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UEI Number Lookup: Free SAM.gov Search in 3 Steps

By Aoba Works · Published · 15 min read

How this guide was made: drafted with AI assistance from the official sources linked below, then passed an automated editorial check before publishing. Our process

To look up a UEI number for free, open SAM.gov, click Search, choose Entity Information, and type the organization's legal name, UEI or CAGE code. You don't need an account or a login. Anyone can look up a public SAM.gov record (SAM.gov Entity Information). You need a login only to register your own entity, renew it, or request a new UEI. Many guides blur the free search and the login-only steps together, so this guide treats them separately.

Which option is right for you?

Pick your row in the table below and start on the page it lists. Every option here is free, because SAM.gov doesn't charge to register or to keep your entity information up to date (SAM.gov entity registration).

Which option is right for you?. Source: Grants.gov
Your situationWhat to pick firstFirst page to openWhy
Beginner who needs a UEI for a grant form today and isn't sure one existsPublic Entity Information search by legal namesam.gov/searchNo login. It shows whether your organization already has a public record
Already registered and need the UEI or expiration date for daily workSign in, then open Entity Workspacesam.gov → Sign InYour workspace shows the record even if you opted out of public search
Never registered, and you'll apply for awards yourselfRegister Entity (the UEI is assigned along the way)sam.gov/entity-registrationYou can't apply directly for federal awards with only a UEI
Subrecipient or partner that only needs an ID on someone else's applicationGet a Unique Entity ID (UEI only)sam.gov/entity-registrationNeeds only your legal business name and physical address
Checking a vendor, partner or competitorPublic search by name, UEI or CAGE codesam.gov/searchPublic, view-only, no account
Veteran-owned business that needs to confirm its certified listingSBA Small Business Searchsearch.certifications.sba.govAccepts business name, UEI or CAGE code
On a tight budget and stuckFree counseling from a local APEX Acceleratorapexaccelerators.usNo fee for SAM.gov registration help

How to Look Up a UEI Number (Free, No Login Required)

You can look up a UEI number for free with SAM.gov's public Entity Information search. Anyone can use it, for any organization that keeps a public record, without an account. GSA's Entity Information page says the general public can search active entity registrations. Logins are only for federal users who need records that are hidden from the public.

Steps (UI labels as shown on SAM.gov at the time of writing)

  1. Go to sam.gov. Click Search in the top navigation.
  2. Under the domain selector, choose Entity Information. If you skip this step, your keyword runs against contract opportunities instead.
  3. Type one of these in the keyword box: the legal business name, the 12-character UEI, or the CAGE code. Then press Enter. GSA lists all three as searchable values (GSA bulletin, April 2022).
  4. Click the entity name in the results. The record shows the Unique Entity ID, CAGE code, registration status, expiration date and physical address (SellToState summary of SAM.gov fields).
  5. Before you copy the UEI into a form, check that the physical address matches the organization you mean.

Pitfalls and fixes

How Do I Find My Own UEI Number?

If your organization is already registered, sign in to SAM.gov and open your Entity Workspace to see your UEI. You can also search your legal name in the public search without signing in. According to GSA, every entity registered in SAM.gov, active or not, already has a UEI that "is viewable at SAM.gov" (GSA bulletin).

Option A: no login (fastest)

Use the public search steps above with your legal business name. This works only if your record is set to appear in public search.

Option B: sign in (always works for your own record)

  1. On sam.gov, click Sign In at the top right. SAM.gov uses Login.gov for sign-in, so you'll need the email address and multi-factor method you set up there (SAM.gov entity registration).
  2. After sign-in you land in Workspace. Open the Entities widget, then your Entity Workspace.
  3. Your entity shows up in a status bubble such as Active, Work in Progress, or ID Assigned (UEI only). Click the bubble, then the entity name. The UEI appears next to the legal business name (FSD Quick Start Guide for Getting a Unique Entity ID).

For example, the finance manager at a small nonprofit who needs the UEI for an SF-424 can start with Option A. If the public search comes back empty, the person who manages the SAM.gov registration can sign in and use Option B. To find out where the UEI goes on the application, see our SF-424 field-by-field guide.

Common mistake

You can't sign in, or your login doesn't show the entity. Your Login.gov account may not have a role on the entity. Only the entity administrator can grant roles. Ask that person, or file a ticket at the Federal Service Desk (FSD.gov). If you just need the number, the public search doesn't care about roles.

