evrythingg

India / Identity documents

How to apply for a PAN card in India

An adult with Aadhaar, an Aadhaar-linked mobile and DigiLocker can get an instant e-PAN free on the Income Tax e-Filing portal. Everyone else, and anyone who wants a printed card, applies through Protean or UTIITSL for Rs 107 (Rs 101 if fully paperless). From 1 April 2026 the application form for Indian citizens is Form No. 93; the old Form 49A is no longer accepted.

Fee
Instant e-PAN free; Rs 107 with a printed card (Rs 101 paperless); Rs 72 or Rs 66 for e-PAN only
Time
Instant e-PAN near real time; Protean says normally two weeks for a printed card
How
Online; paper form at a PAN centre also possible

Checked against official sources on . See the 14 sources.

Quick answer

There are two routes.

  1. Instant e-PAN (free). On the Income Tax e-Filing portal, click "Instant E-PAN" under Quick Links, then "Get New e-PAN". You need Aadhaar, the mobile number linked to it, and a DigiLocker account holding a date of birth document. You get a digitally signed PDF PAN, which has the same value as a physical card.
  2. Form No. 93 through Protean or UTIITSL (paid). Fill the form online, pay Rs 107 (Rs 101 if you complete it by Aadhaar e-KYC and e-Sign), and a printed card is posted to you, with the e-PAN sent by email.

Form 49A was replaced on 1 April 2026. If a site or agent still offers "Form 49A", it is out of date.

Who can apply

  • Instant e-PAN: an individual who has never been allotted a PAN, is not a minor, has a valid Aadhaar with an active linked mobile number, and has access to DigiLocker. A representative assessee cannot use it.
  • Form No. 93: any individual who is a citizen of India, including Indian citizens living abroad and minors (through a parent or guardian as representative assessee).
  • Other forms: Form No. 94 for entities formed in India (company, firm, LLP, trust, HUF and others), Form No. 95 for individuals who are not citizens of India, Form No. 96 for entities formed outside India.

You may hold only one PAN. The e-Filing portal warns that possessing more than one attracts a penalty of Rs 10,000. If you already have a PAN and need a card, apply for a reprint or correction, not a new PAN.

Documents you need

Instant e-PAN: no upload from your side. Your details come from Aadhaar e-KYC. Your date of birth proof is pulled from DigiLocker, where one of these must already be present: driving licence, birth certificate, Class X marksheet or passing certificate, or CGHS card.

Form No. 93: Aadhaar is mandatory to quote. If you complete the form by Aadhaar e-KYC, nothing else is needed. Otherwise you give one proof each of identity, address and date of birth:

Document (copy)IdentityAddressDate of birth
Aadhaar cardYesYesNo
Indian passportYesYesYes
Driving licenceYesYesYes
Elector's photo identity cardYesYesYes
Ration card with applicant's photographYesNoNo
Photo identity card issued by the Central or State Government or a PSUYesNoYes
Pensioner card with photographYesNoNo
Electricity, water, landline or broadband bill, piped gas bill (not more than 3 months old)NoYesNo
Bank account, depository account or credit card statement (not more than 3 months old)NoYesNo
Post office passbook with address; property registration document; latest property tax assessment orderNoYesNo
Domicile certificate issued by the GovernmentNoYesYes
Matriculation certificate or marksheet of a recognised boardNoNoYes
Birth certificate (mandatory for individuals born on or after 1 October 2023)NoNoYes
Marriage certificate from the Registrar of Marriages; pension payment orderNoNoYes

Original certificates in the prescribed formats are also accepted: a certificate of identity or address signed by an MP, MLA, Municipal Councillor or Gazetted Officer (Annexure A), a bank certificate with attested photograph (Annexure C) for identity, an employer certificate (Annexure B) for address, and an affidavit sworn before a magistrate for date of birth.

For a minor, the minor's Aadhaar plus any listed document of a parent or guardian serves as identity and address proof. For an Indian citizen living abroad, a bank statement from the country of residence or an NRE account statement is the address proof.

The name on the form and on the proofs must match exactly. The name as per Aadhaar is what gets printed on the card.

Steps

Online

Route 1: Instant e-PAN on the e-Filing portal

  1. Check your DigiLocker first. Log in at digilocker.gov.in and make sure a date of birth document (for most people the Class X marksheet or driving licence) appears under Issued Documents.
  2. Go to incometax.gov.in and click "Instant E-PAN" under Quick Links, then "Get New e-PAN".
  3. Tick the eligibility declarations and the consent box, and click "Continue". Read the disclaimer and continue again; you are taken to DigiLocker.
  4. On DigiLocker, enter your Aadhaar number or VID and captcha, then the OTP sent to your Aadhaar mobile, then your 6 digit DigiLocker security PIN.
  5. Select the date of birth document to share with the Income Tax Department and click "Allow". Select only one; if you select several, the first in alphabetical order is used.
  6. Back on the portal, enter the Aadhaar number for PAN allotment, click to generate the OTP and enter it. The OTP is valid for 15 minutes and you have 3 attempts.
  7. On the Aadhaar Details page, enter your father's name, tick "I Accept that" and click "Submit". Validating your email is optional at this stage.
  8. Note the Acknowledgement Number shown on screen. A confirmation SMS is also sent.
  9. To download: "Instant E-PAN", then "Continue" on the "Check Status/ Download e-PAN" tile, enter Aadhaar and OTP, and click "Download e-PAN".

