Official NSDL & UTIITSL PAN Card Upload Specifications
When applying for a new Permanent Account Number (PAN Card Form 49A) or requesting corrections on either the Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL portal, applicants must upload scanned biometrics that meet strict resolution and DPI standards. Because PAN cards are physical laminated cards with laser-printed images, the Income Tax Department strictly enforces 200 DPI resolution.
| Document | Physical Dimensions | DPI / Pixel Dimensions | File Size Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color Photograph | 3.5 cm (height) × 2.5 cm (width) | 200 DPI (213 × 295 pixels) | Strictly under 50 KB (JPG) |
| Signature | 2.0 cm (height) × 4.5 cm (width) | 200 DPI (400 × 177 pixels) | Strictly under 50 KB (JPG) |
| Supporting Proofs (Aadhaar / ID) | Standard A4 Page | 200 DPI Grayscale / Color | Strictly under 300 KB (PDF) |
⚡ One-Click PAN Resizer:
Easily format your photo to 3.5×2.5 cm and signature to 4.5×2.0 cm under 50KB with our free SizeSnap Passport Photo Maker and Signature Tool.
Common Reasons PAN Applications Get Rejected or Delayed
- Wrong Signature Color: NSDL and UTIITSL strongly recommend a black ink pen for signatures. Faint blue ballpoint pens fail OCR scanning during physical card printing.
- Resolution Below 200 DPI: Uploading a compressed 72 DPI smartphone image results in pixelation on the physical PVC PAN card.
- Background Noise: The photo must have a clean, light-colored or white background. Dark backgrounds obscure the facial boundary.
- Supporting PDF Exceeding 300 KB: Scanned Aadhaar copies often exceed 1 MB. Use our PDF Compressor to reduce your file below 300 KB while keeping numbers readable.
How to Resize Supporting Documents (PDF under 300 KB)
- Scan both sides of your Aadhaar Card or Identity Proof.
- Use our Free PDF Compressor or check our guide on How to Compress PDFs for Government Portals.
- Ensure all 12 digits of your Aadhaar number and your date of birth are razor-sharp before uploading to the NSDL portal.
Conclusion
Get your physical PAN card dispatched without delays by formatting your images precisely to 200 DPI and under 50 KB using SizeSnap Photo Maker.