How to Apply for a PAN Card Online in India Instant e-PAN (Free) • Protean/NSDL • UTIITSL • 2026 Rules, Fees, Documents & Status Tracking
A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a unique, 10-character alphanumeric code (e.g., ABCDE1234F) assigned to every taxpayer in India by the Income Tax Department under the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). It serves as your universal financial identity — linking all your tax payments, investments, and high-value transactions to a single record that the government can track for compliance purposes.
Under Section 272B of the Income Tax Act, failing to obtain PAN when required, or providing a false PAN, attracts a penalty of ₹10,000. Having two PAN cards simultaneously is also a criminal offence under the same section.
| What Changed | Before April 2026 | From 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Application Form | Form 49A (Indian citizens) Form 49AA (Foreign citizens) | Form 93 (Indian citizens) Form 95 (Foreign citizens) New Form 94 (specific categories) |
| Documents Required | Aadhaar alone was sufficient as identity + address + DOB proof | Aadhaar + additional document mandatory (Voter ID / Passport / Birth Certificate / Driving Licence / Class 10 Certificate) |
| Name on PAN Card | Applicant could choose how name appears (custom spelling allowed) | Name must exactly match Aadhaar records — no customisation. Mismatch may cause PAN deactivation. |
| Property PAN Threshold | PAN mandatory for property above ₹10 lakh | PAN mandatory for property above ₹20 lakh |
| Vehicle PAN Threshold | Vehicles above ₹5 lakh (some states varied) | Vehicle purchases exceeding ₹5 lakh — now standardised nationally |
| Hotel Bill PAN Threshold | No specific threshold mentioned | PAN mandatory for hotel bills above ₹1 lakh |
- Verify your name spelling, date of birth, and address in Aadhaar before applying for PAN — any mismatch now causes rejection or deactivation
- If your Aadhaar has an incorrect name or DOB, update it first at uidai.gov.in before proceeding with PAN application
- Applications filed using old Form 49A on or after April 1, 2026 will not be processed
- Existing valid PAN cards are not affected — only new applications and corrections use the new forms
- Need PAN urgently and you're an individual with Aadhaar-linked mobile? → Use Instant e-PAN (free, issued in minutes)
- Need a physical laminated PAN card delivered by post? → Use Protean or UTIITSL (₹107, 7–15 working days)
- Applying for HUF, company, firm, trust, or NRI? → Must use Protean or UTIITSL (Instant e-PAN not available)
- Want e-PAN only (no physical card) at a fee? → Choose e-PAN option on Protean/UTIITSL (₹72)
| Mode | Physical PAN (India) | e-PAN Only | Physical PAN (Foreign) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperless (e-KYC + e-sign) | ₹101 | ₹66 | ₹1,017 |
| Physical document submission | ₹107 | ₹72 | ₹1,017 |
| All fees are inclusive of GST. Base fee is ₹91 (Indian) and ₹862 (foreign) excluding GST as per official IT Dept website. | |||
📎 Proof of Identity (Any One)
- Aadhaar Card (UIDAI issued)
- Voter ID Card
- Passport
- Driving Licence
- Bank Certificate with photo (signed by branch manager)
- Arms Licence
- Pensioner card with photo
- Central/State Govt issued photo identity card
🎉 Proof of Date of Birth (Any One)
- Birth Certificate (Municipal/Gram Panchayat)
- Class 10 / Matriculation Certificate
- Passport (DOB page)
- Driving Licence
- Affidavit sworn before a Magistrate
- Central/State Govt issued certificate
- Domicile Certificate issued by Govt
🏠 Proof of Address (Any One)
- Aadhaar Card
- Voter ID Card
- Passport
- Driving Licence
- Bank Account Statement (last 3 months)
- Post Office Passbook
- Electricity/Water/Gas/Landline Bill (last 3 months)
- Property Tax receipt
📷 Other Documents (for physical card)
- 2 recent passport-size photographs (3.5cm × 2.5cm)
- Scanned signature (for digital submission)
- Active mobile number (linked to Aadhaar for OTP)
- Active email address for communications
- For Instant e-PAN: No documents needed — only Aadhaar + OTP
Your name on the PAN application must exactly match your Aadhaar card. The Income Tax Department has removed the option to print a different name on PAN. If your Aadhaar has an incorrect or outdated name, update it at uidai.gov.in → My Aadhaar → Update Aadhaar before applying. Any mismatch may result in rejection or deactivation of the issued PAN.
