PAN card photo and signature size
A new PAN application or a correction request through NSDL (Protean eGov), UTIITSL, or the Income Tax e-filing portal asks you to upload a photo and a signature as separate image files. Both have their own size rules, and the most common reason an upload gets stuck at this step is a file that's simply too large in KB, not wrong in content.
PAN photo & signature specification
| Item | Dimensions | File size |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph | 3.5 × 4.5 cm (413×531 px @300 DPI) | 50–300 KB |
| Signature | Fits within a 4.0 × 1.5 cm box on the form | Typically under 60 KB (portal-dependent) |
The photo background should be plain white or light-coloured, taken face-forward with no cap or dark glasses, similar to a passport photo. The signature should be in black or dark-blue ink on plain white paper, photographed straight-on rather than at an angle.
Where this differs between NSDL and UTIITSL
Both processing agencies handle PAN applications on behalf of the Income Tax Department, and the visual specification (plain background, front-facing, KB cap) is functionally the same across both, but the exact upload widget and its stated KB ceiling can differ slightly release to release. If your specific portal's form states a different number than what's shown here, treat the form's own instructions as the source of truth and simply type that number into the KB field of the resize tool instead of using this page's default.
Common upload errors and their real cause
- "File size exceeds limit" — almost always a phone-camera photo (2-6MB) uploaded directly without any compression.
- "Invalid image dimensions" — a photo that's the wrong aspect ratio (like a full-body or landscape photo) rather than a cropped headshot.
- Signature looks faded after upload — a low-contrast scan (grey pen on cream paper) compresses more aggressively and can lose crispness; darker ink and plain white paper hold up much better through compression.
How to fix it in one pass
Use the PAN Card Photo & Signature Resize tool for the photo — it crops to the right aspect ratio, sets a plain background and compresses into the correct KB band. For the signature, the Signature Resizer auto-crops to the ink and compresses separately, since the two documents have different size targets.
What changes for a minor's or a first-time PAN application
A first-time PAN application for a minor is processed through a parent or guardian, and the photo requirement is the same specification described above, applied to the minor's own photo rather than the parent's. One detail worth knowing: minors below a certain age are sometimes permitted a simplified application that doesn't require a photo at all, with the card carrying the parent's signature instead — this changes periodically, so check the current NSDL/UTIITSL instructions for minor applications specifically rather than assuming the adult specification applies unchanged.
For a first-time adult application, the photo and signature go through the same specification as a correction request, so there is no separate size rule to learn — the difference is only in which supporting documents you attach, not in how the photo or signature file itself needs to be prepared.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same photo for PAN and Aadhaar?
The photo can be the same source image, but each portal has its own dimension and KB requirement, so it needs to be resized separately for each — a PAN-sized export won't automatically match Aadhaar's own specification.
Does the signature need to be scanned, or is a photo okay?
A clear, well-lit photo of a signature on plain white paper works fine; a flatbed scan gives slightly more even lighting but isn't required.
What if my correction request only needs one of the two (photo or signature)?
Most correction forms still show both upload fields even if only one detail is changing — check the specific form; when in doubt, prepare both to the same specification to avoid a resubmission.
Does a minor's PAN application need a photo?
It depends on the current age-based rule — some minor applications skip the photo requirement and use the parent's signature instead, so check the current NSDL/UTIITSL guidance for minors.