PAN Card
1. Issued By & Official Portals
Protean (NSDL) & UTIITSL
NSDL and UTI are two government-authorized intermediaries appointed by the Income Tax Department of India to process PAN (Permanent Account Number) card applications and related services. You can apply for a PAN card from either portal — there is no difference in official government fees, processing priority, or card validity and usage. Important: Once you choose between them, all your future PAN services (such as reprint of physical card, details correction, and e-PAN downloads) will be delivered and serviced by that same service provider.
2. Why It Is Required
A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a ten-digit alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It is mandatory for financial transactions, filing income tax returns, and opening bank accounts.
3. Who Is Eligible
- Any Indian citizen (Individual, Minor, Adult)
- Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and foreign citizens earning income in India
- Companies, LLPs, Partnerships, Trusts, and HUFs
Minor vs Major PAN Card (Differences & 18+ Conversion)
A minor PAN card is issued to individuals under the age of 18 and lacks a personal photograph and signature, whereas a major PAN card is for adults aged 18 and above and features the holder's photo and signature.
Both cards share the exact same 10-digit alphanumeric Permanent Account Number (PAN), which remains valid for the holder's entire lifetime.
Key Differences
Issued to children and teenagers under 18 years old.
Issued or updated for adult individuals aged 18 years and older.
Does not show the child's photo or signature; it uses the parent's or legal guardian's signature instead.
Displays the applicant's official passport-size photo and clear specimen signature.
Cannot be used independently to sign tax returns, open standalone demat accounts, or enter financial contracts.
Full legal validity for filing personal ITR, independent bank accounts, loans, and demat trading.
Valid until the minor turns 18 years old.
Valid for lifetime once converted to major PAN card.
A minor can convert their PAN card to a major PAN card upon completing 18 years of age by submitting a PAN data update/correction form (Form 49A / Correction) to add their adult photograph and personal signature.
4. Official Application Fees & Timeline
Official Fee Breakdown
Official government fee including GST & postal speed post delivery across India.
Standard DeliveryDigitally signed e-PAN delivered directly to your email address.
Digital OnlyIncludes international air dispatch and customs handling to overseas address.
NRI / InternationalEstimated Processing Timeline
Available for instant download upon successful Aadhaar OTP verification.
Verified by NSDL (Protean) / UTIITSL back-office teams.
Printed and dispatched by India Post to your communication address.
Government fee is uniform across both official portals (Protean / UTIITSL). Zero hidden charges.
5. Documents Required
6. Prepare Your Documents (Auto-Fix Studio)
Auto-crop your photograph, resize your signature to exact pixel and DPI specs, and convert identity proofs into compliant A4 PDFs under portal size limits.
7. Full Application Guide & Specifications
Official Application Steps
Choose Authorized Portal
Visit either Protean (formerly NSDL) or UTIITSL official portal. Both charge identical government fees.
Select Application Type
Choose Form 49A for New PAN (Indian Citizens) or Changes/Correction in existing PAN data.
Fill Demographic Details
Enter full name, parent details, date of birth, mobile number, and email. Ensure spelling matches Aadhaar exactly.
Upload Photo, Sign & Proofs
Upload 300 DPI photo (under 50KB), signature (under 50KB), and combined proof PDF (under 300KB).
Pay Nominal Government Fee
Pay ₹107 (for physical card in India) or ₹72 (for digital e-PAN only) via Netbanking, UPI, or Card.
Complete e-Sign & Download Ack
Authenticate using Aadhaar OTP e-Sign. Note the 15-digit acknowledgement number for tracking.
Technical Upload Specifications
Size: Max 50 KB
Dimensions: 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm (300 DPI)
Background: White or light background
Size: Max 50 KB
Ink: Black / Blue
Ready to apply?
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