Download your PAN card free through three official routes: the Income Tax e-Filing portal for instant e-PAN via Aadhaar, NSDL Protean if you applied there, or UTIITSL if you applied there. Downloads are free within 30 days of allotment; after that, both NSDL and UTIITSL charge Rs 8.26.
Below: exact steps for each portal, how to get a PAN card copy or PDF, finding a lost PAN number, the DDMMYYYY PDF password, duplicate PAN reprint, Aadhaar link status, and fixes for common download errors.
PAN Card Download: Every Method at a Glance
Which portal works for you depends on how your PAN was originally issued.
| Method | Best For | Required Details |
|---|---|---|
| Income Tax e-Filing (Instant e-PAN) | Aadhaar-linked applicants, free | Aadhaar number and OTP |
| NSDL Protean | PAN applied via NSDL | PAN or acknowledgement number |
| UTIITSL | PAN applied via UTIITSL | PAN and date of birth |
| DigiLocker | Anyone with an Income Tax-issued PAN | PAN number and name |
What You Need Before Downloading Your PAN Card
Keep these ready; which ones you actually need depends on the method you choose.
Download PAN Card Online Using Aadhaar Number
This is the only fully free route with no 30-day condition, and it works specifically for instant e-PAN issued through Aadhaar e-KYC.
Visit the Income Tax e-Filing portal
Go to the official e-PAN status and download page.
Select Check Status or Download PAN
Click Continue under that option.
Enter your Aadhaar number
Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and click Continue.
Verify with Aadhaar OTP
Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number and click Continue.
Download the e-PAN
Once your PAN status shows allotted, click Download e-PAN to save the PDF.
Download PAN Card from NSDL (Protean)
Use this if you applied for your PAN through the NSDL Protean website. You can download by PAN number or by acknowledgement number.
Visit the Protean portal
Go to the official NSDL Protean site and select the e-PAN download option matching your allotment date.
Choose PAN or acknowledgement number
Enter your PAN, Aadhaar (for individuals), date of birth, and GSTN if applicable, or your acknowledgement number and date of birth.
Choose an OTP delivery method
Select email, mobile, or both, tick the declaration, and click Generate OTP.
Enter the OTP
Click Validate once entered.
Pay if required, then download
If your free downloads are used up, pay the Rs 8.26 fee. The e-PAN PDF is emailed to your registered address.
Download PAN Card from UTIITSL
Use this if you applied for your PAN through UTIITSL rather than NSDL.
Visit the UTIITSL e-PAN page
Go to the official UTIITSL download page.
Enter your details
Enter your PAN number, date of birth, GSTIN if applicable, and the captcha, then submit.
Choose your OTP method
Select email, SMS, or both, tick the declaration, and click Get OTP.
Enter the OTP
Click Validate once entered.
Pay if required, then download
Complete payment if applicable. The e-PAN link arrives by email; click it to download.
Income Tax Calculator
Your PAN is required for e-filing. Check your FY 2025-26 tax liability before you file.
How to Get a PAN Card Copy or PAN Card Download PDF
The e-PAN PDF downloaded from the Income Tax e-Filing portal, NSDL Protean, or UTIITSL is your official PAN card copy, and it carries a digital signature from the Income Tax Department.
A photocopy of a physical card or a phone screenshot is not the same thing. Banks, brokers, and lenders that run e-KYC check the signed PDF, so keep the original file and its password handy.
Can You Download a PAN Card by Name and Date of Birth Alone?
No. Date of birth is only ever used as a secondary identity check alongside your PAN, acknowledgement number, or Aadhaar number, never as the sole input.
If you do not know your PAN number, retrieve it first using "Know Your PAN" on the Income Tax e-Filing portal, then use that PAN with one of the download methods above.
How to Find Your PAN Number Online
Use the Know Your PAN service on the Income Tax e-Filing portal, which asks for your name, date of birth, and mobile number and confirms them with an OTP.
If you cannot receive the OTP, your PAN is usually printed on documents you already hold.
The PAN card number guide lists every official way to find it. Once you have the number, return to the methods above to download the e-PAN. If your name or date of birth on the PAN record is wrong, the PAN card correction guide covers the fix.
Download PAN Card from DigiLocker
This works only for a PAN issued directly by the Income Tax Department, not one issued through NSDL or UTIITSL as a separate physical card.
