PAN Card for NRI 2026
A PAN card for NRI applicants is a ten-character permanent account number needed to pay tax, invest and open bank accounts in India. NRIs who are Indian citizens apply through Form 93, while non-citizen PIO and OCI card holders use Form 95. Here is what you need to know about the documents, process and fees.
PAN Card is a vital document mandatory for Indian citizens which is mandatory for taxpayers. The card consists of a unique identification code, which is required mandatorily for opening bank accounts, filing tax returns, investing in mutual funds, selling or buying properties, and other purposes.
Indian citizens residing outside the country also require a PAN Card to make various financial transactions and for other purposes. Here is all that you need to know about PAN Cards for NRIs.
Why Does an NRI Need a PAN Card?
Here are the reasons why NRIs need a PAN Card:
- PAN Card is mandatory for those NRI individuals who derive their income source from India in the form of
- Capital gain from selling property
- Dividend from stock
- Rent,
- Or other investments from India
- Mandatory for filing tax for NRIs who derive income from India
- PAN not required for NRIs who own agricultural land, as tax is exempted for income generated from agricultural land
- PAN is a key identification document which is required during investment in India for NRIs
- Immovable property transactions exceeding Rs.10 lakh in India require a PAN Card mandatorily
- PAN is required for opening an NRE or NRO account in India, which are specialised accounts for NRIs to manage foreign currency or Indian rupees
Documents Required for NRI PAN Card
NRI applicants are required to submit the following documents when applying for a PAN Card
- 2 recent passport-sized photographs
- Copy of passport
- Overseas address proof- copy of overseas bank statement from your country of residence, not more than three months old
- If applicable, copy of your Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card if you are not an Indian citizen and apply through Form 95, with foreign documents attested by Apostille or an Indian embassy, high commission or consulate
- NRE bank account statement showing at least two transactions in the last six months which is duly attested by the Indian Embassy, Consulate, High Commission, Apostille, or the bank manager where the account is held
- Proof of date of birth - copy of your Indian passport, birth certificate or any other document accepted by the Income Tax Department
Additional documents required for applying with an Indian office address
- Address certificate issued by your Indian employer
- PAN details of employer
- Copy of appointment letter by the concerned company with an address in India
Process for NRI PAN Card Application
The following is the process for NRI PAN Card application
Step 1 - Visit the UTIITSL or Protean (formerly NSDL) website.
Step 2 - Select the application for Indian citizens (Form 93). Non-citizens such as PIO or OCI card holders select the application for foreign citizens (Form 95).
Step 3 - Select the option to apply for a new PAN card (Form 93).
Step 4 - The new PAN application form (Form 93) opens. Fill the application form with required details, such as
- Name
- Birth date
- Address
- Contact number
- Email ID
Step 5 - Select the applicant category as ‘Individual’ and the title, then submit the details to receive a token number on your email ID.
Step 6 - Choose how you want to submit your documents: physical, e-KYC and e-Sign, e-Sign scanned or DSC scanned.
Step 7 - Pay the application fee through either of the following modes:
- Credit Card
- Debit Card
- UPI
- Net Banking
- Demand draft payable at Mumbai in favour of ‘Protean – PAN’ (not available for paperless submission)
Step 8 - Note the acknowledgement number after submitting the application form
Step 9 - Take a print of the acknowledgement receipt
Step 10 - Paste two passport-size photographs on the form and sign it
Step 11 - Send the signed acknowledgement receipt and the original documents copies of your proof of identity, address and date of birth to the UTIITSL or Protean office within 15 days from your e-application submission.
Step 12 - On the envelope write: ‘APPLICATION FOR PAN - N-15 digit Acknowledgement Number’
Fees for NRI PAN Card
The following are the fee details for NRI PAN Card
- Physical PAN Card delivered to foreign address: Rs.1,017 for physical submission or Rs.1,011 for paperless submission, including GST, dispatch charges and application fees
- Physical PAN Card delivered to Indian address: Rs.107 including GST
- e-PAN only, with no physical card, sent to your email ID: Rs.72 for physical submission or Rs.66 for paperless submission, including GST
Check More About - PAN Card Fees
Note:
- The fees depend on whether the applicant is applying for physical or e-PAN
- The PAN fee also depends on whether it will be delivered to foreign address or Indian address
- The physical PAN delivered to foreign address is available only for a select list of countries, which you can find on the Protean website.
Contact Details of PAN Card Office
Given below are the contact details of PAN office
Protean eGov Technologies Limited TIN Head Office
Unit 1701-1702 (17th Floor), 1801-1802 (18th Floor), 1901-1902 (19th Floor), Tower 2, One International Center, Plot No. 612 TPS-IV and Plot No. 613 TPS-IV, Senapati Bapat Marg, Prabhadevi West, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400013.
PAN/TDS Call Centre of Tax Information Network (TIN) managed by Protean eGov Technologies Limited
4th Floor, Sapphire Chambers, Baner Road, Baner, Pune - 411045.
