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Physical PAN Card Application Online Through Protean and UTIITSL – Complete Guide 2026

A PAN Card, or Permanent Account Number, is one of the most important financial identification documents in India. It is used for income-tax-related services and many financial and regulatory transactions.

Today, eligible individuals can also obtain an Instant e-PAN using Aadhaar through the Income Tax Department. However, many people still want or need a physical PAN card delivered to their address.

A physical PAN card can be requested through the authorised PAN service providers Protean eGov Technologies Limited and UTIITSL.

Protean is the company formerly known as NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited for PAN services. The Income Tax Department identifies both UTIITSL and Protean eGov as authorised channels for PAN applications.

There is also an important 2026 update. The old Form 49A has been replaced for new PAN applications. From 1 April 2026, Indian individual citizens apply for a new PAN using Form 93 under the Income Tax Rules, 2026.

This complete guide explains how to apply for a physical PAN card online, which form to use, required documents, fees, verification, acknowledgement number, tracking, delivery, common mistakes and frequently asked questions.

What Is a Physical PAN Card?

A physical PAN card is the printed PAN card issued after a PAN has been allotted by the Income Tax Department.

It generally contains important PAN details such as:

PAN number
Applicant’s name
Photograph, where applicable
Signature, where applicable
Date of birth or relevant details
Other card/security information

PAN itself is a ten-digit alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department. It can be issued as a physical laminated card or as an e-PAN.

The PAN number remains associated with the individual or entity and does not normally require periodic renewal simply because the card is old.

If a person already has a PAN, they should not apply for another PAN. Possessing or using more than one PAN can attract a penalty under the applicable law.

Who Should Apply for a PAN Card?

PAN is required for people and entities covered by the applicable income-tax and financial rules.

A person may need PAN because they:

Are required to file an income-tax return
Carry out specified financial transactions
Need PAN for banking or investment purposes
Need PAN for business or professional activities
Need PAN for certain property transactions
Need PAN for other transactions where quoting PAN is prescribed

The requirement depends on the applicable law and transaction.

PAN is not simply a document for people who pay income tax. It is also used as a common financial identifier for various transactions.

Protean and NSDL: Are They the Same?

Many people still search for “NSDL PAN Card” online.

For PAN services, Protean eGov Technologies Limited is the current name associated with the organisation formerly known as NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited.

Therefore, you may see the following terms online:

NSDL PAN
NSDL PAN application
Protean PAN
Protean eGov PAN

These searches can refer to the same PAN service provider lineage.

The Income Tax Department currently lists Protean eGov and UTIITSL as authorised PAN application channels.

Official PAN Application Portals

For a new PAN application, use only authorised channels.

1. Protean eGov

Official Protean PAN Services

Protean provides online PAN application, document information, application tracking and other PAN-related services.

2. UTIITSL

Official UTIITSL PAN Portal

UTIITSL also provides PAN application and related services. Its current website states that applicants can apply for both a physical PAN card and e-PAN.

3. Income Tax Department

Income Tax Department – PAN Information

The Income Tax Department’s PAN page provides information about PAN, application channels, forms and supporting documents.

Important 2026 Update: Form 49A Has Changed

This is one of the most important updates for anyone publishing or reading an old PAN guide.

Before 31 March 2026, Indian citizens generally used Form 49A for a new PAN application.

From 1 April 2026, new PAN applications use the revised forms under the Income Tax Rules, 2026.

For an individual who is an Indian citizen, the applicable form is:

Form 93 – Application for Allotment of PAN

The Income Tax Department confirms the following mapping:

Applicant	Old Form	Current Form from 1 April 2026
Indian individual	Form 49A	Form 93
Indian non-individual entity	Form 49A	Form 94
Foreign individual	Form 49AA	Form 95
Foreign entity	Form 49AA	Form 96

Therefore, do not publish Form 49A as the current fresh PAN application form for 2026.

Protean also specifically states that new PAN applications from 1 April 2026 must use the new forms and that old PAN application forms are no longer accepted for new applications.

Which PAN Form Should an Indian Individual Use?

If you are an Indian citizen applying for a new PAN, you should use:

Form 93

Form 93 is for an individual who is a citizen of India.

The official PAN information page states that Form 93 applies to:

Indian citizens
Resident individuals
Non-resident Indian citizens
Resident but not ordinarily resident individuals, where applicable

The form is also applicable to Indian citizens who are located outside India, according to Protean’s instructions.

Step-by-Step Physical PAN Card Application Online

The exact screens can change when Protean or UTIITSL updates its portal, but the general process is as follows.

