Apply for a PAN Card Online —
Fee, Documents & Instant e-PAN
How to apply for a new PAN through Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL with Form 49A, the exact fee and timeline, the documents you need, and the free instant e-PAN route via Aadhaar OTP.
You can apply for a new PAN card online on the Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL portal using Form 49A (Indian citizens) or 49AA (foreign citizens). The fee is Rs 107 for an Indian delivery address and Rs 1,017 for a foreign address; a physical card arrives in about 15-20 working days. If you have an Aadhaar with a linked mobile, you can instead get a free instant e-PAN in roughly 10 minutes on the Income Tax e-filing portal using Aadhaar OTP.
The Government has approved the PAN 2.0 project (CCEA, 25 Nov 2024) to issue a QR-code enabled PAN and bring PAN/TAN services onto a single unified Income-Tax portal, with a free e-PAN sent to your registered email. Your existing PAN stays valid — you need not reapply. Until the unified portal is fully live, the Protean (NSDL) and UTIITSL portals below remain the standard route.
How to Apply for a New PAN Card Online
Two authorised portals issue PAN on behalf of the Income Tax Department. Both use Form 49A for resident Indians. The process is the same in outline:
| Portal | Form | Fee (India) | e-Sign | Track by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protean / NSDL (tin-nsdl / Protean) | 49A / 49AA | Rs 107 | Aadhaar OTP | Acknowledgement no. |
| UTIITSL | 49A / 49AA | Rs 107 | Aadhaar OTP | Coupon no. |
| Income Tax portal (instant e-PAN) | Aadhaar only | Free | Aadhaar OTP | PAN issued in ~10 min |
Fees shown are for an Indian communication address including GST. Always confirm the current fee on the portal before paying.
Holding more than one PAN is illegal and can attract a penalty of Rs 10,000 under Section 272B. If you already have a PAN, do not apply for a new one — use "Changes or Correction in PAN Data / Reprint" instead, or request a reprint under PAN 2.0.
Not sure whether to apply fresh or correct an existing PAN?
Talk to a PAN Expert →Get an Instant e-PAN with Aadhaar
If you are an individual who does not already have a PAN and your Aadhaar has a valid mobile number linked, the Income Tax e-filing portal issues a free instant e-PAN in about 10 minutes — no Form 49A, no fee and no documents to post.
- Go to the Income Tax e-filing portal and select Instant e-PAN → Get New e-PAN.
- Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and validate with the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
- The e-PAN (PDF) is generated and can be downloaded; it is a valid PAN for all purposes.
The free instant e-PAN route works only for individual applicants who have Aadhaar and no existing PAN. Companies, LLPs, firms, HUFs and trusts must apply through Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL with the relevant form and fee. Minors and foreign citizens also use the full Form 49A/49AA process.
Use instant e-PAN if
- You are an individual with no PAN
- Your mobile is linked to Aadhaar
- You want it free and within minutes
- A digital PDF PAN is enough for now
Use Form 49A instead if
- You need a physical PAN card posted
- The applicant is a company / firm / HUF
- You are a minor or a foreign citizen
- Your Aadhaar mobile is not updated
Documents Required for a PAN Application
For a Form 49A application you provide proof of identity, address and date of birth, plus a photo and signature. Aadhaar can serve all three proofs, and Aadhaar e-Sign makes the process fully paperless.
| Document type | Accepted documents |
|---|---|
| Identity proof | Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport, Driving Licence |
| Address proof | Aadhaar, Voter ID, Passport, electricity bill, bank statement |
| Date-of-birth proof | Aadhaar, birth certificate, Passport, matriculation certificate |
| Photograph | Recent passport-size colour photo (JPEG, ~2-20 KB) |
| Signature | Signature on white paper, scanned (JPEG, ~2-20 KB) |
If you use Aadhaar-based e-Sign, no physical documents need to be posted — details are verified from UIDAI.
- Aadhaar (or ID / address / DOB proofs)
- Passport-size colour photograph
- Scanned signature on white paper
- Active mobile linked to Aadhaar (for e-Sign / e-PAN)
- Email ID for the e-PAN and updates
- AO code (auto-filled by the portal in most cases)
- Payment method — UPI, card or net-banking
Want us to prepare and file your PAN application correctly?
Get PAN Help →PAN Fee and Delivery Timeline
| Application type | Fee | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| New PAN — Indian address | Rs 107 | 15-20 working days |
| New PAN — foreign address | Rs 1,017 | 15-20 working days |
| Correction / reprint (existing portals) | Rs 107 | 15-20 working days |
| Instant e-PAN (Aadhaar OTP) | Free | ~10 minutes |
| e-PAN reprint under PAN 2.0 (email) | Free | Sent to registered email |
| Physical reprint under PAN 2.0 | Rs 50 | As per dispatch |
Fees include GST and are indicative; verify the current amount on the official portal before paying. PAN 2.0 physical-reprint fee is Rs 50 for a domestic address.
How to Track Your PAN Application
- Protean / NSDL: use the status-track page with your acknowledgement number.
- UTIITSL: track with your application coupon number.
- You also receive SMS and email updates at each processing stage.
PAN-Aadhaar linking is mandatory for most taxpayers; an unlinked PAN can become inoperative and attract a fee. After you receive your PAN, check and complete linking. See our PAN-Aadhaar link guide.
Got your PAN? File your income-tax return with expert help.
Get ITR Filing Help →Apply PAN Card — Frequently Asked Questions
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