How to Make a PAN Card in India (2026 Online Process)

What Is a PAN Card?

A Permanent Account Number (PAN) is a mandatory 10-digit ID issued by the Income Tax Department. You need this card to open a bank account, receive a salary, or invest money in India. It is the most important document for proving your financial identity.
Today, applying for a new PAN card is a 100% online process. You can do it from your phone or computer in just a few minutes.

Documents Required to Apply

Before you start the application, keep these documents handy. What exactly you need depends on the submission mode you choose, but this list covers all scenarios:

• Proof of Identity: Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, or Driving Licence.
• Proof of Address: Aadhaar Card, Electricity Bill, Bank Statement, or Passport.
• Date of Birth Proof: Aadhaar Card, Birth Certificate, or Matriculation Certificate.
• Passport Size Photographs: Two recent colour photos with a white background (needed only for physical applications).
• Aadhaar Number: Mandatory for all Form 49A applications. It must be linked to an active mobile number if you want to use the paperless e-KYC route.

Why Is a PAN Card Mandatory?

PAN is not just another government ID. It is a legal requirement for nearly every significant financial activity in India. Here is why you cannot afford to skip it:

• Filing Income Tax Returns (ITR): You cannot file your taxes without a valid PAN. Under Section 139AA of the IT Act, your PAN must also be linked with Aadhaar to stay active. If the link is missing, your PAN becomes inoperative.
• Opening a Bank Account: RBI guidelines require PAN for opening savings accounts, current accounts, and fixed deposits. Most banks will not even start the paperwork without it.
• Applying for Loans: Planning to apply for a Home Loan, Personal Loan, or a credit card? Every lender will ask for your PAN to verify your identity and pull your CIBIL score. No PAN means instant rejection.
• Checking Your CIBIL Score: Your PAN is the primary key that links to your entire credit history. Whether you check your CIBIL score on TransUnion, Experian, or CRIF, you need to enter your PAN number first.
• Buying or Selling Property: Under the draft Income Tax Rules 2026, property transactions of ₹20 Lakh or more require PAN. Vehicle purchases above ₹5 Lakh and hotel or banquet bills above ₹1 Lakh also fall under this requirement.
• Investments: PAN is mandatory for opening a Demat account to invest in the stock market, mutual funds, or government bonds. Without it, you simply cannot start investing.

Free Instant e-PAN (Fastest Method)

If you have an Aadhaar card with a working mobile number linked to it, this is the quickest and easiest way to get a PAN. The entire process is free, fully online, and takes roughly 10 minutes. No forms to fill, no documents to upload. The system pulls everything from your Aadhaar automatically.

Who can use this method? Only individual applicants who have never been allotted a PAN before. If you already have a PAN (even an old, lost one), or if you are applying for a company or HUF, skip ahead to Method 2.

1. Open the Income Tax Portal: Go to incometax.gov.in. On the homepage, look for “Instant e-PAN” in the Quick Links section on the left side. Click it.
2. Select “Get New e-PAN”: You will see two options on the next screen. One says “Get New e-PAN” and the other says “Check Status / Download e-PAN”. Since you are applying fresh, click the first one.
3. Enter Your Aadhaar Number: Type your 12-digit Aadhaar number carefully. Tick the confirmation checkbox that says you agree to validate your details with UIDAI, then click “Continue”.
4. Verify with OTP: The portal will send a 6-digit OTP to the mobile number linked with your Aadhaar. This is not necessarily your current number. It is the number UIDAI has on record. Enter the OTP and click “Continue”. If the OTP does not arrive, check whether your mobile number is still active and properly linked with Aadhaar.
5. Review Your Details: The system will fetch your name, date of birth, gender, and photo directly from the Aadhaar database. Go through everything on screen carefully. You cannot edit any of this here. If something is wrong (like a misspelled name), you will need to correct it in your Aadhaar first and then come back.
6. Accept and Submit: If all details look correct, accept the declaration and click Submit. Your e-PAN request will start processing.
7. Download Your e-PAN: Within a few minutes, your e-PAN (a digitally signed PDF) will be ready. You will also receive it on the email ID registered with your Aadhaar. If you want to download it later, come back to the same “Instant e-PAN” page, click “Check Status / Download e-PAN”, and enter your Aadhaar number again.

Step-by-Step Application via NSDL (Protean)

This is the standard method for everyone who needs a physical PAN card, or for those who cannot use the Instant e-PAN route. It works for individuals, HUFs, companies, trusts, and foreign citizens. There is a small fee involved, but you get more control over the entire process.