Where Can I Find My UEI Number If I'm Not Registered Yet?

If you've never registered, you don't have a UEI yet. SAM.gov creates one for you during either Register Entity or Get a Unique Entity ID. There's no separate application. Since , SAM.gov has generated the UEI itself, so you no longer have to get an identifier from a third-party website such as Dun & Bradstreet (GSA news release). Some older guides still say D&B issues the UEI. That's outdated.

Which path to choose

Which path to choose. Source: Grants.gov
Register EntityGet a Unique Entity ID (UEI only)
UEI assigned?YesYes
Can apply directly for federal grants and contracts?YesNo: "You cannot apply directly for federal awards"
Information requiredFull set (see SAM.gov's Entity Registration Checklist)Legal business name and physical address
RenewalEvery 365 days to stay activeNot a registration, so there's no annual renewal
Typical userPrime applicants and contractorsSubrecipients, or anyone who needs an ID now and will register later

Source for the table: SAM.gov Get Started with Registration and the Unique Entity ID.

Steps

  1. Create or sign in to your SAM.gov account through Login.gov.
  2. In Workspace, find the Entity Management widget and select Get Started.
  3. Choose Get Unique Entity ID for a UEI only, or Register Entity for full registration (FSD Quick Start Guide).
  4. Enter the legal business name and physical address exactly as they appear on official documents. SAM.gov validates both.
  5. When validation passes, the UEI appears in your Entity Workspace. A UEI-only record shows the status ID Assigned.

Pitfalls and fixes

UEI Number Lookup vs. UEN Number Lookup: What's the Difference?

A UEI and a UEN are unrelated. The UEI is the U.S. federal identifier issued by SAM.gov. The UEN is Singapore's business registration number. If you typed "uen number lookup" while trying to apply for a U.S. grant, SAM.gov is the place you want.

UEI Number Lookup vs. UEN Number Lookup: What's the Difference?. Source: Grants.gov
UEI (Unique Entity ID)UEN (Unique Entity Number)
CountryUnited StatesSingapore
Issued bySAM.gov (GSA)ACRA and other Singapore agencies
Used forFederal grants, contracts, subawardsBusiness registration and dealings with Singapore government agencies
Format12 characters, alphanumeric (GSA)9-10 characters (Harvest Accounting)
Free lookupsam.gov/searchBizfile or uen.gov.sg

One edge case: a Singapore company that wants U.S. federal awards needs a UEI as well. Its UEN doesn't replace the UEI, and SAM.gov won't accept a UEN in the UEI field.

How to Check If a UEI Number Is Valid or Active

To check a UEI, paste the 12-character code into SAM.gov's public Entity Information search. Then confirm three things: the record exists, the name and address match, and the registration status is Active. An entity keeps its UEI whether its registration is active or not (GSA bulletin), but the registration itself must be renewed every 365 days to stay active (SAM.gov). Mixing up the two is the trap that catches many first-time applicants.

Steps

  1. Count the characters. A UEI has 12 alphanumeric characters (GSA). A 9-digit number is probably an old DUNS. A 5-character code is probably a CAGE code.
  2. Search the UEI at sam.gov/search with Entity Information selected.
  3. Open the record and compare the legal business name and physical address with what the organization gave you.
  4. Read the registration status and the expiration date. Registrations must be renewed every 365 days to stay active (SAM.gov).
  5. If you're vetting a partner or subrecipient, also search their name in SAM.gov's Exclusions records, which SAM.gov search covers alongside entity records (GSA bulletin).

What the result means

What the result means. Source: Grants.gov
What you seeWhat it meansWhat to do
Active registration, details matchValid and ready for awardsUse it
Inactive or expired registrationThe UEI still exists (GSA bulletin), but the registration must be renewed to be active again (SAM.gov)The entity administrator renews in Workspace
No public recordOpted out, UEI only, or the code is wrongAsk the organization to confirm the UEI from its Workspace
Record found, but the name differsWrong UEI, or a parent or affiliate recordAsk for the UEI tied to the exact legal entity on the application

For a full walkthrough of renewal timing and status meanings, see How to Check SAM.gov Registration Status.

How to Find a Company's UEI Number (Looking Up Someone Else's Entity)

To find a company's UEI, search SAM.gov's public Entity Information by legal business name, address or CAGE code. You don't need an account, because you're searching public award and registration data, not private records. This also answers "federal uei number lookup." There's only one federal UEI system, and SAM.gov is where it lives.