Step 1: Visit an Official PAN Website

Start with the official Income Tax Department PAN information page or directly use an authorised PAN service provider.

Use:

Income Tax Department PAN Information

or:

Protean PAN Services

or:

UTIITSL PAN Services

Avoid websites that are not linked to an authorised PAN service provider.

Step 2: Select New PAN Application

If you have never been allotted a PAN, select the option for a new PAN application.

For an Indian individual, the current application is made using Form 93.

If you already have a PAN and simply want another physical card, do not submit a fresh PAN application.

Instead, use the appropriate reprint or change/correction facility.

Step 3: Enter Your Personal Details

You will need to provide the information requested by the current PAN application form.

Depending on the applicant category, information can include:

Full name
Name as per Aadhaar
Date of birth
Gender
Aadhaar details
Residential address
Office address, where applicable
Residential status
Passport details for applicable non-resident categories
Contact number
Email address
Source of income
Parent details
Other information required by the form

Protean’s current Form 93 instructions state that the form should be completed in English and that mandatory fields must be filled.

Step 4: Enter Your Name Carefully

Name-related mistakes are among the most common problems in identity documents.

Before submitting the application, carefully check:

First name
Middle name
Last name
Name as per Aadhaar
Spelling
Order of the name

The current Form 93 instructions contain specific requirements regarding the applicant’s name and name as per Aadhaar.

Do not randomly shorten or change your name.

If your Aadhaar contains initials, check the current PAN instructions carefully before submission. Protean’s Form 93 guidance explains how expanded names and Aadhaar names are handled.

Step 5: Provide Aadhaar Details

For Indian individual applicants, Aadhaar is generally an important part of the current PAN application process.

The Income Tax Department’s current PAN FAQ states that Aadhaar is mandatory for Form 93 applicants except for specified exempt categories.

Therefore, older articles saying simply “Aadhaar is optional for everyone” should not be followed for the current 2026 process.

Step 6: Provide Supporting Documents

The current PAN rules require prescribed supporting documents.

Broadly, these relate to:

Proof of identity
Proof of address
Proof of date of birth

The official PAN information page confirms these categories under Rule 158 of the Income Tax Rules, 2026.

Protean’s current document list for Form 93 includes documents such as:

Aadhaar
Indian Passport
Driving Licence
Voter ID
Certain government-issued photo identity cards
Other prescribed documents

Important

Do not assume that every document works for every category.

The accepted documents can depend on:

Applicant category
Citizenship
Residential status
Whether the applicant is a minor
Whether the application is paperless
Whether the applicant is an NRI

Always check the current official document list before submission.

Step 7: Choose Physical PAN Card

If you want a printed PAN card delivered to your address, make sure you select the option for a physical PAN card during the application process.

This is different from requesting only an e-PAN.

The UTIITSL portal currently states that applicants can apply for both physical PAN card and e-PAN.

If you request only an e-PAN, a physical card may not be dispatched under that option.

Step 8: Complete Authentication and Submission

Depending on the application method, authentication may be completed through:

Aadhaar-based e-KYC
e-Sign
Digital Signature Certificate
Scanned document-based process
Physical document submission

The available options can depend on the applicant and application type.

For applications that require physical documents, the documents and signed acknowledgement may need to be forwarded to the designated PAN processing centre.

Protean provides separate instructions for paperless and physical-document application modes.

Step 9: Pay the PAN Application Fee

The fee depends on the application method and delivery location.

For a current Indian application requesting a physical PAN card, the fee shown by UTIITSL is:

Physical PAN Card + e-PAN for an Indian address: ₹107

UTIITSL’s current PAN portal states:

Physical PAN Card + e-PAN: ₹107
e-PAN only: ₹72
Physical PAN/e-PAN for dispatch outside India: ₹1,017 for the physical-card option shown by UTIITSL

Protean’s current fee information similarly shows ₹107 inclusive of taxes for physical PAN dispatch in India under the applicable physical-document/online physical mode, while its paperless mode shows ₹101 for physical PAN dispatch in India.

Why can different fees appear?

PAN processing fees can vary according to:

Application mode
Paperless/e-KYC method
Physical document method
Indian or foreign communication address
Service provider

Therefore, ₹1,011 should not be presented as the standard current Indian physical PAN fee.

Always check the amount displayed on the authorised portal immediately before payment.

Step 10: Save the Acknowledgement Number

After successful submission/payment, you will receive an acknowledgement or reference number.

For Protean applications, the acknowledgement number is important for tracking the application.

