. EPFO says a member can submit three types of claims without the employer's attestation: Form 19, 10C and 31. The UAN must be activated, and the bank account and Aadhaar KYC must be approved by the employer using a digital signature.
One composite claim form. EPFO has replaced the separate forms 19, 10C and 31 with one composite claim form (Aadhaar and non-Aadhaar versions).
Settlement time. As per the EPF Scheme, a claim is required to be settled within 20 days.
KYC documents. Documents considered for KYC are the National Population Register, Aadhaar, PAN, bank account number and passport. KYC can be updated online on EPFO's UAN portal.
International Workers. EPFO's definition includes any Indian employee who has worked, or is going to work, in a foreign country with which India has a social security agreement. EPFO's FAQ also says these agreements provide for portability of pension benefits.

What you can do yourself from abroad (free, on EPFO's portal)

All of this is done on EPFO's own websites, which cost nothing. I never ask for your OTP, UAN password or bank login, and nobody else should either.

Log in to the EPFO member portal. If you've never activated your UAN, do that first. If OTPs go to a number you can't use, fix that before anything else (see UAN OTP not received).
Check your KYC under Manage → KYC. Bank, Aadhaar and PAN should show as approved. If something says "KYC Pending for Approval", the employer still has to approve it.
Check every job's date of exit under View → Service History. A missing exit date on the job you left blocks final claims. See old employer won't mark your exit.
Check your balance on the EPFO passbook. Make sure the money is where you think it is, especially if you had more than one job.
File the online claim that fits your situation from Online Services, then follow its status on the portal.
If it stalls, raise a grievance on EPFiGMS, EPFO's grievance portal. Quote your UAN, the claim ID and the exact message you see.

Who this page doesn't help

If you're a foreign national who worked in India, the International Worker rules in EPFO's FAQ are the starting point, and this page doesn't cover them in depth. If a family member has died and you're claiming as a nominee from abroad, see the death-claim guide instead. And if your question is about tax on the withdrawal in India or in your country of residence, that's a question for a tax adviser.

Sources

Do it yourself, or get help?

Most of this can be done on EPFO's portal from anywhere. Here's an honest way to decide.

You can do this yourself if…

You can receive OTPs on your registered mobile number.
Your bank, Aadhaar and PAN show as approved in KYC.
Every job you left has a date of exit.
You only need to file a claim and follow its status.

Get help if…

Your old employer has closed or stopped replying, and KYC or exit dates need their action.
A claim has been rejected more than once.
Your records have a name, date or overlap problem that needs correcting first.
You can't travel, and someone has to deal with your old employer or an EPFO office in person.

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Questions NRIs ask about PF

Can I file a PF claim online while I'm abroad?

EPFO's FAQ says a member can submit three types of claims without the employer's attestation (Form 19, 10C and 31), as long as the UAN is activated and the bank and Aadhaar KYC have been approved by the employer. Which form applies to you depends on your situation. The practical hurdle from abroad is usually receiving OTPs on your registered mobile number.

How long should EPFO take to settle a claim?

EPFO's FAQ says that, as per the EPF Scheme, a claim is required to be settled within 20 days. If yours is well past that, raise a grievance on EPFiGMS, which is free.

Is a passport accepted as a KYC document?

Yes. EPFO's FAQ lists the documents considered for KYC as the National Population Register, Aadhaar, PAN, bank account number and passport.

What is an "International Worker" in EPFO's terms?

EPFO's FAQ defines it to include any Indian employee who has worked, or is going to work, in a foreign country with which India has a social security agreement, as well as a foreign-passport holder working for a covered establishment in India. The FAQ also says social security agreements provide for portability of pension benefits. The details depend on the agreement with your country, so check before you act.

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