PAN Card Apply Online: How To Apply For PAN Card Online And Offline?

A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a mandatory identity document issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It is required for filing income tax returns, opening bank accounts, investing in financial instruments, and carrying out high-value transactions. You can apply PAN card online or offline through authorised government portals.

Key Highlights

• PAN card can be applied online through the Income Tax Portal, NSDL (Protean), or UTIITSL.
• Instant e-PAN is available for individuals with Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers.
• PAN application fees vary based on dispatch mode and location.
• PAN correction or update requests can also be filed online.
• Corporates receive PAN automatically at the time of incorporation.

How to Apply for PAN Card Online?

PAN card applications can be submitted online through three authorised platforms. Online applications are faster, paperless, and allow easy tracking of application status.

The available online methods include:

• Income Tax e-Filing Portal (Instant e-PAN)
• Protean eGov Technologies portal (previously known as NSDL)
• UTIITSL portal

How to Apply PAN Card Online via Income-Tax Portal (Instant E-PAN)?

Individuals having valid Aadhaar number can now apply for e-PAN instantly without filling up any application form. Here are the steps to apply for instant PAN card:

Step 1: Go to the Income Tax e-filing portal and click on ‘Instant e-PAN’ option.

Step 2: On the next page, click on ‘Get New e-PAN’. 

Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar number and click ‘Continue’. 

Step 4: The OTP validation page will be displayed. Tick the checkbox and accept the terms and conditions. Click on the ‘Continue’ button.

Step 5: Enter the OTP received on your Aadhaar registered mobile number, tick the checkbox and click ‘Continue’. 

Step 6: You will see your personal details, such as name, date of birth, etc., as per your Aadhaar card. Click on ‘Validate Email’ to validate your email, tick the checkbox, and click ‘Continue’.

You will receive an acknowledgement number after submitting your Aadhaar details for validation. If the PAN allotment is successful, a PDF link will be generated within 10 minutes from which you can download your e-PAN card for free. The password of the downloaded instant e-PAN card is your date of birth in the format ‘DDMMYYYY’.

Note:

• If you want a hard copy of your PAN card, you might have to pay additional fees and request for delivery using reprint option. 
• The instant e-PAN card facility is available only to individual citizens above 18 years of age having a valid Aadhaar number and Aadhaar-linked mobile number. 
• Any person other than Indian citizens, like NRIs, partnership firms, HUFs, companies, trusts, etc., cannot apply for an instant e-PAN card.

How to Apply for PAN Card Online via Protean (NSDL) Website?

Applicants can apply PAN card online through the Protean eGov Technologies portal by submitting Form No. 93 (Indian citizens, including NRIs holding Indian citizenship) or Form No. 94 (Companies, HUFs, Trusts, Firms registered in India).

Step 1: Visit the Protean website.

Step 2: Select the application type as 'New PAN - Form No. 93' or ‘New PAN - Form No. 94’. 

• Select the applicable category and title, enter the last name, first name, middle name, date of birth/ incorporation, email and mobile number. 
• Tick the checkbox, validate captcha and click ‘Submit’.

Step 3: You will receive a Token Number on your email ID. Click on the ‘Continue with PAN Application Form’ button.

Step 4: Read the detailed instructions before filling in the details on the PAN card application form. 

• Select the mode of submission of PAN card documents and if you require a physical PAN card. 
• Fill out the required details on the form, such as personal details, contact details, and AO code, and upload the documents. 

The AO (Assessing Officer) code identifies your tax jurisdiction. You can find the AO code on the Protean or UTIITSL AO-code search using your city.

Step 5: After submitting the PAN card application, the payment page will appear. Select the mode of payment and pay the required fees. Payment can be made through credit/debit card, demand draft or net-banking.

Upon successful payment, an acknowledgment will be displayed through which you can check your application status. It will also be sent to your email ID. 

Note: If you choose the ‘Forward application documents physically’ option on the PAN card application, you will have to take a print out of the acknowledgement and send the acknowledgement along with the attachment of the required documents to the following address by post:

Income Tax PAN Services Unit, 
Protean eGov Technologies Limited, 
4th Floor, Sapphire Chambers, 
Baner Road, Baner, Pune - 411045

Once the application is processed and the PAN card is generated, it will be sent to your email or residential address within 15-20 working days. If you have selected for e-PAN card, you will receive it within 2-7 working days.

