How to Apply for PAN Card Online (2026): NSDL, UTI & Instant e-PAN via Aadhaar

Last verified: 1 September 2026 — Fee and steps checked on Protean (NSDL) TIN-NSDL, UTIITSL and Income Tax e-Filing Instant e-PAN. Fees include GST — foreign address is higher. Guide by Rajendra Todkar, PuneInvest.

PAN is the 10-character key for every tax and high-value financial transaction — ITR, bank account, mutual fund, property and DEMAT. In 2026 you have three routes: instant e-PAN via Aadhaar (free, 10 minutes) or the classic NSDL/UTIITSL online flow with card delivery, plus offline via TIN-FC.

Which Route Should You Choose?

Route	Best for	Time	Cost	What you get
Instant e-PAN (Income Tax portal, Aadhaar eKYC)	Need PAN now, have linked Aadhaar + mobile	10 min e-PAN PDF; no card automatically	Free	e-PAN PDF (signed). Apply for physical card later via NSDL reprint if needed.
Protean/NSDL — Form 49A/49AA online	Indian residents wanting physical card + e-PAN	e-PAN in 2–3 days, card in 7–15 days after verification	Rs 107 incl. GST (India address); Rs 922 (foreign address dispatch)	Physical card by post + e-PAN email
UTIITSL — Form 49A/49AA	Alternative portal, similar	Similar TAT	Similar + payment gateway charges	Similar
Offline — TIN-FC / PAN centre	No internet / need assisted form	15–20 working days	Same fee + centre handling	Physical card

If your Aadhaar is linked and you only need PAN to start KYC (mutual funds, bank), Instant e-PAN first, then reprint if you want the plastic.

Eligibility and Documents

Who can apply: Individuals (Indian citizen, NRI/OCI, minor via guardian), HUF, firms, companies, LLP, trusts, associations — use Form 49A for Indian entities, 49AA for foreign nationality.

Documents (online eKYC preferred today):

POI + POA + DOB — Aadhaar covers all three when eKYC OTP is used.
If Aadhaar not linked: Aadhaar, Passport, Driving Licence, Voter ID, or central/state photo ID + proof of address (utility bill/bank statement) + birth proof.
Photo — 3.5×2.5 cm colour, plain background. Signature in black ink within the box.
Ensure self-attested copies if physical courier is requested.

Keep mobile/email correct — all status, NSDL/UTI acknowledgement and e-PAN delivery come there.

A. Instant e-PAN via Aadhaar — 5 Steps (Free, 10 Minutes)

Go to incometax.gov.in > Instant e-PAN > Get New e-PAN.
Enter 12-digit Aadhaar, accept consent, get OTP on Aadhaar-linked mobile, validate.
Validate email (optional) — tick that Aadhaar details are correct.
Aadhaar photo is fetched; submit. Acknowledgement ID shown — note it.
Check status via “Check Status / Download PAN” after ~30 minutes. Download the e-PAN PDF — password is DOB in DDMMYYYY.

No payment, no upload. Note: name/DOB must match Aadhaar exactly; corrections later go via NSDL/UTI “Changes/Correction”.

B. Online via Protean (NSDL) — Recommended Full Flow

Visit: NSDL PAN Services (Protean) > Apply New PAN > 49A (Indian) / 49AA (foreign). Choose Individual.
Fill Form 49A: Name exactly as per Aadhaar (Title + Last/Surname, First, Middle), DOB, gender, parents’ names, address for communication, Aadhaar number (mandatory since 2017 linking), source of income.
Submission mode: Choose e-KYC & e-Sign (PAPERLESS) (fastest — Aadhaar OTP + e-Sign), or e-Sign via DSC, or Physical documents (courier). For eKYC, no courier needed.
Pay: Rs 107 (India) via BillDesk/Paytm — UPI/cards/net banking. Foreign dispatch Rs 922. GST inclusive.
Authenticate: Aadhaar OTP e-KYC and Aadhaar-based e-Sign — sign with OTP. If physical, courier signed form + docs to NSDL Pune within 15 days.
Track: Acknowledgement with 15-digit ID. Track at tin-nsdl.com > PAN > Track. e-PAN lands by email in 48–72 hours after approval; physical card by India Post in 7–15 days. Status also updates via SMS/email.

