How to Apply for a PAN Card Online in India

A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a ten-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department, and it remains mandatory for filing returns, opening bank accounts, and carrying out most significant financial transactions in India. As of 2026, an individual can obtain a PAN through three online channels: the Protean eGov (formerly NSDL) portal, the UTIITSL portal, or the free instant e-PAN facility on the Income Tax e-filing portal using Aadhaar. This guide explains each route, the forms and documents involved, and the fees and timelines you can expect.

Which route should you choose?

All three channels lead to a valid PAN, but they differ in cost, documentation, and the type of card delivered. Choosing the right one depends on your citizenship, whether you hold an Aadhaar, and whether you need a physical card.

• Protean eGov (NSDL) and UTIITSL are the two authorised service providers for a formal PAN application. Both accept Form 49A and Form 49AA, issue a physical card as well as an e-PAN, and are the appropriate route where a physical card or full documentary application is required.
• Instant e-PAN via Aadhaar on the Income Tax e-filing portal is a free, paperless facility for resident individuals who have never been allotted a PAN and hold an Aadhaar linked to an active mobile number. It issues a digital e-PAN only, not a physical card.

Form 49A vs Form 49AA

The application form you use is determined by your citizenship status, not by the portal you apply through. Both Protean and UTIITSL host both forms.

• Form 49A is for Indian citizens, including Indian nationals located abroad, as well as Hindu Undivided Families, companies, firms, and other entities formed or registered in India.
• Form 49AA is for foreign citizens and other non-resident applicants who do not hold Indian citizenship. It captures additional details such as country of citizenship and, where applicable, Qualified Foreign Investor information.

The instant e-PAN route does not involve either form. Because it draws its data directly from Aadhaar, it is available only to resident individuals and cannot be used by foreign citizens or entities.

Documents required

A PAN application through Protean or UTIITSL requires three broad categories of supporting proof. Individuals must submit proof of identity, proof of address, and proof of date of birth. A single document such as an Aadhaar card, passport, or voter ID can often serve more than one of these purposes.

• Proof of identity: Aadhaar, passport, voter ID, driving licence, or a similar government-issued document.
• Proof of address: Aadhaar, passport, utility bill, bank statement, or other accepted address document.
• Proof of date of birth: birth certificate, matriculation certificate, passport, or Aadhaar.
• For non-individual applicants: the relevant registration certificate or agreement, for example the certificate of incorporation for a company or the partnership deed for a firm.
• For Form 49AA applicants: passport, and where relevant an Overseas Citizen of India or Person of Indian Origin card, together with an accepted overseas address proof.

Applications can be submitted fully online (paperless) using Aadhaar-based e-KYC and e-Sign, or by uploading scanned documents, or by sending physical documents to the service provider after applying online. The instant e-PAN route requires no documents at all beyond a valid Aadhaar.

How to apply through Protean eGov (NSDL)

1. Visit the Protean eGov PAN services portal and select the option for a new PAN application.
2. Choose the correct application type — Form 49A for Indian citizens or Form 49AA for foreign citizens — and select your category (individual, company, and so on).
3. Fill in your personal details, contact information, and Assessing Officer code, which the portal can help you determine.
4. Select how you wish to submit documents: paperless e-KYC via Aadhaar, scanned uploads with e-Sign, or physical dispatch of documents.
5. Choose whether you want a physical card, an e-PAN, or both, then pay the applicable fee online.
6. Complete Aadhaar OTP authentication where you opted for e-KYC or e-Sign, and note the 15-digit acknowledgement number generated on submission.
7. Track the status of your application using the acknowledgement number until the PAN is issued and dispatched.

How to apply through UTIITSL

1. Open the UTIITSL PAN services portal and select the option to apply for a new PAN.
2. Select the applicable form — 49A or 49AA — and complete the online application with your personal and contact details.
3. Choose your document submission mode: digital mode using Aadhaar-based authentication, or forwarding documents physically.
4. Indicate whether you require a physical PAN card, an e-PAN, or both.
5. Pay the fee online and complete any Aadhaar OTP verification required for the paperless option.
6. Save the reference number provided so you can track the application and download the e-PAN once allotted.

