--- title: Applying for a PAN Card in India country: india service: "pan-card" category: finance difficulty: moderate estimated_time: "Minutes for Instant e-PAN via Aadhaar; longer for Form 49A (timeline depends on KYC verification and card dispatch)" cost_range: "Free for Instant e-PAN; INR 72-1,017 for Form 49A (depending on physical card and dispatch location)" last_verified: 2026-04-30 canonical: https://publicservices.guide/india/pan-card/ status: current confidence: low tags: - tax - finance - identification - pan - aadhaar - mandatory sources: - https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/tax-services/apply-for-pan - https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/all-topics/e-filing-services/instant-e-pan - https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/how-to-generate-instant-e-pan - https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/e-filing-generate-instant-e-pan-faq - https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/how-to-link-aadhaar - https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/communications/circular/circular-9-2025.pdf - https://uidai.gov.in/en/my-aadhaar/about-your-aadhaar.html --- # Applying for a PAN Card in India **Country:** 🇮đŸ‡ŗ India **Last verified:** 2026-04-30 **Estimated time:** Minutes for Instant e-PAN via Aadhaar; longer for Form 49A (timeline depends on KYC verification and card dispatch) **Cost:** Free for Instant e-PAN; INR 72-1,017 for Form 49A (depending on physical card and dispatch location) ## Required documents - **Aadhaar** *(ā¤†ā¤§ā¤žā¤°)* - Required: Valid Aadhaar with updated KYC details (for the Instant e-PAN path) - Where to get: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) - Cost: Already issued - _Note:_ Required for the Instant e-PAN path. The mobile number linked to your Aadhaar must be active because the entire flow uses an OTP sent to it. If your KYC is incomplete or the mobile is not linked, update Aadhaar first via UIDAI before starting. - **Identity, address, and date-of-birth proofs (Form 49A path only)** - Required: One document each from the lists in Form 49A instructions - Where to get: Form 49A instructions on the Income Tax Department portal - Cost: Free (you already hold these) - _Note:_ Only needed if you apply via the paper or online Form 49A flow at Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL — for example, where Aadhaar e-KYC cannot be used. The Income Tax Department publishes the accepted document lists in the Form 49A instructions; check there before submitting. ## Costs - **Instant e-PAN (Aadhaar-based, online):** 0 INR — Per the Income Tax Department, the Instant e-PAN service is completely free of cost. - **Form 49A — without physical card:** 72 INR — Per the Income Tax Department fee schedule on the Apply for PAN page. Includes GST. You receive the e-PAN PDF only. - **Form 49A — with physical card dispatched within India:** 107 INR — Per the Income Tax Department fee schedule on the Apply for PAN page. Includes GST. - **Form 49A — with physical card dispatched outside India:** 1017 INR — Per the Income Tax Department: INR 107 application fee plus an additional INR 910 dispatch charge for delivery outside India. - **Late PAN-Aadhaar linking fee (optional):** 1000 INR — Applies only when linking Aadhaar to an existing inoperative PAN after the prescribed deadline, per CBDT notification No. 17/2022. Not part of a fresh PAN application. ## Steps ### 1. Confirm Eligibility - Indian citizens without an existing PAN: Instant e-PAN is the fastest path if you have Aadhaar and a linked mobile number - Indian citizens needing a physical card or without Aadhaar: use Form 49A via Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL - Foreign citizens and foreign entities: use Form 49AA via Protean or UTIITSL — Instant e-PAN is not available to you > **Tip:** If you already have a PAN linked to your Aadhaar, do not start a fresh application — request an e-PAN copy or a reprint instead through the same intermediaries. ### 2. Prepare Your Aadhaar (Instant e-PAN Path) - Confirm your Aadhaar KYC details (name, date of birth, address) are up to date - Confirm the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar is active — the entire flow runs on an OTP sent to it - Update Aadhaar through UIDAI first if either is out of date > **If this fails:** If the linked mobile is no longer with you, the OTP will never arrive. Update the mobile linkage at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or via UIDAI's myAadhaar portal before retrying. _Useful phrases:_ - "ā¤ŽāĨ‡ā¤°āĨ‡ ā¤†ā¤§ā¤žā¤° ā¤¸āĨ‡ ā¤œāĨā¤Ąā¤ŧā¤ž ā¤ŽāĨ‹ā¤Ŧā¤žā¤‡ā¤˛ ā¤¨ā¤‚ā¤Ŧā¤° ā¤Ŧā¤Ļā¤˛ā¤¨ā¤ž ā¤šāĨˆ" (mere aadhaar se juda mobile number badalna hai) — I need to change the mobile number linked to my Aadhaar. — use when Speaking with staff