How to Get a UEI (Unique Entity ID)

If you are setting up to do business with the federal government, one of the first things you will need is a Unique Entity ID, or UEI. It is the number that identifies your business across the federal system, and you cannot register to win contracts without it. The good news: getting a UEI is free, it is done entirely on one government website, and this guide walks you through exactly how it works.

What a UEI is

The Unique Entity ID is a 12-character alphanumeric identifier the federal government assigns to your business. It is how agencies, contracts, and payment systems recognize your entity. In April 2022, the UEI replaced the old DUNS number that businesses used to obtain from Dun & Bradstreet — the government brought entity identification in-house, so today your UEI is issued directly through SAM.gov at no cost. If you have heard older advice about getting a DUNS number first, that step no longer exists.

Where you get it: SAM.gov

A UEI is requested and assigned at SAM.gov, the System for Award Management — the same site where you complete your full contractor registration. There is no separate agency, no third-party service, and no fee. Be cautious of any website that offers to “get your UEI” for a charge; the number is free directly from the government. SAM.gov is the only official source.

Two paths: UEI only, or full registration

SAM.gov offers two options depending on your goal. You can request a UEI only, which simply assigns the identifier — useful if you just need the number for a grant application or to be identified. Or you can request a UEI as part of completing your full entity registration, which is what you need if you intend to bid on and receive federal contracts. Most contractors want the full registration, and the UEI is assigned as part of that process. Our SAM.gov registration guide covers the complete registration in detail.

What you need before you start

To get a UEI you need your legal business name and physical address exactly as they appear in official records, and a free Login.gov account to access SAM.gov. The address and name you enter must match your records precisely, because SAM.gov runs an entity validation check against third-party data to confirm your business is real and that you are who you say you are. Having your formation documents or a utility bill or bank statement handy helps if validation asks you to prove your details.

Step by step

The process is straightforward: create or sign in with your Login.gov account, go to SAM.gov, and start the “Get Started” or entity registration workflow. Enter your legal business name and physical address, complete the entity validation step to confirm your information, and SAM.gov assigns your UEI. If you are only requesting the UEI, you are done at this point; if you are registering fully, you continue into the rest of the registration. Always confirm the current steps on SAM.gov itself, since the government periodically updates the interface.

The entity validation snag

The single most common holdup in getting a UEI is entity validation. If the name or address you enter does not exactly match the data SAM.gov checks against, validation fails and you have to submit documentation to prove your business details. This is normal — it is the government’s fraud-prevention step — but it can add days. Avoid it by entering your information exactly as it appears on your business formation documents and IRS records, with no abbreviations or variations.

Keeping your UEI active

Your UEI itself does not expire, but if you are using it for contracting it lives inside your SAM.gov registration, and that registration must be renewed every year to stay active. A UEI attached to an expired registration will not let you receive awards. Once you have your number, set a reminder to keep the underlying registration current — see our guide to SAM.gov registration for the full lifecycle.

UEI, CAGE, and TIN: how the identifiers fit together

New contractors often confuse the federal identifiers, so it helps to see how they relate. Your UEI identifies your entity across the entire federal government and is the master key for contracting and payments. Your CAGE code, assigned automatically during the same SAM.gov registration, identifies a specific business location and is used heavily in defense and logistics. Your TIN or EIN is your IRS taxpayer number, which SAM.gov checks to confirm your legal identity. You do not choose between them — a full registration ties all three together: you bring your TIN, SAM.gov assigns your UEI, and the Defense Logistics Agency issues your CAGE code. Knowing which is which saves real confusion later, because proposals and agency forms will sometimes ask for one specific identifier and you need to know exactly what they want.

If your UEI request is rejected

If entity validation rejects your information, do not panic and do not create a second entity — duplicate entities cause bigger headaches than the original problem. Instead, work the validation process: SAM.gov will let you submit documentation (such as formation papers or a recent utility bill or bank statement) that proves your legal business name and physical address. Match those documents to what you entered, submit them, and wait for the review. Most rejections come down to a small mismatch, and once your documentation clears, your UEI is assigned normally.

Get help if you want it

Getting a UEI is simple, but it is the first link in a registration chain where small errors cause real delays. If you would rather have it done right the first time — UEI, full SAM.gov registration, codes, and certifications handled together — Veteran Forge Strategies helps small and veteran-owned businesses set up cleanly so you can get to bidding faster.

Key takeaways

• The UEI is a free 12-character federal identifier that replaced the DUNS number in April 2022.
• You get it only at SAM.gov — never pay a third party for it.
• You can request a UEI alone or as part of a full registration; contractors need the full registration.
• Enter your legal name and address exactly to pass entity validation.
• The UEI does not expire, but the SAM.gov registration around it must be renewed yearly.

Frequently asked questions

Is a UEI free? Yes — it is issued at no cost through SAM.gov. Avoid any site that charges for it.

Do I still need a DUNS number? No. The UEI replaced the DUNS number in April 2022; entity identification is now handled entirely within SAM.gov.

How long does it take to get a UEI? Often quickly, but if entity validation requires documentation it can take several business days.