Route 2: Form No. 93 on Protean or UTIITSL

  1. Open the Protean online PAN application (onlineservices.proteantech.in) or the UTIITSL PAN portal (pan.utiitsl.com, "PAN Card for Indian Citizen / Indian Entity"). These are the only two entities the Income Tax Department has authorised.
  2. On Protean, select "New PAN - Form No. 93 (Indian Citizen)" and category "INDIVIDUAL". Enter your name and date of birth exactly as in Aadhaar, your email and mobile number, and submit. A token number is shown and emailed; use it to resume a saved form.
  3. Choose how you will submit. The paperless modes are Aadhaar e-KYC with e-Sign, scanned documents with e-Sign, and scanned documents with a Digital Signature Certificate. The fourth is physical mode, where you post signed papers.
  4. Fill the form: full name (expand any initials, and give the name as per Aadhaar separately), Aadhaar number, address, AO code (the form helps you look it up), and for a minor the representative assessee's details.
  5. Choose whether you want a physical PAN card or e-PAN only, and pay online by card or net banking.
  6. Save the acknowledgement. It carries a 15 digit acknowledgement number and is also emailed as a PDF.
  7. Physical mode only: paste photographs on the acknowledgement, sign across the left photograph so the signature is partly on the photo and partly on the paper, do not mark the right photograph, sign in the box, attach the proofs and a copy of the Aadhaar letter, and post to Income Tax PAN Services Unit, Protean eGov Technologies Limited, 4th Floor, Sapphire Chambers, Baner Road, Baner, Pune 411045. Write "APPLICATION FOR PAN -- N-" followed by the acknowledgement number on the envelope. It must reach Protean within 15 days of applying.

In person

  1. Take a blank Form No. 93 (downloadable from the UTIITSL portal) or collect one at a Protean TIN Facilitation Centre or PAN centre, or a UTIITSL PAN centre.
  2. Fill it, attach the proofs, and submit it at the centre with the fee of Rs 107, or Rs 72 for e-PAN only.
  3. Keep the acknowledgement for tracking.

Fees

OptionAt a PAN centre, or online with papers postedOnline and fully paperless
Printed PAN card sent to an Indian address (e-PAN also emailed)Rs 107Rs 101
Printed PAN card sent to a foreign addressRs 1,017Rs 1,011
e-PAN only by email, no printed cardRs 72Rs 66
Instant e-PAN on the e-Filing portalFreeFree

All amounts include GST. Protean adds an e-Sign charge of Rs 5.90 when e-KYC or e-Sign is used. A reprint of an existing PAN card through Protean's separate reprint link costs Rs 50 to an Indian address.

How long it takes

The e-Filing portal describes the instant e-PAN as allotted on a near real time basis. If the request is rejected or not serviced within 24 hours, the portal asks you to apply through Protean or UTIITSL instead.

For Form No. 93, Protean says it normally needs two weeks to process the application and dispatch the card, provided the application is in order.

How to check status

  • Instant e-PAN: e-Filing portal, "Instant E-PAN", "Check Status/ Download e-PAN", with Aadhaar and OTP.
  • Protean application: "Know your Status" on the Protean site. Select "PAN - New / Change Request" and enter the 15 digit acknowledgement number.
  • UTIITSL application: "Track PAN Card" on the UTIITSL portal.
  • Is my PAN valid and operative: "Verify PAN Status" under Quick Links on the e-Filing portal.

Common problems

  • "Entered Aadhaar Number is already linked with a PAN". You already have a PAN. Do not apply again; download or reprint the existing one.
  • "Entered Aadhaar Number is not linked with any active mobile number". Register a mobile number in Aadhaar at an Aadhaar centre first. DigiLocker sign-up depends on the same link.
  • No date of birth document in DigiLocker. Pull it from the issuing authority inside DigiLocker (school board, RTO, municipal body, CGHS). If it cannot be fetched, the instant route will not complete; use Form No. 93.
  • Name mismatch. If your Aadhaar name has initials, write the expanded name in the name fields and the exact Aadhaar name in "Name as per Aadhaar". A mismatch fails Aadhaar authentication.
  • Physical documents late. In physical mode the signed acknowledgement and proofs must reach Protean within 15 days.
  • Unauthorised websites. Only the e-Filing portal, Protean and UTIITSL handle PAN applications. Check the address bar before paying.
  • Help. Protean: 020-27218080, 7 am to 11 pm, all days. UTIITSL: 033 40802999, 9 am to 8 pm, all days.