Phone number - 02027218080
Email ID - customerservice@proteantech.in
Do's and Don'ts of Filling a PAN Application Form for NRI
Do's
- Make sure you fill your details in the application form in Block letters using only Black ink.
- Signature should be within the box and not run through the face of the applicant.
- Provide correct AO Code.
- Provide correct proof of address and proof of identity.
- You must ensure that the details on your proof of identity match the details on your proof of address, most important being your name.
- If the applicant is a minor, then the proof of identity and proof of address will have to be provided by a legal representative of the applicant.
Don'ts
- Do not overwrite or make corrections in the application form. Be careful while providing your details.
- Stick your photograph to the form using a proper adhesive. Avoid stapling or pinning the photograph to the application form.
- Do not write date or place underneath your signatures.
- Do not state the name of your husband in the 'Name of the Father' column.
- If you already have a PAN Card, do not apply for one.
Benefits of PAN to NRIs
A PAN is a critical identifier in the country, serving a number of useful purposes, as mentioned below.
- A PAN simplifies the tax paying procedure, with it being mandatory for all taxpayers.
- NRIs cannot invest in securities or mutual funds without a PAN.
- Purchase of property or vehicles in India requires PAN.
- Depositing amounts over a certain limit requires PAN.
- Owning a PAN simplifies the KYC procedure in most banks.
Other Types of PAN Card
List of PAN Card Offices in India
- PAN Card office in Chennai
- PAN Card office in Bangalore
- PAN Card office in Pune
- PAN Card office in Delhi
- PAN Card office in Mumbai
- PAN Card office in Hyderabad
- PAN Card office in Kolkata
- PAN Card office in Patna
- PAN Card office in Gurgaon
- PAN Card office in Coimbatore
Summary
An NRI needs a PAN to pay tax, invest and open bank accounts in India. NRIs who are Indian citizens apply through Form 93, while non-citizen PIO and OCI card holders use Form 95, and the signed acknowledgement and documents must reach the PAN services unit within 15 days of the online application. Keep your passport, overseas address proof and photographs ready, and check the fee section above before you apply.
FAQs On PAN Card for NRI
1.What is a PAN and why do NRIs need it?
A PAN card for NRI applicants is the Permanent Account Number issued by the Income Tax Department to a person living abroad. NRIs need it to file Indian tax returns, invest, open NRE or NRO accounts and complete specified financial transactions in India.
2.Who needs a PAN card for NRI taxpayers?
An NRI who earns income in India, such as rent, dividends or capital gains, needs a PAN card. An NRI whose only Indian income is exempt agricultural income may not need one, but a PAN still helps with KYC and investments.
3.Which form does an NRI use to apply for a PAN card?
An NRI who is an Indian citizen applies for a PAN card using Form 93, which replaced Form 49A. A person who is not an Indian citizen, such as a PIO or OCI card holder, applies using Form 95, which replaced Form 49AA.
4.Are there any specific documents required for NRIs to obtain a PAN?
Yes, an NRI PAN application needs proof of identity, proof of address, proof of date of birth, photographs and passport details. A bank statement from the country of residence or an NRE bank account statement can serve as address proof, and the document list above explains each requirement.
5.How can an NRI apply for a PAN in India?
An NRI can apply for a PAN card online on the Protean or UTIITSL portal and then send the signed acknowledgement and documents to the PAN services unit by post. The steps above explain the full NRI PAN process.
6.Can NRIs apply for a PAN from abroad?
Yes, an NRI can apply for a PAN card online from abroad, and the physical card can be sent to a foreign communication address for a select list of countries. The fee for the PAN card for NRI applicants depends on the delivery address and is listed in the fee section above.
7.Is linking Aadhaar with PAN mandatory for NRIs?
Non-resident individuals are exempt from linking Aadhaar with PAN under the Income Tax Department's rules, so an NRI PAN holder generally does not need to link the two. The exemption can change through later notifications, so check the current rules on the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
8.What fees apply to a PAN card for NRI applicants?
The fee depends on whether the NRI wants a physical card or only an e-PAN, whether documents are sent physically or submitted paperlessly, and whether the card is delivered to an Indian or a foreign address. The exact amounts are listed in the fee section above.
9.Can an NRI get an e-PAN without a physical card?
Yes, an NRI can choose to receive only an e-PAN, which is sent to the email ID given in the application. A valid email ID is therefore mandatory for an NRI PAN application without a physical card.
10.What is the processing time for PAN application for NRIs?
The processing time for an NRI PAN application depends on when the acknowledgement and supporting documents reach the PAN services unit and whether the details match the documents. The expected timeline is explained in the section above.
11.How can an NRI track a PAN card application?
An NRI can track the status of a PAN card application on the Protean or UTIITSL portal using the 15-digit acknowledgement number received after applying. Keeping the acknowledgement receipt safe is therefore important for any NRI PAN application.
12.Can an NRI hold more than one PAN card?
No, a person can hold only one PAN, so an NRI who already has a PAN card should not apply for another. An NRI who needs changes to an existing PAN should request a correction instead of a new PAN.
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