The older Protean documentation describes a 15-digit acknowledgement number, while current online systems may use reference/acknowledgement identifiers depending on the application flow.

Save:

Acknowledgement/reference number
Payment receipt
Application copy
Submitted documents
Email/SMS confirmation

Take a screenshot or download the acknowledgement for future use.

Step 11: Send Physical Documents If Required

Not every online PAN application requires physical documents.

For paper-based or physical-document processing, the signed application and prescribed documents may need to be sent to the address specified by the service provider.

Protean’s current website states that, except for e-Sign/DSC-based applications, the online application form with photograph/signature and prescribed supporting documents should be sent to its Income Tax PAN Services Unit.

Therefore, carefully follow the instructions displayed after submitting your application.

Step 12: Track Your PAN Application

You can track the application using the acknowledgement/reference number.

The Income Tax Department confirms that PAN applicants can track their application through the designated UTIITSL or Protean eGov portal using the acknowledgement/reference number.

Protean

Protean PAN Services and Tracking

UTIITSL

UTIITSL PAN Portal

The tracking page may show stages such as:

Application received
Document verification
PAN allotted
PAN card printing
Dispatch
Delivery-related status

The exact wording depends on the portal.

Step 13: Receive the Physical PAN Card

After successful processing and PAN allotment, the physical card is printed and dispatched to the communication address provided in the application.

If an e-mail address is provided, an e-PAN may also be sent electronically depending on the application and service option.

Keep the communication address accurate to avoid delivery problems.

How Long Does a Physical PAN Card Take?

The exact processing and delivery time can vary.

It depends on:

Application type
Authentication method
Document verification
Whether discrepancies exist
Printing
Dispatch
Postal delivery

Therefore, it is better not to promise a fixed number of days.

If there is a discrepancy or missing document, processing may take longer.

Documents Required for Physical PAN Card

For an Indian individual, the current application generally requires prescribed proof relating to:

Identity

Examples can include:

Aadhaar
Indian Passport
Driving Licence
Voter ID
Certain government-issued identity cards

Address

Depending on the prescribed list and applicant circumstances, accepted documents can include Aadhaar, passport and other approved documents.

Date of Birth

The current document requirements must be checked carefully because the rules changed in 2026.

For example, Aadhaar should not automatically be treated as a date-of-birth proof merely because it is accepted for identity/address purposes. The current Form 93 document list distinguishes the purposes for which documents can be used.

This is an important difference from many older PAN guides.

Can a Minor Apply for PAN?

Yes.

A minor can have a PAN.

The application is made through the appropriate Representative Assessee (RA) process.

The Income Tax Department’s current PAN FAQ confirms that a minor can apply and that additional documents relating to the representative assessee may be required.

Parents or guardians should carefully check the current Form 93 instructions before submitting a minor’s application.

Can an NRI Indian Citizen Apply for PAN?

Yes.

Indian citizens located outside India can use the relevant Indian-citizen PAN application route, subject to the applicable requirements.

Protean’s Form 93 instructions specifically state that Indian citizens located outside India should also use the Form 93/Form 94 route as applicable.

For an Indian citizen living outside India, the address/document requirements can be different, so check the official instructions.

What If You Already Have a PAN?

This is very important.

Do not apply for a new PAN just because you want a physical card.

If you already have a PAN, you can request:

Reprint of PAN card
Change in PAN details
Correction in PAN data

Protean’s instructions state that a person who has already been allotted a ten-digit PAN should not apply again for another PAN.

The Income Tax Department also warns that having more than one PAN can attract a penalty.

What If You Have an Instant e-PAN?

If you already have a PAN generated through the Income Tax Department’s Instant e-PAN facility, you do not need to apply for a second PAN.

You can request a printed physical card.

The Income Tax Department specifically says that if a PAN has already been allotted, a printed physical PAN card can be requested through the Protean or UTIITSL links.

This is useful for people who already have an e-PAN but want a physical card.

Instant e-PAN vs Physical PAN Application

Feature	Instant e-PAN	Physical PAN Application
PAN number	Yes	Yes
Physical card	No	Yes, if selected
Aadhaar-based	Yes	Current PAN rules require Aadhaar for most Form 93 individuals
Application form	No traditional form	Current prescribed PAN form
Physical delivery	No	Yes
Best for	Eligible Aadhaar users needing PAN quickly	Applicants needing physical card or not eligible for Instant e-PAN
Service provider	Income Tax e-Filing	Protean/UTIITSL

The Income Tax Department states that Instant e-PAN is free and online for eligible applicants and does not require filling out a traditional application form.

Is a Physical PAN Card Mandatory?