Steps

  1. At sam.gov/search, select Entity Information.
  2. Search the legal name. If it's a common name, narrow the results with the location filters (state, ZIP) in the left panel.
  3. If you have a CAGE code from a past contract or a proposal, search that instead, since it leads to a single record.
  4. Open the record and copy the UEI.

Example

Say a university researcher is putting together a proposal with a small engineering subcontractor named "Example Fabrication LLC" (an illustrative name). They search that name, see two records in different states, and pick the one whose physical address matches the subcontractor's letterhead. Then they ask the subcontractor to confirm the UEI by email before it goes into the budget justification.

When SAM.gov comes up empty

DUNS Number vs. UEI: How to Find Your UEI If You Only Have a DUNS

You can't turn a DUNS into a UEI with a lookup, because SAM.gov stopped accepting DUNS searches on . Search your legal business name instead, or sign in to your existing account. Entities that were registered at the transition were assigned a UEI, and GSA states that every registered entity, active or not, has a UEI viewable at SAM.gov (GSA bulletin).

Official facts (as of October 2026)

Steps

  1. Find the legal business name and physical address you used back when you had a DUNS.
  2. Search that name at sam.gov/search under Entity Information.
  3. If nothing appears, sign in with the Login.gov account tied to your old registration and open Entity Workspace.
  4. If you can't get into the old account at all, open a ticket at FSD.gov. Don't start a new registration. That can create a duplicate entity that you'd have to untangle later.

Pitfalls

How to Look Up a VA (Veteran-Owned Business) UEI Number

A veteran-owned business has the same SAM.gov UEI as every other entity, so look it up in SAM.gov's public search first. To confirm the certified VOSB or SDVOSB listing, use SBA's Small Business Search. VetBiz no longer does this job. The plan many older guides follow points to VA's VetBiz/VIP database, but SBA took over veteran certification under the FY2021 NDAA and opened its VetCert application portal on (Federal News Network).

Steps

  1. UEI: search the business name at sam.gov/search under Entity Information. Or, if it's your business, sign in and read it from Entity Workspace.
  2. Certification status: VA's small business office tells contracting officers and firms to use SBA's small business search database as the official place to verify certification (VA OSDBU). On , that database moved from DSBS to the new Small Business Search at search.certifications.sba.gov (SmallGovCon).
  3. Search by business name, UEI or CAGE code, and check that the SDVOSB or VOSB designation appears on the profile.

Pitfalls

Next steps

Today, do the search that matches your situation, then fix whatever it shows.

Do it yourself today:

  1. Search your legal business name at sam.gov/search under Entity Information, and write down the UEI and expiration date.
  2. If the expiration date is within 60 days, or the status isn't Active, sign in and start the renewal. Registrations lapse after 365 days (SAM.gov). To read each status label (Active, Submitted, Work in Progress), use our SAM.gov registration status guide.
  3. If you have no record at all, choose Register Entity if you'll apply yourself, or Get Unique Entity ID if you'll only be a subrecipient. Have the legal name and physical address ready.

If you'd rather not do it yourself:

Related guides on this site:

FAQ

How do I find my UEI number?

Search your legal business name at sam.gov/search with Entity Information selected. If your record doesn't appear, sign in and open Entity Workspace. Every entity that has registered in SAM.gov, active or not, has a UEI visible there. If you've never registered, you don't have one yet.

Where can I find my UEI number?

You'll find it on your public SAM.gov entity record and in your signed-in Entity Workspace. It also appears on federal award documents and past applications such as the SF-424. If you've never registered, SAM.gov issues one through Register Entity or Get Unique Entity ID.

Is UEI number lookup free?

Yes. The SAM.gov public search costs nothing, and so do getting a UEI and registering. Paid lookup or registration sites charge for data and services the government provides at no cost.

Does a UEI number lookup require a SAM.gov login?

No, as long as the record is public. Anyone can search by name, UEI or CAGE code without signing in. A login is needed only to manage your own entity, and federal users need one to see records that opted out of public search.

How is a UEI different from a DUNS number?

A DUNS was a 9-digit number from Dun & Bradstreet. A UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric ID that SAM.gov generates. The federal government switched to the UEI on , and you can no longer search SAM.gov by DUNS.

Sources

Spotted something out of date or wrong? Tell us at shigoto.ai.note@gmail.com. Guides are re-checked against official sources on a rolling schedule.

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