A step-by-step procedural guide for NRIs, American citizens, OCI holders, foreign nationals, and U.S.-registered entities to apply for an Indian PAN card online — updated for the new 2026 application forms.
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A PAN card is a 10-digit tax identification number issued by India's Income Tax Department. NRIs, OCI holders, American citizens, and foreign nationals in the USA can apply for it online using Form 93 (formerly Form 49A — for Indian passport holders) or Form 95 (formerly Form 49AA — for foreign passport holders). You can apply through UTIITSL, Protean, or a private agency like PanCardNri.com. The government fee is approximately ₹1,017 for international dispatch. Your e-PAN arrives by email in 3–4 working days, and the physical card reaches your U.S. address in about 3 weeks.
You can apply through an official government portal or use a private agency that handles everything for you.
Option 1
UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited is one of two government-authorized agencies that process PAN applications. You fill the form yourself on their portal, upload documents, and pay in INR.
Visit UTIITSL website ↗Option 2
Protean eGov Technologies is the other government-authorized agency. The process is similar to UTIITSL — you apply online, submit documents, and pay in INR. Both portals are equally valid.
Visit Protean website ↗
A private PAN agency trusted by U.S. residents since 2007. We fill your form, check your documents for errors, and handle the entire case from start to finish. Pay in USD, use regular U.S. passport-size photos, and get step-by-step support.
Start your application ➜Here is the complete application process for anyone living in the United States.
You can apply through UTIITSL, Protean (formerly NSDL), or a private agency like PanCardNri.com . If you want someone to handle the paperwork for you and accept USD payments, a private agency is usually the easier route.
As of April 1, 2026, the old forms have been replaced by new forms under the Income-tax Rules, 2026. Use Form 93 (formerly Form 49A) if you hold an Indian passport. Use Form 95 (formerly Form 49AA) if you hold a foreign or American passport — this applies whether you have an OCI card or not. For changes or a duplicate copy of an existing PAN, use the separate correction request form (formerly the CSF form). For a detailed breakdown of each form, see our PAN Application Forms Guide.
Enter your full name, date of birth, U.S. communication address, email, and phone number with country code. Make sure your name matches your passport exactly — even a small mismatch can cause a rejection. Under the new 2026 forms, initials are not allowed in the name field; your full expanded name must be provided.
You will need a copy of your passport (Indian or foreign), a recent U.S. bank statement or utility bill as address proof, proof of date of birth (now mandatory under the 2026 forms — your passport or birth certificate works), and two passport-size photos.
U.S. photo tip: If you apply through PanCardNri.com, regular U.S. passport-size photos (2 × 2 inches / 51 × 51 mm) will work just fine. You can get them at pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens), retail stores (Walmart, Target), shipping centers (The UPS Store, FedEx Office), or Post Offices. Our team converts the photo to the size required by Indian authorities — no need to hunt for Indian passport-size photos, which are very difficult to find in the USA.
The government processing fee is approximately ₹1,017 for applicants with a foreign dispatch address. Government portals accept INR only. If you apply through PanCardNri.com, you can pay in USD using any credit or debit card — fees start at $41 per applicant depending on service type.
After submitting online, print your filled application form. Sign it in the required areas (usually 3 spots), attach your document copies and photos, and post the package to the PAN processing center address shown on your acknowledgment slip.
You will receive a 15-digit acknowledgment number after submission. Use this number to track the status of your PAN application online on the UTIITSL or Protean website at any time.
Once processed, your e-PAN (digital copy) will be emailed to you within 3–4 working days. The physical PAN card is printed in India and mailed to your U.S. address through India Post and USPS — this typically takes about 3 weeks.
The right form depends on your passport type and what you need. As of April 1, 2026, the old forms have been replaced by new category-specific forms.
| New Form | Replaces | Who Should Use It | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 93 | Form 49A (individual) | NRIs who hold an Indian passport — including H-1B, F-1, and Green Card holders who retain Indian citizenship | Apply for a new PAN card for the first time |
| Form 95 | Form 49AA (individual) | American citizens, OCI holders, foreign nationals (Canadian, Australian, British, etc.), and anyone holding a non-Indian passport | Apply for a new PAN card for the first time |
| Form 96 | Form 49AA (entity) | U.S.-based entities: LLCs, S-Corps, C-Corps, Trusts, foreign LLPs, and any entity incorporated outside India | Apply for a new PAN for a foreign entity |
| Correction Request Form | CSF Form | Anyone who already has a PAN — Indian or foreign passport holders, entities | Update name, address, or other details; or request a duplicate (reprint) of a lost or damaged PAN card |
Not sure which form applies to you? Take the Document Checklist Quiz below, or see our detailed PAN Application Forms Guide for a full breakdown of each form.
You only need to send photocopies — no original documents are required. Under the 2026 forms, proof of date of birth is now a mandatory separate document.
| Applicant Type | Identity Proof | Address Proof | Birth Proof | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRI (Indian passport) — Form 93 | Indian passport copy | U.S. bank statement or utility bill (recent, apostilled) | Passport, birth certificate, driving license, voter ID, or matriculation certificate | Two passport-size photos |
| American / Foreign citizen — Form 95 | U.S. or foreign passport copy | U.S. bank statement or utility bill (recent, apostilled). OCI card copy if applicable. | Passport, OCI/PIO card, apostilled foreign birth certificate, or government-issued ID with DOB | Two passport-size photos |
| U.S. entity (LLC, S-Corp, Trust) — Form 96 | Certificate of incorporation or business registration | U.S. bank statement in entity name (apostilled) | Proof of date of incorporation (certificate of formation) | Authorized signatory's ID proof |
Apostille must be a hardcopy from the Secretary of State in your U.S. state — e-apostille is generally not accepted. For a detailed breakdown by applicant type, see our NRI PAN Card or US Citizen PAN Card pages.
Here is what it costs and how long it takes when you apply from the United States.
Fees and timelines are approximate and may change. PanCardNri.com fees are all-inclusive: government charges + service fee + postal delivery to your U.S. address.
Trusted by over 150,000 non-residents since 2007.
Our team completes your PAN application — Form 93 or Form 95 — on your behalf, so you don't have to deal with confusing government forms or risk errors that lead to rejection.
Every application is reviewed before submission. We catch mistakes early, saving you from delays, re-submissions, and wasted postage from the USA.
Government portals only accept INR. With us, you can pay in US dollars using any credit or debit card — no currency conversion on your end.
Government portals require Indian-size photos (3.5 × 2.5 cm). We accept standard U.S. passport photos (2×2 inches) from CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, UPS Store, FedEx Office, or your local Post Office. Our team converts them to the required Indian format.
You get a dedicated expert who handles your case end to end — with updates via email or phone until your PAN card is delivered to your U.S. address.
Apply without an Aadhaar card, Indian address, or embassy attestation. We keep document requirements minimal and straightforward for U.S. residents.
Start your application today. We handle everything — form filling, document review, submission, and delivery to your U.S. address. Most clients complete their part in under 15 minutes.
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