1. Visit the Official Portal: Go to onlineservices.proteantech.in. You can also go directly to tinpan.proteantech.in for the PAN section. Look for the “Apply for PAN” button and click it.
2. Select Application Type: Under “PAN Application Type”, choose “New PAN — Indian Citizen (Form 49A)”. If you are a foreign citizen or NRI, choose Form 49AA instead. Then select your category. Most people will pick “Individual”.
3. Fill in Basic Details: Enter your last name, first name, middle name (if any), date of birth, email address, and mobile number. One important thing here: make sure your name and date of birth match your Aadhaar card exactly. Even a small spelling mismatch (like “Saurav” vs “Sourav”) can cause your application to be rejected. Complete the captcha and click “Submit”.
4. Save Your Token Number: After submitting, you will see a Token Number on screen. The same token will be sent to your email as well. Write this down immediately or take a screenshot. If your internet disconnects or your browser crashes midway, this token is the only way to resume your application without filling everything from scratch.
5. Choose How You Want to Submit Documents: On the next page, the form asks how you will verify your identity. You get three choices:
   • e-KYC & e-Sign (Paperless): This is the best option if your Aadhaar is linked to your mobile. Everything happens online. An Aadhaar OTP verifies your identity, and you digitally sign the form. No documents to scan, print, or post. Processing is the fastest with this mode.
   • e-Sign with Scanned Documents: You upload scanned copies of your identity, address, and date of birth proofs. Still fully online, but takes a bit longer because the documents go through manual verification.
   • Physical Document Submission: You print the acknowledgement, paste your photo on it, sign it, attach copies of your documents, and courier the whole packet to Protean’s office in Pune. The address is: Income Tax PAN Services Unit, 4th Floor, Sapphire Chambers, Baner Road, Baner, Pune – 411045. Your packet must reach them within 15 days of your online application. This is the slowest option.
6. Fill the Complete Application Form: Click “Continue with PAN Application Form”. The form has a few pages. First, it asks for your personal details like full name, father’s name, gender, and citizenship. Then it asks for your residential address (and office address, if applicable). The address you type here is where your physical PAN card will be delivered, so double-check it.

   There is also a field for AO Code (Assessing Officer code). If you do not know yours, do not worry. Use the “Search AO” option on the form itself. It will find the correct AO code based on your area and income source.

   If you selected the paperless e-KYC mode earlier, the form will also ask for the last four digits of your Aadhaar number at this stage.

7. Upload Photo and Signature: Upload a recent passport-sized colour photograph in JPEG format (file size 2 to 20 KB, dimensions 3.5 cm × 2.5 cm) and a scanned image of your signature in JPEG format (file size 2 to 20 KB, dimensions 2 cm × 4.5 cm). Both need a white background. If the file size or dimensions are off, the portal will reject the upload. So resize your images before you start this step.
8. Make Payment: After the form is complete, you will be taken to the payment page. You can pay using credit card, debit card, net banking, or UPI. Here is what the fees look like:
   • Physical PAN card delivered in India: approximately ₹101 to ₹110 (inclusive of GST).
   • e-PAN only, no physical card: approximately ₹66 to ₹72 (inclusive of GST).
   • Physical PAN card delivered outside India: approximately ₹1,011 to ₹1,017 (inclusive of GST).

   Keep in mind that credit and debit card payments may attract an additional 2% bank surcharge. Net banking adds about ₹4 plus GST on top.

9. e-Sign or Send Documents: If you chose the paperless route, you will now receive an Aadhaar OTP to e-Sign the application. Enter the OTP and confirm. If you chose the physical route, print your acknowledgement slip, paste your photo, sign it, and courier it along with your documents to the Pune address mentioned above.
10. Note Your Acknowledgement Number: After successful payment and submission, the portal will show a 15-digit acknowledgement number on screen. You will also get it by email as a downloadable PDF receipt. Save this number carefully. It is the only way to track your application later. If you are sending a physical envelope, write on the outside: “APPLICATION FOR PAN — N-[your 15-digit number]”.

After verification is complete, your PAN card will be dispatched within 15 working days via Speed Post to the address in your application.

How to Track Your PAN Status

Once your application is submitted, you can check its status anytime using your 15-digit acknowledgement number:

1. Visit the Protean PAN portal and click “Track your PAN/TAN Application Status”.
2. Select “PAN — New/Change Request” as the application type.
3. Enter your acknowledgement number, complete the captcha, and click Submit.

The screen will show whether your application is being processed, whether your PAN has been allotted, or whether the card has been dispatched.

Once the card is dispatched, you can also track delivery through the India Post website using the Speed Post consignment number. You can even send an SMS: type POST Track <13-digit article number> and send it to 166 or 51969.

Frequently Asked Questions