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How to Apply for PAN Card Online (NSDL/UTIITSL) 2026

Apply for PAN card online via NSDL or UTIITSL. ₹107 for Indians, e-PAN free, physical PAN delivered in 15 days.

📁 Documents ⏱️ 15-20 mins 💰 ₹107 (Indian) | ₹1017 (Foreign)

About This Guide

Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a 10-digit alphanumeric identifier issued by Income Tax Department to all taxpayers. Mandatory for filing ITR, banking transactions above ₹50,000, property purchase above ₹10 lakh, jewellery above ₹2 lakh, mutual fund investment above ₹50,000, and various financial transactions. PAN once issued is valid for lifetime - never expires. Apply online at NSDL or UTIITSL portals. e-PAN issued in PDF format within 10 minutes (free), physical card in 15-20 days.

Eligibility Criteria

Any Indian citizen (resident or NRI)
Foreign citizen earning income in India
Companies, firms, HUFs, AOPs, BOIs
Minors can also have PAN (issued in name of guardian)
No age restriction
No income criteria - anyone can apply

Documents Required

Keep these documents ready before starting application. Missing documents = delayed approval.

Identity proof: Aadhaar, Voter ID, Driving License, Passport
Address proof: Aadhaar, Bank Statement, Electricity Bill (within 3 months), Voter ID
Date of Birth proof: Aadhaar, Birth Certificate, SSC, Passport
2 passport size photographs (for paper form)
Aadhaar number (if applying via Aadhaar e-KYC - paperless)
Email ID and mobile number

Step-by-Step Application Process

Follow these steps in order. Each step is critical - skip none.

Choose Portal

Two official portals: NSDL (https://www.onlineservices.nsdl.com/paam/endUserRegisterContact.html) or UTIITSL (https://www.pan.utiitsl.com). Both equally valid - NSDL is more popular.

Select Form Type

Form 49A: Indian citizens (₹107). Form 49AA: Foreign citizens (₹1,017). Choose based on citizenship.

Choose Application Mode

Three modes: (1) Aadhaar e-KYC and e-Sign (Paperless, fastest, ₹101) - recommended (2) Aadhaar e-KYC with offline digital signature (3) Physical mode with photo and signature.

Enter Personal Details

Title (Mr/Ms), full name as per Aadhaar/ID, father's name, mother's name, date of birth, gender, mobile, email. Be exact - PAN cannot be easily corrected later.

Provide Address

Residence address (required) and office address (optional). Address must match address proof. PIN code is critical - decides your ITR jurisdiction.

Add Source of Income

Salary, business, profession, capital gains, rental income, etc. Multiple sources can be selected. Don't worry about exact details - this is just initial classification.

Choose Assessing Officer (AO)

AO Code is your tax officer based on address. System suggests automatically based on PIN. Don't change unless you know exact AO from past returns.

Aadhaar e-KYC (Recommended)

For Aadhaar paperless: Enter Aadhaar number, name, DOB. OTP to Aadhaar-linked mobile. After OTP, Aadhaar details auto-populated. e-Sign with Aadhaar OTP. NO documents to upload.

Pay Fees

Pay ₹107 (or ₹1,017 for foreign) via Net banking, Credit/Debit card, UPI. Get payment receipt and acknowledgment.

Get e-PAN and Track

e-PAN (PDF) generated within 10 minutes for Aadhaar e-KYC method - download immediately. Physical PAN delivered in 15-20 days. Track status at NSDL/UTIITSL with acknowledgment number.

Key Benefits

Lifetime validity - never expires
Mandatory for ITR filing and banking
Required for property, vehicle, jewellery purchases
Helps establish identity for KYC
e-PAN available immediately (paperless)
No annual renewal needed
Free correction allowed for first time
Universal across all government and private services

What Happens After Application?

Once received, link PAN with Aadhaar at incometax.gov.in (mandatory by law). Use PAN for: ITR filing, opening bank account, FD/RD, mutual fund investments, demat account, property registration, vehicle registration above certain limits, foreign travel above ₹2 lakh expenses. Memorize PAN - many places need it without card. If physical PAN lost, download e-PAN free or get reprint for ₹50.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does PAN take?

e-PAN: 10 minutes (Aadhaar method), 1-2 days (other methods). Physical PAN: 15-20 days delivery. Status trackable from day 1.

Can I have multiple PANs?

No, only ONE PAN per person. Having multiple is illegal under Section 272B - penalty ₹10,000 per extra PAN. Surrender duplicates immediately at incometax.gov.in.

PAN-Aadhaar link mandatory?

Yes, mandatory by law. Without linking, PAN becomes inoperative. Inoperative PAN cannot be used for ITR, banking, etc. Link at incometax.gov.in (deadline keeps extending; ₹1,000 fee post deadline).

How to correct PAN details?

Apply for "Changes/Correction" at NSDL/UTIITSL with proof of new details. Fee ₹107. Common corrections: name, father's name, DOB, photo, signature. PAN number remains same.

Lost PAN - what to do?

Apply for reprint at NSDL/UTIITSL for ₹50 (Indian) / ₹959 (foreign). Need PAN number, name, DOB. New card delivered in 15-20 days. Same PAN number issued.

How to Apply for PAN Card Online (NSDL/UTIITSL) 2026

About This Guide

Eligibility Criteria

Documents Required

Step-by-Step Application Process

Key Benefits

What Happens After Application?

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

How to Update Aadhaar Card Online

How to Link PAN with Aadhaar Online

How to File Income Tax Return (ITR) Online FY 2025-26