India had 80.08 crore PAN cards in circulation as of March 2025 — yet thousands of new applications still bounce every week because the photo or signature file doesn't match the portal's exact spec (Income Tax Department data via IndiaGraphs, July 2025). The requirement isn't complicated, but the NSDL and UTIITSL portals use different pixel dimensions, which catches most people by surprise. Here's every number you need before you open the upload form.
Quick answer
- Photo: 25×35 mm physical, colour JPEG, white/light background — 197×276 px / 50 KB max on NSDL; 213×213 px / 30 KB max on UTIITSL.
- Signature: signed in black ink on white paper, JPEG — 354×157 px / 50 KB on NSDL; 200×400 px / 60 KB on UTIITSL.
- The printed photo is the same for both portals. Only the digital file dimensions differ.
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. Both portals accept the same printed copy. Where they diverge is the digital upload spec.
| Requirement | NSDL / Protean | UTIITSL |
|---|---|---|
| Physical size | 25×35 mm (portrait) | 25×35 mm (portrait) |
| Pixel dimensions | 197×276 px | 213×213 px (square) |
| DPI | 200 | 300 |
| File format | JPEG / JPG | JPEG / JPG |
| Max file size | 50 KB | 30 KB |
| Background | White or light-coloured | White |
| Expression | Neutral, eyes open | Neutral, eyes open |
| Glasses | Not recommended | Not recommended |
The most important difference: UTIITSL uses a square crop (213×213 px), while NSDL uses a portrait rectangle (197×276 px). If you upload a portrait JPEG to UTIITSL without squaring it first, the portal either rejects the file or crops your face off-centre. Use a tool that handles both outputs — the PAN card photo and signature resizer on easyPhoto auto-selects the right dimensions for the portal you pick.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel dimensions | 354×157 px (landscape) | 200×400 px |
| File format | JPEG / JPG | JPEG / JPG |
| Max file size | 50 KB | 60 KB |
| Ink colour | Black (preferred) | Black |
| Background | White paper | White paper |
| Scan mode | Greyscale or colour | Black-and-white recommended |
Scan at 200 DPI in greyscale or black-and-white mode — higher DPI blows up the file size without improving legibility. Crop so the signature sits centred with a small white margin on all sides. If the file is over the limit, use the signature resizer to 20 KB (or the appropriate target for your portal).
Why do NSDL and UTIITSL have different specs?
Both portals process PAN applications on behalf of the Income Tax Department but run independent technology stacks. NSDL (now Protean e-Governance) built its upload system around a portrait rectangle that matches the physical 25×35 mm print format at 200 DPI. UTIITSL later rebuilt its portal with a square crop optimised for biometric face-matching algorithms, which work more reliably on standardised square inputs at higher DPI.
The practical consequence: the same printed photo is acceptable at the counter for both portals, but you need two different digital exports for online applications — a portrait JPEG for NSDL and a square-cropped JPEG for UTIITSL. Most third-party resizer tools only handle one format. The easyPhoto PAN card resizer lets you switch between portals and outputs the correct dimensions automatically.
Why do PAN card photos and signatures get rejected?
Portal validation is automated — a few bytes over the limit triggers an immediate rejection with no manual review. The most common causes:
| Rejection reason | Fix |
|---|---|
| File over the KB limit | Use the resizer — it compresses to exactly 1–2 KB under the cap |
| Wrong pixel dimensions | Export at the portal-specific size, not a generic 'small' preset |
| Portrait photo for UTIITSL | Square-crop to 213×213 px before upload |
| Coloured or patterned background | Shoot against a plain white wall; use background removal if needed |
| Black-and-white photo | The portal requires a colour image — even a greyscale headshot is rejected |
| Signature touching the border | Leave a 3–5 px white margin on all sides when cropping |
| Signature on lined or tinted paper | Only plain white unlined A4 is accepted |
| Blue ink for signature | Black ink scans cleanest; some portals explicitly reject blue |
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.
- Choose your portal — select NSDL or UTIITSL. The tool switches to the correct pixel dimensions and KB cap automatically.
- 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 hit a specific KB target without the portal preset, use the resize image to exact KB tool instead. For signatures specifically, the signature resize to 20 KB tool is preset to the most common Indian exam portal limit.
Need the specs for other government documents too? The exam photo and signature size guide covers SSC, IBPS, UPSC, SBI, RRB and more — same approach, portal-by-portal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the photo size for a PAN card application?
The physical size is 25×35 mm (portrait). For NSDL/Protean upload, the digital file must be 197×276 px, JPEG, under 50 KB, on a white or light background. For UTIITSL, the portal requires a square 213×213 px crop, JPEG, under 30 KB. Use the same printed photo for both — only the digital file differs.
What is the signature size for a PAN card application?
For NSDL: 354×157 px (landscape), JPEG, under 50 KB, signed on white paper in black ink. For UTIITSL: 200×400 px, JPEG, under 60 KB. Sign on plain white A4 paper with a black pen, scan in black-and-white mode at 200 DPI, and crop tightly before uploading.
Why does my PAN card photo keep getting rejected?
The most common reasons are: file size over the portal limit (even 51 KB triggers rejection), wrong pixel dimensions (UTIITSL needs a square crop), a non-white background, or a black-and-white photo when colour is required. Use the PAN card resizer on easyPhoto to hit the exact spec automatically.
Can I use the same photo for NSDL and UTIITSL?
Yes for print (both accept a 25×35 mm passport-size photo). No for digital upload — NSDL needs a 197×276 px portrait file while UTIITSL needs a 213×213 px square crop. You'll need to resize the same image to two different outputs depending on which portal you use.
Is a mobile photo accepted for a PAN card application?
Yes, provided it meets the spec: white or light-coloured background, frontal face, colour JPEG, and within the KB limit. Many applicants take a selfie against a white wall, crop it to 25×35 mm proportions, and resize to the required KB. Avoid low-light shots — blurry or grainy images are rejected.