- Individual Indian citizen aged 18 years or above
- Must have a valid Aadhaar number from UIDAI
- Mobile number must be actively linked to Aadhaar (OTP will be sent)
- Must not already have a PAN — if PAN exists linked to Aadhaar, cannot apply again
- Not eligible: NRIs, HUFs, firms, companies, trusts, minors, representative assessees
Visit Income Tax e-Filing Portal
Go to incometax.gov.in → Scroll to "Quick Links" section on the homepage → Click "Instant e-PAN".
Select "Get New e-PAN"
On the Instant e-PAN page, click "Get New e-PAN". (If you want to check status of an existing request, click "Check Status / Download PAN".)
Enter Your 12-Digit Aadhaar Number
Type your 12-digit Aadhaar number carefully. Tick the checkbox to accept terms and conditions. Click "Continue".
Verify with Aadhaar OTP
An OTP is sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number. Enter the OTP within the time limit and click "Validate Aadhaar OTP".
Review Auto-Fetched Details
Your Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Address, and Photograph are automatically fetched from UIDAI Aadhaar database. Verify all details carefully.
Submit & Download e-PAN PDF
Confirm the details and click "Submit". Your e-PAN is generated immediately — you receive an Acknowledgement ID. Download the digitally signed PDF e-PAN from the portal. It is valid everywhere — no physical card needed for most purposes.
- e-PAN is a digitally signed PDF bearing your PAN — equally valid as a physical laminated card
- If you later want a physical laminated PAN card, you can order one from NSDL (onlineservices.nsdl.com → Reprint) for approximately ₹50
- If Aadhaar has incorrect details (name/DOB/gender), Instant e-PAN will fetch wrong data — update Aadhaar first
Visit the Protean PAN Portal
Go to onlineservices.proteantech.in/paam/endUserRegisterContact.html
Select Application Type & Form
Under "Application Type" select "New PAN – Indian Citizen (Form 93)" (from April 2026) or "New PAN – Foreign Citizen (Form 95)". Select your Category (Individual / HUF / Company / Firm etc.), title, and enter your name, date of birth, email, and mobile number. Solve CAPTCHA and click "Submit".
Note Your Token Number
A Token Number is sent to your registered email. Note it down. Click "Continue with PAN Application Form" to proceed to the detailed form.
Select Document Submission Mode
Choose one of three modes: (a) e-KYC using Aadhaar OTP — fully paperless, no documents to post; (b) e-sign using scanned images — upload scanned documents; (c) Physical submission — print and post documents to NSDL. e-KYC mode is fastest and cheapest. Also confirm if you want a physical PAN card or e-PAN only.
Fill the Complete Application Form
Enter all mandatory details: Personal details (name, DOB, gender), Contact details (address, email, mobile), AO Code (Area Code for your jurisdiction — use "Know your AO" on incometax.gov.in), Parent details, and Document details. For April 2026 onward, enter your Aadhaar number and additional document details.
Upload Documents & Photo
Upload scanned copies in JPG/PNG format, under 50KB each: Proof of Identity, Proof of Date of Birth, Proof of Address, Aadhaar Card, 2 Passport-size Photographs, Signature. Ensure files are clear and fully legible.
Pay the Application Fee
Review your application carefully, then proceed to payment. Pay ₹107 (physical card, Indian address) or ₹72 (e-PAN only) via Net Banking, UPI, Credit Card, or Debit Card through BillDesk or PayU gateway. Save the payment confirmation.
Complete e-Verification or Post Documents
If e-KYC/e-sign mode: Enter Aadhaar OTP — fully complete, no physical posting required. Your 15-digit Acknowledgement Number is generated.