Note: In December 2021, NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited rebranded as Protean eGov Technologies Limited. Thus, NSDL now operates as Protean eGov Technologies Limited, and all PAN application services previously associated with NSDL continue to be offered through the updated Protean website.

How to Apply For PAN Card Online via UTIITSL Website?

PAN card applications can also be submitted through the UTIITSL portal using Form No. 93 (Indian citizens, including NRIs holding Indian citizenship) or Form No. 94 (Companies, HUFs, Trusts, Firms registered in India).

Step 1: Visit the UTIITSL website.

Step 2: Click the ‘Click to Appy’ under the ‘PAN Card for Indian Citizen/ Indian Entity' tab.

Step 3: Select the ‘Apply for New PAN Card (Form No. 93 and Form No. 94)’ tab.

Step 4: Select the mode of submission of documents, status of applicant, the PAN card mode and click the ‘Submit’ button.

Step 5: You will receive a reference number. Click ‘OK’.

Step 6: Enter the required details on the form, such as personal details, document details, contact and parent details, address details and other details. Upload the required documents and submit the form. 

Step 7: Make the payment of the application fee. On successful payment, an acknowledgment will be displayed and sent to your email ID. 

Note: If you choose the ‘Physical Mode’ option on the PAN card form, you will have to take a print out of the form, affix photograph and signature, attach the documents to the form and post them to any one of the following nearest UTIITSL offices:

1) PAN PDC Incharge - Mumbai region, 
UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited, 
Plot No. 3, Sector 11, CBD Belapur, 
Navi Mumbai - 400614

2) PAN PDC Incharge - Kolkata region, 
UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited, 
29, N. S. Road, Ground Floor, 
Opp. Gilander House and Standard Chartered Bank, 
Kolkata - 700001

3) PAN PDC Incharge - Chennai region, 
UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited, 
D-1, First Floor, 
Thiru -Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, 
Guindy, Chennai - 600032

4) PAN PDC Incharge - New Delhi region, 
UTI Infrastructure Technology And Services Limited, 
1/28 Sunlight Building, Asaf Ali Road, 
New Delhi -110002

The UTIITSL will process the application and documents and issue the PAN card within 15-20 working days. If you have selected for e-PAN card, you will receive it within 2-7 working days.

How to Apply for PAN Card Offline?

Applicants who prefer offline mode can apply for a PAN card by submitting a physical application form.

Step 1: Obtain the ‘Form No. 93’ and ‘Form No. 94’ from the nearest PAN centre. You can also download the PAN card application form from the Protean e-Gov website.

Step 2: Fill in the details in the application. 

Step 3: Attach your signature and photograph to the application. 

Step 4: Submit the form and the required documents to the nearest PAN centre.

Step 5: Pay the fees for PAN card application. 

Step 6: You will get the acknowledgement number from which you can track the status of your PAN card application status.

Once the documents are verified, a PAN card will be issued within 15-20 working days. If you have requested for e-PAN card, you will receive it within 2-7 working days.

Eligibility for Applying for PAN Card

The following individuals and entities are eligible to apply for a PAN card:

• Indian citizens (18 years and above if applying for Instant e-PAN card)
• Minors (through guardians)
• Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs)
• Companies and LLPs
• Partnership firms
• Trusts and associations of persons
• Foreign nationals and NRIs (using Form No.95 and Form No. 96)

Documents Required For PAN Card  

Below are the documents required to be submitted along with the PAN card application:

Note: Aadhaar is mandatory for resident individual applicants applying for a PAN card. Ensure that the name entered in your PAN application exactly match your Aadhaar details. Even minor discrepancies, such as spelling variations or mismatched initials, can lead to application rejection or delays in PAN processing.

You can find the exhaustive list of accepted proof of identity, address and date of birth document for PAN card application on the Income Tax website.

PAN for NRIs and Foreign Citizens 

Foreign citizens and NRIs who are not citizens of India can apply for PAN using Form No. 95, while foreign entities (foreign companies and firms) can apply for PAN using Form No. 96.

Below is the process to apply for a PAN for foreign citizens:

Step 1: Visit the Protean website or UTIITSL website.

Step 2: Select ‘New PAN Card - Form 95 or Form 96’.

Step 3: Select the mode of receiving a PAN card and fill in all the details in the form.  

