Passport Photo for PAN Card (NSDL & UTIITSL)
Both PAN issuing portals — Protean (NSDL) and UTIITSL — accept Form 49A (Indian citizens) and Form 49AA (foreign citizens) online. Each form asks you to upload a passport-style photo and a separate signature image, both with strict size and KB limits. This page covers the upload specs and how to generate compliant files from a single photo.
Specifications at a glance
- Photo dimensions
- 213 × 213 px (3.5 × 2.5 cm physical)
- Photo file format
- JPEG
- Photo file size
- 20 KB – 50 KB
- Signature dimensions
- 212 × 106 px (2 × 4.5 cm physical)
- Signature file size
- 10 KB – 20 KB JPEG
- Background
- Plain white
NSDL vs UTIITSL — what changes
Both portals use the same photo (213 × 213 px JPEG, 20–50 KB) and signature (212 × 106 px JPEG, 10–20 KB) specs. The difference is the form layout and the e-KYC paths. If you have an Aadhaar with a registered mobile number, both portals offer paperless e-KYC and you still upload the photo and signature digitally during the form.
If you pick the paper application path, you also affix two physical passport photos and a signature on the printed form, then courier it. The digital upload is mandatory in both paths.
Common upload rejections
PAN portals are strict about the square photo aspect ratio. A standard 35 × 45 mm passport photo, uploaded as-is, gets rejected because it is taller than wide. The photo must be cropped to 213 × 213 px (square).
- Photo not square (must be 213 × 213 px, NOT 35 × 45 mm passport ratio)
- Signature is too tall — must be a wider strip, 212 × 106 px
- File over 50 KB after compression
- Signature in pencil or thin pen — use black or dark-blue ballpoint
- Background is grey or coloured instead of white
Generate both files from one photo
Take a head-and-shoulders photo against a white wall and sign your name on a separate sheet. Upload the photo to our editor and pick the PAN photo preset for the square 213 × 213 px crop. Switch to the signature preset and upload the signature photograph; the tool crops, levels and compresses to the PAN spec automatically.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the PAN card photo size in pixels?
- 213 × 213 pixels, square, JPEG, 20–50 KB.
- What is the PAN signature size?
- 212 × 106 pixels, JPEG, 10–20 KB.
- Can I use my passport photo for PAN?
- Only after re-cropping to a 1:1 square. The standard 35 × 45 mm passport crop will be rejected.
- Which portal is faster, NSDL or UTIITSL?
- Both issue the PAN in 5–7 working days once verified. Pick whichever has a less busy portal that day.
- Can I update the PAN card photo later?
- Yes, through the 'Changes/Correction in PAN' form on either portal, with the same 213 × 213 px upload spec.