PAN Card Apply Online: Free Instant e-PAN and the New Forms 93–96 (2026)
Individuals with Aadhaar can get a PAN free in minutes. Everyone else applies through Protean or UTIITSL — now on new forms that replaced Form 49A and 49AA in April 2026.
Official portal: Income Tax e-Filing Portal
Indus Tax is a private CA firm, not affiliated with the Government of India. This guide explains the official process; we never ask for your portal password.
Two ways to get a PAN
Which route you use depends on who you are:
| Route | Who it suits | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Instant e-PAN on the e-filing portal | Individuals with Aadhaar and an Aadhaar-linked mobile who have never had a PAN | Free |
| Application through Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL | Companies, firms, trusts, NRIs, foreign citizens, or anyone who wants a physical card | A nominal fee — check the provider's current fee |
How to get an instant e-PAN
The whole process runs on Aadhaar e-KYC:
- 1Open incometax.gov.in and click Instant e-PAN under Quick Links.
- 2Click Get New e-PAN.
- 3Enter your Aadhaar number, accept the declaration and continue.
- 4Validate with the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
- 5Confirm your Aadhaar details and submit — an acknowledgement number is generated.
- 6The e-PAN is usually allotted within minutes; download it from Instant e-PAN > Check Status/Download PAN.
New PAN application forms from April 2026
The Income-tax Rules, 2026 replaced Forms 49A and 49AA for applications made on or after 1 April 2026. Existing PANs stay valid. The PAN 2.0 project, which is meant to bring all PAN services onto one platform, has been approved — until it goes live, the existing portals continue.
- Form 93 — Indian individuals
- Form 94 — Indian entities (companies, firms, trusts and others)
- Form 95 — foreign individuals
- Form 96 — foreign entities
How to check PAN application status
Track it where you applied:
- Instant e-PAN: Instant e-PAN > Check Status/Download PAN, with your Aadhaar number and OTP
- Protean (NSDL) applications: the PAN status page on the Protean site, with your 15-digit acknowledgement number
- UTIITSL applications: the PAN status page on the UTIITSL site, with your application coupon number
Corrections, reprints and a lost PAN
To correct your name, date of birth or address, or to reprint a lost card, apply for changes or correction in PAN data through Protean or UTIITSL. If you only need proof of PAN, download an e-PAN copy instead of waiting for a reprint. Holding more than one PAN is not allowed — surrender any duplicate.
Need expert help applying this to your situation?
Our CA team reviews your numbers and gives you a clear answer — usually within hours.