Step 4: Upload the documents, pay the required fees and submit the application.

Step 5: You will receive an acknowledgement number. Send the documents by courier or post them to the Income Tax PAN Services Unit managed by Protean eGov Technologies Limited office located in Pune, or the PAN PDC Incharge managed by UTIITSL office located in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai or New Delhi. 

Foreign citizens can also download ‘Form No. 95’ or ‘Form No. 96’ from the Protean website, fill it out and submit it along with the documents at the nearest PAN centre.

Below are the documents required to be affixed/ uploaded with Form No. 95 or Form No. 96: 

• Copy of passport 
• For a PIO cardholder, a copy of the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card issued by the Government of India 
• For an OCI cardholder, a copy of the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card issued by the Government of India
• Any other national or Citizenship Identification Number (CIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
• Copy of visa
• For foreign entities, a copy of the duly attested registration certificate issued in the country where the applicant is located, or a copy of the registration certificate issued in India, or an approval granted by the Indian Authorities to set up an office in India.

The Ministry of Corporate affairs has integrated the PAN allotment for companies at the time of company incorporation itself. 

For one person companies, private limited companies, public limited companies and limited liability partnership firms, there is no requirement for making separate PAN applications. PAN is allotted automatically at the time of incorporation and will be reflected in such incorporation certificate. 

PAN-Aadhaar Linking

Since providing an Aadhaar card is mandatory for new PAN applications (Form No. 93), the PAN is generally linked with Aadhaar during the processing and issuance of the PAN card. However, after receiving your PAN card, you should verify whether your PAN is linked to your Aadhaar. If it is not, you must link it through the Income Tax e-Filing portal.

For individuals who obtained their PAN cards before 1 April 2026, linking PAN with Aadhaar is mandatory. Failure to do so will render the PAN inoperative, restricting its use for income tax filing, financial transactions, and other PAN-related services.

PAN 2.0 (April 2026): Key Changes for New Applicants

The government approved PAN 2.0 on 25 November 2024 to modernise PAN and TAN services. PAN 2.0 aims to make PAN services faster and more seamless, making it easier for individuals and businesses to apply online. However, PAN 2.0 is yet to be rolled out, and the unified portal is not yet fully live. Currently, Protean and UTIITSL portals are the official portals issuing PAN cards.

Key changes in PAN 2.0 for new applicants:

• Applicants will receive an e-PAN card with a secure QR code, which can be downloaded online and used for KYC, tax filing, and financial verification.
• A physical PAN card can still be requested, but many applicants may choose to use only e-PAN for digital use cases.
• PAN processing timelines have become quicker. An instant e-PAN card is issued within minutes, while a regular e-PAN card may take 2-7 working days after successful verification.
• Applicants can complete the application process fully online using Aadhaar-based e-KYC, OTP verification and digital document upload.
• Existing PAN holders can get an upgraded e-PAN with the enhanced QR code free of cost under the unified PAN 2.0 portal (yet to be rolled out). Currently, a physical reprint is chargeable at ₹50 for Indian dispatch.
• Upgrading to PAN 2.0 is optional and existing PANs stay valid. 

PAN Application Rejected? Top Reasons And Fixes

PAN card applications can be rejected due to various reasons as provided below:

How to Track Your PAN Application Status?

You can track PAN card application status through the acknowledgement number or coupon/application number on the Protean or UTIITSL websites, respectively. You can also track PAN application status through UMANG/ MyPAN App. 

How to Make Corrections/Updates in PAN?

If you want to make changes in the existing PAN such as change in name, date of birth etc, you can apply for it online. The procedure is almost the same as you apply for new PAN and you also need to submit the documents to support the change required in PAN. Here is the process for making changes or corrections in PAN card:

• Go to the Protean website or UTIITSL website.
• Select the application type as “Changes or Corrections in existing PAN/ Reprint of PAN card".
• Enter the details which needs to be changed, upload the documents and click on the “Submit” button.
• Pay the processing fee.
• PAN will be dispatched within 15-20 working days. If you have selected for e-PAN card, you will receive it within 2-7 working days.

The advent of technology has made PAN application easy and simple. Even the physical copies of the required documents need not be posted to the Protean or the UTIITSL offices. When the online mode of document submission is selected, they can be uploaded and submitted online. 

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