At a glance
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Old system | Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum, launched September 2015, 12-digit number |
| Current system | Udyam registration, portal launched 1 July 2020 |
| Udyam number format | 19 characters, UDYAM-XX-00-0000000 |
| Is UAM still valid? | No. It is not accepted as current MSME proof |
| What is required | A fresh Udyam registration |
| Cost | Zero government fee |
| Regikart fee | Udyam registration from Rs 499 plus GST. Migration on quote |
The two numbers are not the same thing
This is where most of the confusion sits. Udyog Aadhaar issued a 12-digit memorandum number. Udyam issues a 19-character Udyam Registration Number in the format UDYAM-XX-00-0000000, where XX is the state code.
A lot of published content, including content from otherwise reliable sources, still describes the Udyam number as 12 digits. It is not. If the number on your file is 12 digits, you are holding a Udyog Aadhaar number and you have not migrated.
GeM seller onboarding and MSME-reserved procurement categories
- A Section 18 reference to a state facilitation council, where the buyer can argue no valid registration existed on the date of supply
State subsidy and incentive claims processed through the District Industries Centre
- Vendor onboarding with large buyers, who now collect Udyam numbers because their own tax deduction depends on supplier status
How the migration works
Confirm what you actually hold. A 12-digit number is Udyog Aadhaar. A 19-character UDYAM number means you are already migrated.
Gather the current position: Aadhaar of the proprietor, managing partner, karta or authorised signatory with the linked mobile, PAN of the enterprise, GSTIN where applicable, and bank details.
Compute the composite classification from the last filed income tax return and GST returns. Your category today is very unlikely to be what it was when the UAM was issued.
Register afresh on the Udyam portal as a new registration. This is not a renewal or a conversion form.
Check for duplicates. If someone in the business already filed a Udyam registration against the same PAN, you will have two, and one must be cancelled.
File the new certificate everywhere the old number was quoted, including with banks and large buyers.
The duplicate problem
One PAN supports exactly one Udyam Registration Number. In practice we frequently find that a partner, an accountant and a consultant each filed separately over the years, leaving two or three registrations against the same PAN.
Duplicates are a routine reason for CGTMSE and state subsidy applications being returned. They need to be identified and cancelled on the portal, keeping the registration with the correct activity codes and address.
Can I convert my Udyog Aadhaar to Udyam?
There is no conversion form. You register afresh on the Udyam portal and receive a new 19-character Udyam Registration Number. The old Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum number is simply superseded and should be withdrawn from circulation in your documents. Treat it as a fresh registration rather than an administrative formality, because your composite classification today is very unlikely to match what it was when the Udyog Aadhaar number was issued.
Will I lose my old registration date?
The Udyam certificate records the date of incorporation or commencement of business separately from the date of Udyam registration, so the age of the enterprise is preserved on the certificate even though the registration date is new. Banks and procurement platforms generally read the commencement date when assessing vintage, so an established business is not disadvantaged by registering afresh on the Udyam portal.
How do I know if I am already migrated?
Check the length and format of the number. A 19-character number beginning UDYAM is a Udyam Registration Number. A 12-digit number is a Udyog Aadhaar Memorandum number and needs to be replaced. A good deal of published content, including from otherwise reliable sources, still incorrectly describes the Udyam number as 12 digits, so check the format on the certificate itself rather than trusting a description.
Does migration cost anything?
There is no government fee for Udyam registration, updating or cancellation. Regikart quotes for a migration based on the classification work and duplicate cleanup needed, and a straightforward new Udyam registration starts from Rs 499 plus GST. It also covers checking whether more than one registration already exists against your PAN, which is a common finding and needs to be cleaned up before lenders or scheme administrators query it.
What if two Udyam numbers exist for my business?
One must be cancelled. A single PAN supports one Udyam Registration Number, and additional units are recorded as branches inside it. Keep the registration carrying the correct activity codes and address, and cancel the other on the portal. Cancelling the surplus registration on the portal is free, and doing it proactively avoids a lender or subsidy administrator raising the discrepancy at a point where timing matters.
About the author
CA & CS Team
Regikart at Regikart. Want to discuss this in the context of your business?