ESIC IP Card and e-Pehchan 2026: Complete Guide to Insurance Permanent Number, Download, Usage and Benefits

The ESIC e-Pehchan Card: Your Key to Cashless Medical Treatment

The ESIC e-Pehchan (meaning "identity" in Hindi) card is the digital insurance card issued to every insured person under the ESIC scheme. Containing a unique 17-digit Insurance Permanent (IP) number, the e-Pehchan card is the gateway to accessing ESIC medical facilities, cashless treatment, and all other ESIC benefits. Without this card, an insured person cannot receive treatment at ESIC hospitals or empanelled facilities — making it one of the most important documents for employees covered under the scheme.

Since the abolition of the physical photo-card in 2017, ESIC has moved to a fully digital e-Pehchan system. The card is generated automatically by the ESIC portal when an employer registers an employee and submits the first contribution. The e-Pehchan card can be downloaded from the ESIC employer portal by the employer or directly by the employee through the ESIC portal. This guide explains everything about the e-Pehchan card — how it is generated, how to download it, what to do if it is lost, and how to use it for cashless medical treatment. For an overview of all ESIC benefits, read our ESIC Complete Guide. For contribution calculations, use our ESIC Calculator.

What is an ESIC IP Number?

The Insurance Permanent (IP) number is a unique 17-digit identifier assigned to each insured person under the ESIC scheme. The IP number format typically is: XX-XXXXXX-XXX-XXXXX (e.g., 51-123456-001-12345). The components of the IP number represent: the first 2 digits indicate the ESIC regional office code, the next 6 digits indicate the employer code, the next 3 digits indicate the sub-code or establishment unit, and the last 5 digits are the unique employee identification number within that employer code. The IP number stays with the employee for life across job changes, making it portable — similar to how the UAN works for EPF. When changing jobs, the employee provides their IP number to the new employer, who links it to their new ESIC code.

How to Download Your ESIC e-Pehchan Card

There are two methods to download the e-Pehchan card:

Method 1 — Through your employer (easiest): The employer can download the e-Pehchan card from the ESIC employer portal and share it with you. Simply ask your HR or payroll team to provide your e-Pehchan card. Employers are required to issue the e-Pehchan card to every employee at the time of registration.

Method 2 — Self-service through ESIC portal: Visit the ESIC employer portal at esic.in and click on "Know Your IP Number." Enter your employer code (available from your HR), date of birth (as registered), and name as per the ESIC records. Click "Search." Your IP number and basic details are displayed. For a more detailed process, read our ESIC Complete Guide which includes step-by-step instructions with portal navigation tips.

Important: If you are unable to find your IP number through either method, your employer may not have registered you on the ESIC portal, or your details may have been entered incorrectly. Contact your HR or payroll team immediately to resolve this.

How to Use the e-Pehchan Card for Medical Treatment

To access cashless medical treatment at ESIC facilities, follow these steps:

Keep your e-Pehchan card handy: Store a digital copy on your phone (PDF or screenshot) and keep a printed copy as backup. The QR code on the card contains your IP number and other details needed for registration at ESIC facilities.
Visit an ESIC dispensary or hospital: Present your e-Pehchan card (digital or printed) along with a government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, voter ID, driving licence) at the registration counter.
Receive treatment: After registration, consult the doctor, undergo diagnostic tests, receive medicines from the pharmacy, or get admitted for inpatient care — all entirely free of charge, with no bills or co-payment.
For family members: Your spouse, children (up to age 25), and dependent parents are also covered under your IP number. When they visit an ESIC facility, they need to quote your IP number and provide their own identity proof.
For treatment at empanelled private hospitals: In areas where ESIC facilities are not available, treatment at empanelled hospitals is also cashless — the hospital verifies your IP number online and bills ESIC directly.

What to Do If Your e-Pehchan Card is Lost or Damaged

Since the e-Pehchan is a digital document, losing it is not a disaster — it can be re-downloaded anytime. However, if you have lost access to your IP number and cannot download the card, follow these steps:

Ask your employer: Your current employer can re-download your e-Pehchan card from the ESIC employer portal in minutes. This is the fastest method.
Check the ESIC portal: The "Know Your IP Number" feature on the ESIC employer portal can retrieve your IP number using your employer code, date of birth, and name. If you remember your previous employer's code, you can retrieve it through them as well.
Contact ESIC branch office: Visit the nearest ESIC branch office with your Aadhaar card and a letter from your current employer confirming your employment. The branch office can issue a duplicate e-Pehchan card. Processing time: 1-2 working days.
Prevention: Save your e-Pehchan card as a PDF in cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud) and email a copy to yourself. This ensures you can access it anytime, anywhere — even if your phone is lost.

e-Pehchan Card for Family Members: Coverage and Access

The ESIC IP number covers not just the employee but also dependent family members. Understanding the coverage scope helps families fully utilise the benefit:

Spouse: Fully covered for all medical benefits — OP, IP, maternity, and all cash benefits. The spouse can visit ESIC facilities quoting the employee's IP number with their own ID proof.
Children: Legitimate and adopted children are covered until they attain age 25 (no upper age limit for physically or mentally disabled children). Children's pension and educational benefits apply.
Dependent parents: Parents who are wholly dependent on the insured person are also covered for medical benefits. However, proof of dependency may be required at the time of registration at the ESIC facility.
Family pension after death: In case of the insured person's death due to employment injury, the spouse receives dependent benefit (90% of wages) for life, and children receive pension until age 25. For more details, read our ESIC Death and Disability Benefits Guide.