C. UTIITSL Flow

Nearly identical at [UTIITSL PAN](https://www.utiitsl.com/pan/) — Form 49A, choose physical/eKYC, pay, e-Sign/Aadhaar OTP. TAT similar. Some users report gateway reconciliation delays — if payment debits but no receipt, wait 1 hour before re-paying and raise a ticket with the acknowledgement.

Offline via TIN-FC

Get Form 49A from TIN-FC or download from NSDL/UTI site.
Fill in BLOCK LETTERS, black ink, affix two photos, sign across one.
Attach self-attested POI/POA/DOB copies.
Submit + fee (often Rs 107 + Rs 10–20 centre fee). Keep the 15-digit acknowledgement.
Track online with that number; card arrives by post.

Tips That Prevent Rejection

Name match: PAN application name must match Aadhaar’s name order. Short forms or married-name drift = correction later.
Photo specs: Plain white, no shadows, face 75% of frame. Rejections often trace to tilted phone photos.
Aadhaar link: Mention correct Aadhaar; linking PAN-Aadhaar is mandatory before ITR filing.
Contact details: Give a mobile you keep — NSDL/UTI OTP and status flow there.
eKYC vs Physical: eKYC avoids courier rejections (signature outside box, blurry docs).

After You Get PAN

Download e-PAN: Income Tax portal or NSDL e-PAN facility (PAN + DOB + acknowledgement).
Check status: NSDL Track PAN and UTI Track PAN both work with PAN or acknowledgement.
Corrections / Reprint: Use CSF — Request for Changes/Correction (NSDL/UTI) — name, DOB, photo, signature, address; same fee slabs.
Link to Aadhaar: Mandatory — via e-filing > Link Aadhaar before filing. Penalty Rs 1,000 under 234H if not linked by due date.

NSDL vs UTI — Which Is Better?

Both are government-authorized and issue the same PAN. Turnaround is usually similar, but anecdotal and our 2024 correction file showed NSDL’s eKYC + eSign to e-PAN email in ~48 hours and card in ~9 days, while a UTI payment debited but portal did not generate a receipt even after a ticket (UTI Helpdesk #569317), requiring a second filing. Choose either — keep both acknowledgement numbers safe and prefer Aadhaar eKYC + eSign over physical courier for fewer failure points.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a PAN take? Instant e-PAN: 30 min. NSDL/UTI eKYC: e-PAN 2–3 days, card 7–15 days. Physical courier: 15–20 working days.

Can an NRI apply? Yes — Form 49AA, Indian address for communication if preferred (fee Indian slab), or foreign address at the higher fee. Documents: passport is mandatory.

Is Aadhaar mandatory? For eKYC and for linking PAN, yes. Government-notified transactions need PAN.

Can I update PAN after? Yes — CSF form for name/DOB/photo. eKYC again quickest.

How to check status? On Protean (tin-nsdl.com > Services > PAN > Know Status) and UTIITSL (Track PAN) with 15-digit acknowledgement, or Income Tax portal for e-PAN with Aadhaar.

Which portal is faster today? For fresh allotment, both comparable — pick the one where your payment succeeds cleanly; retry with the other if gateway stalls.

Conclusion: Need it today? Do Instant e-PAN in 10 minutes, then file KYC. Need the laminated card quickly? Use NSDL eKYC + eSign — paperless, 2–3 day e-PAN and card by next week. Either way, keep Aadhaar name spelling identical and save the acknowledgement number.

Also read: Investment basics — mutual fund guide • KYC status check