Not always.

The PAN number itself is the important identifier.

An e-PAN is a valid form of PAN. The Income Tax Department confirms that Instant e-PAN is a valid form of PAN even though no physical card is issued through that service.

However, someone may still prefer a physical card for:

Keeping a wallet copy
Office documentation
Banking paperwork
Personal convenience
Situations where a printed card is requested

Whether a particular organisation requires a physical card is a separate matter.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Form 49A in 2026

For fresh applications after 1 April 2026, Indian citizens should use Form 93, not the old Form 49A.

2. Applying for PAN Twice

If you already have PAN, don’t apply for another one.

3. Entering a Wrong Name

Make sure the name is entered according to the current application requirements and supporting documents.

4. Incorrect Date of Birth

Check the date carefully before submitting.

5. Wrong Address

The physical card is dispatched to the communication address.

6. Using Unofficial Websites

Use only Income Tax Department, Protean or UTIITSL websites.

7. Ignoring Application Discrepancies

If the portal asks for additional documents or correction, respond within the specified process.

8. Paying Unverified Agents

Do not pay random websites or individuals claiming to be government-authorised PAN agents.

How to Protect Yourself from PAN Card Scams

PAN contains important financial identity information.

Never share your:

PAN details unnecessarily
Aadhaar OTP
Banking PIN
UPI PIN
Internet banking password
Card PIN
Login password

Use official websites.

The Income Tax Department’s PAN information page currently directs applicants to UTIITSL and Protean eGov for online PAN applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a physical PAN card?

A physical PAN card is the printed PAN card issued after PAN allotment and dispatched to the communication address.

What is the current PAN application form for an Indian citizen in 2026?

From 1 April 2026, an Indian citizen applying for a new PAN uses Form 93.

Is Form 49A still valid for new PAN applications?

For new applications from 1 April 2026, Form 49A has been replaced by the new forms under the Income Tax Rules, 2026. Indian individual citizens use Form 93.

What replaced Form 49A?

For an Indian individual, Form 93 replaced Form 49A.

For an Indian non-individual entity, Form 94 applies.

What is the current physical PAN card fee?

The amount depends on the application mode and delivery address. UTIITSL currently displays ₹107 for physical PAN + e-PAN for an Indian address and ₹72 for e-PAN only. Protean’s fee structure can differ by submission mode.

Always verify the final amount on the official portal before payment.

Can I apply through NSDL?

PAN services formerly associated with NSDL e-Governance are now provided under Protean eGov Technologies Limited.

Can I apply through UTIITSL?

Yes. UTIITSL is an authorised PAN service provider.

Can I choose Protean or UTIITSL?

Yes. Both are authorised PAN service providers listed by the Income Tax Department.

Can I get a physical PAN if I already have e-PAN?

Yes. If PAN has already been allotted, you can request a printed physical PAN card through the appropriate Protean or UTIITSL facility.

Is Aadhaar required for a new Indian individual PAN application?

Under the current 2026 PAN FAQ, Aadhaar is mandatory for Form 93 applicants except specified exempt categories.

Can a minor get PAN?

Yes. A minor can apply through the appropriate representative assessee process.

Can an NRI Indian citizen apply for PAN?

Yes, subject to the applicable requirements and documentation.

How can I track my PAN application?

Use the acknowledgement/reference number on the official Protean or UTIITSL tracking facility.

Is PAN valid for a lifetime?

PAN is a permanent identifier and does not normally expire like a passport or driving licence. If your details change, the PAN data can be updated through the appropriate correction process.

Can I have two PAN cards?

You should not have or use more than one PAN. A person already allotted a PAN should use the existing PAN and request correction/reprint when necessary.

Quick Checklist Before Submitting PAN Application

Before clicking the final submit button, check:

Conclusion

Applying for a physical PAN card online through Protean or UTIITSL is a convenient way to obtain a printed PAN card while completing the application digitally.

However, PAN rules changed significantly in 2026. The biggest point to remember is that Form 49A is no longer the current fresh PAN application form for Indian individual citizens. From 1 April 2026, Indian citizens use Form 93 under the Income Tax Rules, 2026.

Applicants should use only authorised PAN service providers, provide accurate personal and document information, select the physical-card option when required, pay the fee shown by the official portal and save the acknowledgement/reference number.

If you already have a PAN or an Instant e-PAN, do not apply for another PAN. Instead, use the appropriate physical-card reprint or correction facility.

For the latest application process, fees and documents, always verify the information on the official Income Tax Department, Protean and UTIITSL websites before submitting your application.

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