When you apply for a new PAN (or a change or correction) online through Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov) or UTIITSL, some modes ask you to upload your own photo and signature. Other modes, like Aadhaar e-KYC, take your photo from Aadhaar, so there is nothing to upload. This guide is for the scan-and-upload modes.
Protean (NSDL) scanning specifications
- Photo: colour JPEG, 200 DPI, 3.5 × 2.5 cm (height × width). At 200 DPI that is about 197 × 276 pixels (width × height).
- Signature: colour JPEG, 200 DPI, 2 × 4.5 cm (height × width), about 354 × 157 pixels.
- Supporting documents: PDF/A or JPEG, 200 DPI, black and white, up to 300 KB per page.
File size: Protean's application guidelines table gives a maximum of 20 KB for the photo and 10 KB for the signature, while one of Protean's own help articles mentions up to 50 KB. To be safe, keep the photo under 20 KB and the signature under 10 KB; that meets both.
UTIITSL
UTIITSL uses its own scanning specifications, which differ from Protean's (for example in pixel size and DPI). Check the size and format shown on the UTIITSL upload page before you prepare your files.
Step 1: Make the photo
- Take a photo against a plain white or light wall in daylight, looking straight at the camera.
- In the Passport Size Photo Maker, choose the 25 × 35 mm size (this is 2.5 cm wide × 3.5 cm high) and frame your face.
- Download the single photo and compress it with Compress Image to 20 KB.
Step 2: Make the signature
- Sign on plain white paper with a dark pen.
- Photograph it from straight above and crop it with the Image Cropper to a wide strip.
- Resize to about 354 × 157 pixels with the Image Resizer.
- Compress with the Image Compressor, target 9 KB.
Your signature appears on the PAN card, so make sure it is sharp and dark after compression.
Step 3: Supporting documents
Scan or photograph your ID, address and date of birth proof, make a PDF, and keep each page under 300 KB with the PDF Compressor.
New form names
With the new income-tax rules, Protean's pages now refer to the PAN application for Indian citizens as Form 93 (earlier Form 49A). The upload steps are the same.
Specifications can change. Always check the instructions on the Protean (onlineservices.proteantech.in) or UTIITSL (pan.utiitsl.com) page you are applying through before you upload. ToolSandook is not connected to the Income Tax Department, Protean or UTIITSL.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PAN card photo size for NSDL (Protean)?
Protean asks for a colour JPEG photo at 200 DPI, 3.5 cm high × 2.5 cm wide (about 197 × 276 pixels). Its guidelines table gives a 20 KB maximum, so keep it under 20 KB.
What is the PAN card signature size?
On Protean, a colour JPEG at 200 DPI, 2 cm high × 4.5 cm wide (about 354 × 157 pixels). Keep it under 10 KB to meet the stricter limit in Protean's guidelines.
Do I need to upload a photo for PAN through Aadhaar e-KYC?
No. In the e-KYC mode your photo is taken from Aadhaar, so you cannot upload your own.
Are UTIITSL and NSDL photo sizes the same?
No. UTIITSL uses its own specifications. Check the size shown on the UTIITSL upload page before you prepare your photo.