How to get a free instant e-PAN via Aadhaar

The instant e-PAN facility is the fastest and most economical route for eligible resident individuals. It is offered free of charge on the Income Tax e-filing portal and typically issues a digital PAN within minutes.

1. Go to the Income Tax e-filing portal and select the “Instant e-PAN” service on the home page.
2. Choose the option to obtain a new e-PAN and enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
3. Confirm the declaration and request an OTP, which is sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
4. Enter the OTP to complete Aadhaar authentication, and review the details fetched from your Aadhaar record.
5. Validate your email if prompted, and submit the request. A success message and an acknowledgement ID are displayed and sent by SMS.
6. Return to the same service later to check the status and download your e-PAN as a PDF once it has been generated.

To use this facility you must be an adult resident individual who has never been allotted a PAN, whose Aadhaar KYC details are up to date, and whose Aadhaar is linked to an active mobile number. Minors and representative assessees are not eligible.

Fees and timelines

Fees depend on the portal, the mode of submission, whether a physical card is required, and whether the communication address is inside or outside India. The instant e-PAN via Aadhaar carries no fee at all. For applications through Protean and UTIITSL, indicative fees widely reported in 2026 are set out below; because these amounts are revised from time to time, always confirm the exact fee shown on the portal at the time you apply.

• Physical PAN card with an Indian communication address: broadly in the region of Rs. 101 to Rs. 107 including tax, with the fully paperless mode at the lower end.
• Physical PAN card with a foreign communication address: broadly in the region of Rs. 1,011 to Rs. 1,017, reflecting higher dispatch costs.
• e-PAN delivered only to your email, with no physical card: a lower fee, commonly reported in the Rs. 66 to Rs. 72 range.

On timelines, the instant e-PAN is usually generated within about ten minutes of successful Aadhaar authentication. A PAN applied for through Protean or UTIITSL is generally allotted within a few working days, with the physical card typically dispatched within around fifteen days of successful verification. Treat all fee and timeline figures as indicative and verify them against the live portal, as they are subject to change.

Frequently asked questions

Is the instant e-PAN as valid as a PAN card obtained through Protean or UTIITSL?

Yes. The e-PAN issued through the Aadhaar-based facility is a fully valid PAN and can be used for all purposes for which a PAN is required. The difference is that no physical card is issued through this route; you receive a digital PAN in PDF form.

Can a foreign citizen apply for a PAN online?

Yes, but only through Protean or UTIITSL using Form 49AA, along with the applicable documents such as a passport and an accepted overseas address proof. Foreign citizens cannot use the instant e-PAN via Aadhaar, which is limited to resident individuals holding an Aadhaar.

Do I need an Aadhaar to apply for a PAN?

Aadhaar is mandatory for the free instant e-PAN facility and for the fully paperless e-KYC route on Protean or UTIITSL. For other submission modes, you can apply using other accepted identity, address, and date-of-birth documents, though linking PAN with Aadhaar remains a separate statutory requirement for most residents.

What should I do if I already have a PAN but need a correction or reprint?

You should not apply for a fresh PAN, as holding more than one PAN is not permitted. Instead, use the “changes or correction in PAN” service on the Protean or UTIITSL portal to update your details or request a reprint of the card.

How can I track my PAN application?

Use the acknowledgement or reference number issued at the time of submission to check the status on the same portal where you applied. For the instant e-PAN, you can check the status and download the PDF using your Aadhaar number on the Income Tax e-filing portal.

TAXAJ assists individuals, professionals, and businesses with PAN and TAN applications, corrections, and related tax and compliance registrations, helping you choose the right route and complete the process without errors. Reach out to our team for guidance tailored to your circumstances.