at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra ### 3. Apply for Instant e-PAN on the e-Filing Portal - Open the e-Filing portal home page and click the Instant e-PAN quick link - Click Get New e-PAN, enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number, and accept the consent checkbox - Enter the 6-digit OTP sent to your linked mobile (valid 15 minutes, up to 3 attempts) and continue - Confirm the Aadhaar details displayed and submit > **Tip:** Keep your Aadhaar card in front of you so you can match the displayed details exactly before confirming. _Links:_ - [Instant e-PAN — e-Filing Portal](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/all-topics/e-filing-services/instant-e-pan) ### 4. Download Your e-PAN - Note the Acknowledgement Number shown on the success screen - Wait for the SMS confirmation sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile - Return to the e-Filing portal, log in or use the Acknowledgement Number, and select View e-PAN or Download e-PAN > **Tip:** Save the e-PAN PDF in DigiLocker — it is recognised as a valid document copy and is easy to share with banks and employers. ### 5. Use Form 49A via Protean or UTIITSL (Alternative Path) - Go to the Protean (NSDL) PAN Services portal or the UTIITSL PAN portal — both are intermediaries authorised by the Income Tax Department - Choose New PAN — Indian Citizens (Form 49A) or, for foreign citizens, New PAN — Foreign Citizens (Form 49AA) - Select the option based on Aadhaar e-KYC if available, or scanned-document submission, or a physical paper application - Pay the applicable fee online and note the acknowledgement number - Track status on the same portal until the PAN is allotted; the e-PAN is emailed; the physical card is dispatched if requested > **If this fails:** If your name or date of birth on the application does not match Aadhaar exactly, processing will pause. Correct the data on the application or update Aadhaar to match before resubmitting. _Links:_ - [Income Tax Department — Apply for PAN](https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/tax-services/apply-for-pan) ### 6. Confirm PAN-Aadhaar Linking - If you applied via Instant e-PAN, the PAN is linked to Aadhaar by design — no further action needed - If you applied via Form 49A and provided your Aadhaar in the form, the link is also created at issuance - Verify the linked status under Quick Links → Link Aadhaar/View Status on the e-Filing portal > **Tip:** An unlinked PAN can become inoperative. If you ever notice your PAN listed as inoperative, link Aadhaar through the portal and pay the late linking fee via e-Pay Tax to restore operative status. _Links:_ - [Link Aadhaar Status — e-Filing Portal](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/how-to-link-aadhaar) ## FAQ ### Should I use Instant e-PAN or apply via Form 49A? If you are an Indian resident with a valid Aadhaar (with updated KYC and a linked mobile number) and you do not already have a PAN, the Instant e-PAN path on the e-Filing portal is the simplest route — it is free, takes about ten minutes, and gives you a digital PAN that the Income Tax Department recognises as valid. Use the Form 49A path through Protean or UTIITSL if you need a physical PAN card, you do not have Aadhaar (for example, foreign citizens applying via Form 49AA), or your Aadhaar KYC is incomplete and you cannot update it before applying. ### Is the e-PAN as valid as a physical PAN card? Yes. Per the Income Tax Department, the e-PAN issued through the Instant e-PAN service is a valid form of PAN. Banks, employers, and government services that ask for PAN accept the e-PAN PDF. If you specifically need a printed card, you can later request one through Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL for a small fee — links are provided on the Income Tax e-Filing portal after your e-PAN is allotted. ### Who cannot use Instant e-PAN? Per the Income Tax Department FAQ, Instant e-PAN is not available to foreign citizens, to individuals whose Aadhaar is already linked to an existing PAN, to those with incomplete Aadhaar KYC, to minors on the date of request, or to anyone covered under the definition of Representative Assessee under the Income Tax Act. These applicants must use Form 49A or 49AA via Protean or UTIITSL. ### What is Form 49A versus Form 49AA? Form 49A is the application for allotment of PAN for Indian citizens, Indian companies, and entities incorporated in India, per the Income Tax Department. Form 49AA is used by foreign citizens and entities not incorporated in India. Both are processed through the same authorised intermediaries — Protean (NSDL) and UTIITSL. ### Do I need to link my new PAN with Aadhaar? If you obtain your PAN through the Instant e-PAN path, the link is established automatically because Aadhaar is the basis of the