FAQ

Is Form 49A still valid for a new PAN card?

No. From 1 April 2026 Indian citizens apply in Form No. 93 and Indian entities in Form No. 94. UTIITSL states that Form 49A, Form 49AA and the old Change Request form are not accepted after 31 March 2026.

Is the instant e-PAN really free and valid?

Yes. The Income Tax Department issues it free as a digitally signed PDF, and the portal states it holds the same value as a physical PAN card.

Can I get a printed card after taking an instant e-PAN?

Yes. Protean's online reprint facility is open to PANs processed through Protean or the e-Filing portal, and costs Rs 50 for an Indian address. No form or documents are needed for a reprint with no change in details.

Can I apply for a PAN card without Aadhaar?

Protean's instructions say Aadhaar is mandatory to quote in Form No. 93, except for the exempt category, and that everyone who possesses Aadhaar must quote it. The instant e-PAN cannot be had without Aadhaar.

How do I apply for a PAN card for a minor?

Through Form No. 93, not the instant route. A parent or guardian applies as representative assessee and gives their own PAN or Aadhaar. The minor's Aadhaar plus the parent's document serves as proof.

What is the fee for a PAN card in 2026?

Rs 107 with a printed card sent within India, Rs 101 if you apply fully paperless, and Rs 72 or Rs 66 for e-PAN only. These rates are the same at Protean and UTIITSL.

Which is better, NSDL (Protean) or UTIITSL?

Both are authorised by the Income Tax Department and charge the same government-fixed fee. Protean is the new name of NSDL e-Governance. Track the application on the site where you applied.

No separate step. The e-Filing portal's manual says that for new applicants the linking is done automatically at the application stage, so there is nothing more to do.

Sources

Every fee, time limit, form and address above was read on these official pages on 12 October 2026.

  1. Income Tax e-Filing portal, e-PAN page Supports Instant e-PAN is free, issued as a PDF on a near real time basis, needs Aadhaar, DigiLocker details and linked mobile; go to Protean or UTIITSL if rejected or not serviced within 24 hours; Rs 10,000 penalty for more than one PAN under sections 262 and 467 of the Income Tax Act, 2025; tile labels
  2. Income Tax e-Filing portal, Instant e-PAN FAQ Supports Who is eligible and who is not (existing PAN holder, minor, representative assessee); prerequisites; DigiLocker date of birth documents; what to do when DigiLocker has no document; status check and download steps
  3. Income Tax e-Filing portal, Instant e-PAN user manual Supports The 11 step Get New e-PAN flow including the DigiLocker redirect, father's name entry and acknowledgement number
  4. Income Tax e-Filing portal, home page Supports Quick Links labels (Instant E-PAN, Verify PAN Status, Know Your JAO); helpdesk numbers shown under Call Us
  5. Protean (TIN), PAN services page Supports Forms 93, 94, 95 and 96 from 1 April 2026; fee tables; normally two weeks to process and dispatch; paper applications at TIN-FC or PAN centres; reprint fee Rs 50; address for sending documents
  6. Protean (TIN), guidelines for Form 93 and Form 94 Supports Token number; payment modes; acknowledgement, photograph and signature rules; documents must reach Protean within 15 days in physical mode; Aadhaar mandatory; envelope marking; call centre, IVR and WhatsApp numbers
  7. Protean (TIN), documents for Form 93 and Form 94 Supports Full table of identity, address and date of birth proofs for Indian citizens; rules for minors and for citizens living abroad
  8. Protean (TIN), instructions for filling Form 93 and Form 94 Supports Name as per Aadhaar printed on the card; Aadhaar mandatory except exempt category; AO code; representative assessee mandatory for a minor
  9. Protean online PAN application Supports Application type labels (New PAN - Form No. 93 (Indian Citizen) and others); fields asked at registration; e-PAN sent to email; customer care 020-27218080, 7 am to 11 pm
  10. Protean, Track your PAN/TAN Application Status Supports Status by application type and 15 digit acknowledgement number
  11. UTIITSL PAN portal Supports Old Form 49A, 49AA and Change Request not accepted after 31.03.2026; Rs 107 and Rs 72 fees; only UTIITSL and Protean are authorised; customer care number and timings; Track PAN Card link
  12. UTIITSL, PAN Card Form 93 and 94 page Supports Apply for New PAN Card (Form No. 93 and Form No. 94) and blank form downloads
  13. UTIITSL, PAN application fees (PDF) Supports Rs 107, Rs 101, Rs 72, Rs 66 and the foreign dispatch fees, by mode of submission
  14. UTIITSL, documents for PAN (PDF) Supports Documents under Rule 158 of the Income Tax Rules, 2026 for Form 93, matching the Protean list

What India searched

These searches about this task appear in Google's top and rising lists for India. Each one opens its ranking history.

Open India in the explorer or read its top searches year by year.