Sign in to DigiLocker
Use your DigiLocker account.
Search Issued Documents
Look for "Income Tax Department" and open PAN Verification Record.
Enter your PAN details
Enter your PAN number and the name exactly as printed on your card.
Give consent
Tick the consent box and click Get Document.
Access anytime
Your PAN record is saved in DigiLocker and can be shared with any requester who accepts DigiLocker documents.
PAN Card Download for NRIs
NRIs use the same NSDL Protean or UTIITSL process as residents, with one practical difference: choosing email over SMS for OTP delivery, since Indian SMS often does not reach a foreign number reliably.
How to Download a Duplicate PAN Card
If your PAN card is lost or damaged, apply for a reprint on either portal. Downloading the e-PAN alone does not get you a new physical card; the reprint fee covers dispatch of an actual card.
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | Reprint page on NSDL Protean or UTIITSL, matching your original application portal |
| Verification | PAN number, date of birth, Aadhaar if required, OTP to registered mobile or email |
| Dispatch address | Confirmed against your existing PAN database record |
| Fee | Roughly Rs 50 for an Indian address, higher for a foreign address |
| Delivery time | 15 to 20 working days after successful payment |
PAN Card PDF Password Format
Every e-PAN PDF from NSDL, UTIITSL, or the Income Tax portal is password-protected, and the password is always your date of birth or date of incorporation.
Common PAN Card Download Errors and How to Fix Them
| Issue | Fix |
|---|---|
| OTP not received | Confirm your mobile is linked to Aadhaar and registered correctly; check network or SMS-blocking settings and retry after a few minutes |
| "PAN Not Found" error | Re-verify PAN and Aadhaar details; if recently allotted, wait 24 to 48 hours for the record to activate |
| Incorrect PDF password | Use your date of birth or incorporation date in DDMMYYYY format, no spaces |
| Broken or expired download link | Submit a fresh e-PAN request and use the new link immediately |
| Lost acknowledgement number | Check your registered email or SMS inbox, or download using your PAN or Aadhaar number instead |
How to Verify Your PAN and Check Aadhaar Link Status
Both checks are pre-login services on the Income Tax e-Filing portal: Verify Your PAN for validity, and Link Aadhaar Status for the Aadhaar link.
Verify Your PAN
Enter the PAN, name, and date of birth. The portal tells you whether the PAN is valid and active.
Link Aadhaar Status
Enter your PAN and 12-digit Aadhaar number to see whether the two are linked.
Act on the result
If the PAN is not linked, complete the link on the same portal before your next filing.
An unlinked PAN can be made inoperative, which blocks refunds and creates trouble at ITR time. Check the status before the ITR filing deadline, not on the last day.
How to Apply for a New e-PAN Online
Apply through Instant e-PAN on the Income Tax e-Filing portal, which issues a PAN free after Aadhaar OTP verification if you do not already hold one.
Your Aadhaar must be linked to an active mobile number. Companies, firms, and other non-individual applicants cannot use this route and apply through NSDL Protean or UTIITSL instead.
Once the e-PAN is allotted, download it using the Aadhaar steps above. Then use the Income Tax Calculator to estimate what you owe before your first return.
Is e-PAN Legally Valid?
Yes. e-PAN is digitally signed by the Income Tax Department and is accepted across India for every purpose a physical PAN card serves.
PAN Card Customer Care
If a download fails and the fixes above do not resolve it, contact the portal you applied through directly.
| Provider | Phone | Toll-Free | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSDL Protean | 020-27218080, 08069708080 | 1800-222-990 | tininfo@proteantech.in |
| UTIITSL | 033-40802999, +91-33-40802999 | 1800-22-0306 | utiitsl.gsd@utiitsl.com |
Frequently Asked Questions: PAN Card Download
CAs and financial advisors can generate detailed Tax Optimization Reports for their clients at ca.fermor.in.
Disclaimer: Portal steps, fees, and contact details are set by the Income Tax Department, NSDL Protean, and UTIITSL, and are subject to change. Always verify current details on the official Income Tax e-Filing portal (eportal.incometax.gov.in) before relying on any information here. Fermor is not affiliated with the Income Tax Department, NSDL, or UTIITSL.