application. If you apply via Form 49A and provide your Aadhaar in the form, the link is also established at issuance. The mandatory linking rule applies to existing PAN holders allotted PAN on or before 01-07-2017; PAN that is not linked becomes inoperative until you link it and pay any applicable fee. ### How long does it take to get a PAN? The Instant e-PAN flow typically completes within minutes once the Aadhaar OTP is verified, with the e-PAN PDF available to download from the e-Filing portal soon after. Form 49A processing time depends on the channel and on KYC verification — Protean and UTIITSL publish indicative timelines on their portals; physical card dispatch adds postal time on top of that. ### I made a mistake on my application — can I correct it? Yes. Both Protean and UTIITSL offer a separate PAN correction or change service that uses a different application form. Use that service for changes to name, date of birth, address, signature, or photograph. The fees and process are similar to a new application; the form is filed under the existing PAN. ## Sources - [Income Tax Department, Government of India](https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/tax-services/apply-for-pan) — accessed 2026-04-30 — _T1_ — Form 49A is the application for allotment of PAN for Indian citizens, Indian companies, and entities incorporated in India. Application forms may be obtained from IT PAN Service Centres (UTIITSL) or TIN-Facilitation Centres / PAN Centres (Protean), or downloaded from the Income Tax Department website. Fees: INR 107 (incl. GST) if a physical PAN card is required, INR 72 (incl. GST) if a physical card is not required, plus an additional dispatch charge of INR 910 for cards dispatched outside India. - [Income Tax Department, Government of India](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/all-topics/e-filing-services/instant-e-pan) — accessed 2026-04-30 — _T1_ — Instant e-PAN enables individuals without a PAN to obtain one online using Aadhaar authentication. Prerequisites: an individual who has not been allotted a PAN; a valid Aadhaar with updated KYC details and a mobile number linked to Aadhaar; not a minor on the date of request; not a Representative Assessee. The service is free of cost. The applicant receives an e-PAN, which is a valid form of PAN; no paperwork is required. - [Income Tax Department, Government of India](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/how-to-generate-instant-e-pan) — accessed 2026-04-30 — _T1_ — Instant e-PAN steps: enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number and accept the consent terms; enter the 6-digit OTP received on the mobile number linked to Aadhaar (OTP valid for 15 minutes; up to 3 attempts); validate Aadhaar details with UIDAI; on successful submission, an Acknowledgement Number is displayed and a confirmation message is sent to the registered mobile number. The e-PAN can later be viewed or downloaded from the post-login section of the e-Filing portal. - [Income Tax Department, Government of India](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/e-filing-generate-instant-e-pan-faq) — accessed 2026-04-30 — _T1_ — Instant e-PAN exclusions: foreign citizens are ineligible; individuals whose Aadhaar is already linked to an existing PAN cannot apply; individuals with incomplete Aadhaar KYC are not eligible. After the e-PAN is allotted, a printed physical PAN card can be obtained through Protean or UTIITSL via their respective portals. - [Income Tax Department, Government of India](https://www.incometax.gov.in/iec/foportal/help/how-to-link-aadhaar) — accessed 2026-04-30 — _T1_ — For existing PAN holders, who were allotted PAN on or before 01-07-2017 it is mandatory to link PAN with Aadhaar. Failure to link results in PAN becoming inoperative. A late linking fee applies and must be paid via e-Pay Tax before submission. - [Central Board of Direct Taxes, Ministry of Finance](https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/communications/circular/circular-9-2025.pdf) — accessed 2026-04-30 — _T1_ — A fee of one thousand rupees applies to make an inoperative PAN operative by intimating the Aadhaar number after the prescribed deadline. The fee was prescribed under Rule 114 by CBDT notification No. 17/2022 dated 29-03-2022. - [Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)](https://uidai.gov.in/en/my-aadhaar/about-your-aadhaar.html) — accessed 2026-04-30 — _T1_ — Aadhaar is a 12-digit random number issued by UIDAI to residents of India after a verification process. It is a digital identity that can be authenticated through biometrics or mobile OTP. PAN-Aadhaar linking is performed via the Income Tax Department website. --- Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state. 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