An online PAN application needs a photo file and a signature file, and the two agencies that take applications, Protean (formerly NSDL) and UTIITSL, publish different sizes for both. Here is every number for each route, so you can prepare the right files before you open the form.
Quick answer
- Photo: 25×35 mm physical, colour JPEG — 200 DPI (about 197×276 px) / 20 KB max on Protean (NSDL); 213×213 px, 300 dpi / under 30 KB on UTIITSL.
- Signature: signed in black ink on white paper, JPEG — colour, 200 DPI (about 354×157 px) / 10 KB max on Protean (NSDL); black and white, 600 dpi / under 60 KB on UTIITSL.
- The printed photo is the same for both portals. Only the digital file dimensions differ.
These figures come from Protean's online PAN application instructions and UTIITSL's scanning specifications (both checked 31 Oct 2026). Protean publishes its sizes in centimetres at 200 DPI, so its pixel figures here are worked out from those. Its page covers applications signed with a Digital Signature Certificate; if you apply another way, check the instructions for that route.
What is the exact photo size for a PAN card?
The physical print size is 25 mm wide × 35 mm tall — a standard passport-size portrait photo, which is what you paste on a paper application. Online, the two routes want different files.
| Requirement | NSDL / Protean | UTIITSL |
|---|---|---|
| Published size | Height 3.5 cm, width 2.5 cm | 213×213 px (square) |
| Pixel dimensions | About 197×276 px (worked out from 200 DPI) | 213×213 px |
| DPI | 200 | 300 |
| Colour | Colour | Colour |
| File format | JPEG | JPEG |
| Max file size | 20 KB | Under 30 KB |
The most important difference: UTIITSL uses a square crop (213×213 px), while Protean's photo (height 3.5 cm, width 2.5 cm) is a portrait rectangle of about 197×276 px. A portrait JPEG is the wrong shape for UTIITSL, so square it before you upload. The PAN card photo and signature resizer on easyPhoto is set to Protean's sizes; for UTIITSL, crop the photo to 213×213 px yourself and keep it under 30 KB.
What is the signature size for a PAN card application?
The signature is uploaded as a separate JPEG — not embedded in the photo. You sign on plain white A4 paper with a black pen, photograph or scan the signature, crop tightly, and resize to the portal's spec.
| Requirement | NSDL / Protean | UTIITSL |
|---|---|---|
| Published size | Height 2 cm, width 4.5 cm | Not published |
| Pixel dimensions | About 354×157 px, landscape (worked out from 200 DPI) | Not published |
| DPI | 200 | 600 |
| Scan mode | Colour | Black and white |
| File format | JPEG | JPEG |
| Max file size | 10 KB | Under 60 KB |
Scan at the setting your route asks for: 200 DPI in colour for Protean, 600 dpi in black and white for UTIITSL. Crop so the signature sits centred with a small white margin on all sides. Protean's 10 KB cap is the tighter one; if the file is over it, use the signature resizer to 10 KB.
Why do NSDL and UTIITSL have different specs?
Both agencies process PAN applications on behalf of the Income Tax Department, and each publishes its own scanning instructions. Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov) gives the photo in centimetres at 200 DPI, so the file keeps the portrait shape of the printed 25×35 mm photo. UTIITSL gives a square 213×213 px photo at 300 dpi and asks for the signature in black and white at 600 dpi. Neither page explains the difference, so use the figures published for the route you are applying through.
In practice you need two different files from the same photo: a portrait JPEG for Protean and a square JPEG for UTIITSL. The easyPhoto PAN card resizer makes the Protean file; for UTIITSL, square-crop the same photo before you compress it.
Why do PAN card photos and signatures get rejected?
A file outside the published spec can hold up your application — UTIITSL says applications may be rejected at verification if a document is not in the required format. Check these before you upload:
| Rejection reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| File over the KB limit | Compress below the cap for your route before uploading |
| Wrong pixel dimensions | Export at the portal-specific size, not a generic 'small' setting |
| Portrait photo for UTIITSL | Square-crop to 213×213 px before upload |
| Patterned or dark background | Shoot against a plain white wall; use background removal if needed |
| Black-and-white photo | Both routes ask for a colour photograph — rescan or re-export it in colour |
| Signature touching the edge | Leave a thin white margin on every side when cropping |
| Signature on lined or tinted paper | Use plain white unlined paper |
| Faint or blue ink | Sign in black; it scans cleanest, especially in UTIITSL's black-and-white mode |
How to resize your PAN card photo and signature in three steps
You don't need Photoshop or a scanner shop. The free PAN card photo and signature resizer handles both uploads entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded to a server.
- Check your route — the tool is set to Protean's published sizes and KB caps. If you apply through UTIITSL, use its figures from the tables above instead.
- Upload your photo — drop a JPG, PNG or HEIC from your phone or camera. The tool crops to the right aspect ratio and compresses to just under the file-size limit.
- Upload your signature scan — photograph or scan your signature on white paper. The tool trims the white border and outputs the right dimensions and KB.
If you only need to bring a file under a KB limit, use the resize image to exact KB tool instead. For signatures specifically, the signature resize to 20 KB tool starts at 20 KB, and you can change the limit to Protean's 10 KB.
If you need to pull the PAN number, name, or date of birth from a photo of your card, the free PAN card OCR tool reads the text directly from the image — nothing is uploaded.
Need the specs for other Indian government IDs too? The Indian government ID photo requirements guide compares PAN, Voter ID, Driving Licence and Aadhaar in one place. For exam application forms specifically, the exam photo and signature size guide covers SSC, IBPS, UPSC, SBI, RRB and more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the photo size for a PAN card application?
The physical size is 25×35 mm (portrait). For Protean (NSDL) upload, the photo is a colour JPEG (height 3.5 cm, width 2.5 cm) scanned at 200 DPI, which gives about 197×276 px, and at most 20 KB. For UTIITSL, it is a square colour JPEG of 213×213 px, 300 dpi, under 30 KB.
What is the signature size for a PAN card application?
For Protean (NSDL): a colour JPEG (height 2 cm, width 4.5 cm) scanned at 200 DPI, which gives about 354×157 px in landscape, and at most 10 KB. For UTIITSL: a black-and-white JPEG scanned at 600 dpi, under 60 KB; UTIITSL publishes no pixel size. Sign on plain white A4 paper with a black pen and crop tightly before uploading.
Why does my PAN card photo keep getting rejected?
Usually a file over the limit for your route (Protean allows at most 20 KB for the photo and 10 KB for the signature), the wrong shape (UTIITSL needs a square crop), or a black-and-white photo where colour is required. The PAN card resizer on easyPhoto prepares both files at Protean's published sizes.
Can I use the same photo for NSDL and UTIITSL?
The same original photo, yes; the same file, no. Protean's photo works out to a portrait file of about 197×276 px, while UTIITSL needs a 213×213 px square. Make two files from the original, one for each route.