Everything you need to know about India PAN Card photo requirements, including exact dimensions, background color, pose rules, and how to submit a compliant digital photo for your Permanent Account Number (PAN) application through NSDL or UTIITSL.
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Country | India (Bharat) |
| Document Type | PAN Card (Permanent Account Number) |
| Photo Size | 25 × 35 mm (2.5 × 3.5 cm) — Landscape orientation |
| Orientation | Landscape (width 35 mm × height 25 mm) |
| Resolution (DPI) | 600 |
| Background Color | White, plain and uniform |
| Digital Format | JPEG |
| Maximum File Size | 50 KB (for online upload) |
| Color | Color only (correct skin tone, no red-eye) |
| Signature Required | Yes — 2 cm × 4.5 cm, black ink on white paper |
| Application Portals | NSDL (tin.tin.nsdl.com) / UTIITSL (pan.utiitsl.com) |
The PAN (Permanent Account Number) card is issued by the Income Tax Department of India. Photo specifications are mandated for both NSDL and UTIITSL application portals. Below is a comprehensive guide to ensure your photo is accepted.
Glasses are NOT recommended for PAN card photos. Remove glasses before taking the photo to ensure your eyes and facial features are clearly visible without any glare or reflections.
You don't need a professional studio. Follow these simple steps to take a compliant PAN card photo at home using your smartphone.
Any modern smartphone camera (iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, etc.) is more than capable of taking a PAN card-quality photo. Make sure the lens is clean and the camera is set to the highest resolution.
Place your phone on a tripod or ask someone to take the photo for you. Selfies tend to have the wrong angle and distortion.
Stand facing a window with natural daylight for the best even lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows. If using indoor lighting, use multiple light sources from different angles to eliminate shadows on both sides of your face.
Wear your normal everyday clothing. Avoid uniforms and white tops that blend with the background. Make sure your hair does not cover your eyes or cast shadows on your face.
Stand about 1.5 meters in front of the camera with your head facing directly forward. Keep your shoulders relaxed and your head level — not tilted. Ensure your entire face from chin to forehead is clearly visible on both sides.
Keep your face relaxed with a neutral expression. Both eyes must be open and your mouth closed. The horizontal line between your eyes should be parallel to the top edge of the photo.
Comparison of acceptable and unacceptable ID photos
An India PAN Card photo must be 25×35 mm in landscape orientation. This means the photo is 35 mm wide and 25 mm tall. This is one of the few Indian document photos that uses a landscape (horizontal) format.
The PAN card photo is in landscape (horizontal) format — 35 mm wide × 25 mm tall. This is different from most passport and ID photos which are portrait orientation. Our tool automatically crops your photo to the correct landscape format.
The digital photo for online PAN application must be in JPEG format with a maximum file size of 50 KB. Both NSDL and UTIITSL enforce this limit. Our tool compresses your photo to meet this requirement automatically.
NSDL (tin.tin.nsdl.com) and UTIITSL (pan.utiitsl.com) are both authorized agencies for PAN card processing in India. Both accept the same 25×35 mm landscape photo specifications. NSDL primarily handles TIN-related services, while UTIITSL is under the Ministry of Finance. You can apply through either portal.
Yes, in addition to the photo, you must also provide a signature image for PAN card applications. The signature should be on white paper with black ink, scanned or photographed, and saved as JPEG with a maximum size of 50 KB. The signature area should be approximately 2 cm × 4.5 cm.
Yes! You can take your PAN card photo with any smartphone. Simply upload it to PassportPhoto.help and our AI will automatically crop to the correct 25×35 mm landscape format, remove and replace the background with white, and ensure it meets all PAN card requirements.
The background must be plain white. No patterns, objects, shadows, or other people should be visible. If you don't have a white wall, our tool will automatically replace your background with the correct color.
No. Glasses are not recommended for PAN card photos. Remove glasses before taking the photo to ensure your eyes and facial features are clearly visible without any glare or reflections.