📊 Verify Your ESIC Contribution Records

Use our ESIC Calculator to verify that your employer is depositing the correct contributions. Accurate contributions ensure uninterrupted medical coverage for you and your family.

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Need Help with ESIC e-Pehchan?

GHR Consultancy assists Kerala employers with ESIC employee enrolment, e-Pehchan card generation, and IP number management. If you are an employee facing difficulty accessing your e-Pehchan card, contact your employer's HR team or reach out to us for guidance. Explore ESIC services or contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions About Esic Ip Card E Pehchan

In this section, we address the most common questions that employers and employees have regarding this topic. These FAQs are based on actual queries received by GHR Consultancy from Kerala businesses over our 30+ years of operation. Understanding these practical concerns helps you apply the statutory requirements correctly in real-world situations.

Q1: What is the fastest way to resolve issues with this process?
The most efficient approach depends on the nature of the issue you are facing. In most cases, contacting your employer HR department or payroll team should be the first step, as many hold-ups are caused by employer-side delays in approvals, verifications, or document submissions. If the employer is unresponsive, the next step is to file a formal online grievance through the respective government portal — such as EPFiGMS for EPFO-related issues. For urgent matters involving medical benefits or claim processing delays, visiting the local branch office or regional office in person can often expedite resolution.

Q2: Can this be done online without visiting a government office?
Yes, most statutory compliance transactions can now be completed entirely online through dedicated government portals. The EPFO UAN Portal, ESIC Employer Portal, Shram Suvidha Portal, and Kerala Labour Commissionerate Portal all provide end-to-end digital services for registration, contribution filing, return submission, and status tracking. Physical office visits are generally only required for certain grievances that remain unresolved online, for document verification where digital signatures are not available, or for specific cases where the online system cannot process due to legacy data issues.

Q3: What happens if a deadline is missed due to technical issues?
Government portals do experience occasional downtime, particularly during high-volume periods near the 15th of the month. If a technical issue prevents timely filing, employers should immediately document the issue with screenshots, contact the portal helpdesk to obtain a complaint or ticket number, and file as soon as the system is restored. In some cases, the authorities may waive late fees if the technical issue is documented. However, the general principle is that the employer bears the responsibility for ensuring timely compliance — proactive planning with buffer of 2-3 days before each deadline is recommended.

Q4: How does this apply to small businesses with limited HR staff?
For small businesses in Kerala with 5-20 employees, managing multiple statutory compliance deadlines can be challenging without dedicated HR staff. Practical solutions include using cloud-based payroll software that automates statutory calculations and generates ready-to-upload compliance files, setting up automated calendar alerts 5 days before each compliance deadline, and considering outsourced compliance management from professional firms like GHR Consultancy. Our small business compliance packages start at affordable monthly rates and cover EPF, ESIC, PT, LWF, and Shop Act compliance. Many small businesses find that outsourcing costs less than the value of management time spent on compliance.

Q5: Are there any recent changes in 2026 that affect this process?
Government regulations and portal features are updated periodically. For the latest updates, employers should monitor official communications from the respective authorities, subscribe to compliance newsletters from professional consultants, and attend industry association workshops on statutory compliance. GHR Consultancy provides regular updates to our clients through our newsletter and blog articles. We recommend reviewing your compliance processes at least annually to ensure they remain current with the latest regulatory requirements and portal changes.

Expert Tips for Kerala Employers

Based on our extensive experience assisting Kerala businesses across all 14 districts, here are key practical tips: Maintain organized digital records of all compliance documents sorted by financial year and statute. Invest in good payroll software that generates compliance-ready reports with one click. Build a relationship with your local EPFO and ESIC branch offices — prompt responses to questions can prevent small issues from becoming major problems. Train at least two staff members on each compliance process to avoid single-point dependency. Conduct a half-yearly internal compliance review to identify and correct any gaps before they attract regulatory attention.

GHR Consultancy is available to assist with any aspect of your compliance management. Our team based in Kottayam serves clients throughout Kerala with personalized, responsive service. Contact us for a free initial consultation to discuss your compliance needs.

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How GHR Consultancy Can Help

Navigating the complexities of statutory compliance in Kerala requires expertise, experience, and a thorough understanding of both central and state labour laws. At GHR Consultancy, we have been serving Kerala businesses since our establishment, providing comprehensive compliance management services that give you peace of mind and let you focus on your core business operations.

Our services include end-to-end EPF and ESIC compliance management, including monthly ECR preparation and filing, DSC management, PF and ESIC return filing, and compliance calendar management. We also handle Labour Welfare Fund registration and monthly contribution filing, Professional Tax registration and filing, Kerala Shops & Establishments registration and renewals, and factory-related compliance under the Factories Act. For businesses looking to build internal capability, we offer compliance audits, due diligence reviews, and staff training programs.

What sets us apart is our personalised approach — we assign a dedicated compliance officer to each client, ensuring continuity and accountability. Our team is based in Kottayam and we serve clients across all 14 districts of Kerala. We keep our clients informed of regulatory changes that affect their business, and we proactively manage all compliance deadlines so our clients never miss a filing date.

Contact us today for a free initial consultation. We will review your current compliance status, identify any gaps or risks, and provide a no-obligation proposal for our services. Let GHR Consultancy be your trusted partner in Kerala labour law compliance.