ESIC IP Registration for New Employees: Step-by-Step Process (2026)
What the IP number actually is
The IP number, or insurance number, is the ten-digit identifier ESIC allots to an employee when the employer registers them as an Insured Person. It stays with that employee for life. If they change jobs, the new employer links the existing number rather than creating a second one — a duplicate IP number is one of the most common causes of rejected claims and blocked e-Pehchan cards.
An employee cannot create their own IP number. The ESIC IP portal is for viewing entitlements, claims and the e-Pehchan card after registration; the registration itself is done by the employer from the employer portal. If a new joiner is searching for how to “sign up”, the answer is that their employer has to do it — within ten days of the date of joining.
Every employer covered under the ESI Act must register each new eligible employee as an Insured Person (IP) on the ESIC portal within 10 days of joining. Registering the employee generates their ESIC insurance number and makes them and their family eligible for medical and cash benefits. This guide walks through the ESIC IP registration process for newly joined employees, step by step.
What is the ESIC scheme?
The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme, run by the Government of India, provides financial and medical protection to workers in case of sickness, maternity, employment injury, disablement or death due to employment. It is a contributory scheme funded by both employer and employee.
Who needs to be registered
An establishment must register under ESI once it employs 10 or more persons (in most states). Employees drawing wages up to Rs. 21,000 per month (Rs. 25,000 for employees with disability) are covered and must be registered as Insured Persons. Benefits under the scheme include medical care, sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefit, dependants benefit, funeral expenses and unemployment allowance.
Step-by-step: registering a new IP on the ESIC portal
- Open a browser and visit www.esic.in
- Click Login and enter your establishment (employer) user ID, password and the CAPTCHA
- Close any pop-up windows that appear on the dashboard
- Under the Employee section, click Register New IP
- Your employer code appears automatically
- Indicate whether the employee already has prior ESI coverage
- If yes, enter their existing insurance number and date of appointment and confirm
- If no, proceed to fill the fresh registration form
- Complete Employees’ Registration Form-1, filling all mandatory (asterisk-marked) fields using Aadhaar-verified details
- Fill the Dispensary field carefully — this decides where the employee will avail medical treatment
- Enter the nominee details, family member details and the employee’s bank account information
- Tick the Declaration checkbox
- Click Submit to register the IP
Uploading Aadhaar details in bulk
- Under the Employee column, click Bulk IP Aadhaar Upload
- Open the generated Excel template
- Enter the insured person’s name and Aadhaar number
- Save and upload the file to complete Aadhaar seeding
After registration
Once submitted, the system issues the employee’s ESIC insurance number and a Temporary Identity Certificate. Ensure the employee’s contribution is deducted and deposited every month along with the employer’s share, and file the ESI contribution returns on time. Accurate dispensary and family details at registration ensure the employee can claim medical benefits without delay.
If the ESIC portal shows a revised IP registration notice
ESIC changes the IP registration screens from time to time, and the employer portal carries a banner when it does, pointing to a user manual for the new flow. The underlying obligation does not change — the employer still registers the employee within ten days of joining, with the same particulars. What changes is the screen order and occasionally which fields are mandatory.
When you see that banner, open the user manual linked from the ESIC portal itself and work from it rather than from any third-party walkthrough, including this one. The official manual is the only version guaranteed to match the screens you are looking at on the day. Where the steps below differ from it, follow the manual.
Who is an Insured Person under ESIC?
ESI applies to employees of covered establishments earning wages up to ₹21,000 per month (₹25,000 for employees with disability). Once such an employee joins, the employer must register them under ESIC — the employee then becomes an Insured Person with a unique 10-digit IP number. Employers register their establishment and employees through the ESIC registration process.
How to download the e-Pehchan card
Log into the ESIC portal → under the employee/IP section select e-Pehchan Card → view and print the card for the Insured Person and their eligible family members.
Benefits of being an Insured Person
- Medical benefit — full medical care for the IP and dependants from day one of employment.
- Sickness benefit — cash during certified sickness, subject to contribution conditions.
- Maternity benefit — paid leave for confinement.
- Disablement and dependants’ benefit — for employment injury and to dependants in case of death due to employment injury.
Frequently asked questions
Can an employee register for ESIC themselves?
No. The covered employer registers the employee as an Insured Person; ESI is not a self-enrolment scheme.
What is the wage limit for ESI coverage?
Employees earning up to ₹21,000 per month (₹25,000 for persons with disability) are covered.
What is the e-Pehchan card?
It is the ESI identity card for the Insured Person and family, used to avail medical care at ESI dispensaries and hospitals.
Need to set up or run ESI for your team? TAXAJ handles ESIC registration and monthly ESI/PF filings. Get ESIC compliance done →
Related guides: Provident Fund registration · EPF-ESI filing · Payroll & HR
Getting ESIC registrations done without the portal fights
Most of the trouble with IP registration is not the form. It is the ten-day deadline colliding with a joiner whose Aadhaar name does not match their bank record, a previous IP number nobody knew existed, or a contribution period that has already closed. TAXAJ handles ESIC and EPF registrations and monthly compliance for employers across Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa and Bihar — including cleaning up duplicate IP numbers after the fact.
Schedule a call or message us on WhatsApp, and we will tell you in one conversation whether the registration is straightforward or needs a correction first.
Need expert help?
TAXAJ’s Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries and legal team handle this end-to-end for businesses and individuals across Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa and Bihar. Ask a question in our Community or get in touch with TAXAJ.
This guide is general information and is not a substitute for professional advice. Rules, rates and deadlines can change — verify the latest position on the relevant official portal or consult a professional before acting.
