Both are SIVI standards in the pension domain, but they connect different links: UPA runs between employer (payroll) and pension provider; VB-PUO between pension provider and asset-management chain.
Similarities
Both are based on SIVI AFS's AFD data model, work with code lists from the same catalogue (AFDIDP for the pension provider) and have an annual release cycle.
Differences
UPA contains personal data at participant level (salary, employment); VB-PUO deliberately not, the cohort is the lowest level. UPA is XML-based with a long history; VB-PUO is JSON over REST since 2023.
Our advice
Whoever implements both shares the code lists and the governance, but not the messages.
Attribution. Source: SIVI – VB-PUO Standard. Schemas, attribute descriptions and code lists are taken unchanged from the VB-PUO Standard (owned by the Pensioenfederatie, managed by SIVI) and shown with their release and version. Explanations, examples, error descriptions and translations are by WTP Data Lab and are not part of the standard. GitHub Stichting-SIVI/VBPUOdsk · Manual · sivi.org