If Physical mode: Print the form, affix 2 photographs, sign on the designated space, attach photocopies of all documents, and send to Income Tax PAN Services Unit, Protean eGov Technologies, 5th Floor, Mantri Sterling, Plot No. 341, Model Colony, Near Deep Bungalow Chowk, Pune – 411016 within 15 days of applying online.
Receive PAN Card
After verification, your PAN is processed. Physical card is dispatched to your registered address via India Post Speed Post within 7–15 working days. e-PAN PDF is emailed to your registered email ID. Your PAN number is also sent via SMS/email.
Visit UTIITSL Official Portal
Go to www.pan.utiitsl.com → Click "PAN Card for Indian Citizen / NRI" or "PAN Card for Foreign Citizen" tab as applicable.
Select Application Type
Click "Apply for New PAN Card (Form 93)" for Indian citizens (from April 2026). Select the mode of document submission (physical or paperless) and PAN Card mode (physical card or e-PAN only). Click "Submit". Note your Reference Number.
Fill Personal & Document Details
Enter all required information — personal details, contact information, Aadhaar number, and details of your additional supporting documents (Voter ID / Passport / Birth Certificate as applicable from April 2026 rules). Upload scanned documents and photograph.
Pay Fee & Submit
Pay ₹107 (physical + Indian address) or ₹72 (e-PAN only) via online payment. On successful payment, an Acknowledgement Slip with 15-digit number is displayed and emailed. Save or print this.
Send Documents (if Physical Mode) or Verify via Aadhaar OTP
Paperless mode: e-sign using Aadhaar OTP — no physical documents to send. Physical mode: Print acknowledgement, affix photos, sign, attach documents and send to your nearest UTIITSL office within 15 days.
| Status Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Application under process | Your application is received and being verified — no action needed |
| Application under verification at TIN-FC | Physical documents are being verified at the NSDL/UTIITSL facility |
| PAN allotted | Your PAN number has been assigned — physical card being printed |
| PAN dispatched | Physical card printed and dispatched via India Post — track with consignment number |
| Application rejected | Application rejected due to document mismatch or ineligibility — re-apply with correct documents |
| # | Common Mistake | How to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applying through a third-party agent/website paying ₹500–₹1,000 | Always use only the three official portals: incometax.gov.in, onlineservices.proteantech.in, or www.pan.utiitsl.com. The process is free/low-cost and simple to do yourself. |
| 2 | Name mismatch between PAN application and Aadhaar | Verify your Aadhaar name before applying. Update Aadhaar if incorrect. From April 2026, PAN name must exactly match Aadhaar — no exceptions. |
| 3 | Using old Form 49A on or after 1 April 2026 | Use only the new Form 93 for Indian citizens from April 2026. Old forms are rejected. |
| 4 | Applying with Aadhaar only from April 2026 | From 1 April 2026, Aadhaar alone is insufficient. Submit Aadhaar + one additional document (Voter ID / Passport / Birth Certificate / Class 10 Certificate). |
| 5 | Mobile number not linked to Aadhaar when using Instant e-PAN | Ensure your mobile number is actively registered with Aadhaar (OTP verification required). Update via UIDAI portal or Aadhaar service centre. |
| 6 | Applying for PAN when one already exists | Check if you already have a PAN at incometax.gov.in → Know Your PAN. Applying for a second PAN is illegal. |
| 7 | Sending physical documents after 15 days (if physical mode selected) | Physical documents must reach NSDL/UTIITSL within 15 days of online application. Otherwise application is cancelled. |
| 8 | Uploading blurry or oversized document scans | Upload clear, properly oriented scans in JPG/PNG, under 50KB each. Use a scanner or a well-lit mobile camera for photographs. |
| 9 | Ignoring AO Code field or entering incorrect code | Use "Know Your AO" feature on incometax.gov.in to find your correct Area Code, AO Type, Range Code, and AO Number before filling the form. |
Only incometax.gov.in, onlineservices.proteantech.in, and www.pan.utiitsl.com are officially authorised by the Government of India for PAN card services. Hundreds of fake websites mimic these portals and charge ₹500–₹2,000. Always verify the URL before entering any personal information or making payments. The IT Department has also warned against fake "e-PAN card" phishing emails — the real IT Dept only sends communications from official @incometax.gov.in domain.
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