What this scheme offers
Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 25 November 2024 with a ₹1,435 crore outlay, PAN 2.0 modernises the PAN and TAN ecosystem. The centrepiece is a dynamic QR code embedded in the e-PAN, letting banks, brokers, employers and other institutions verify your PAN details instantly by scanning it — cutting paperwork and onboarding delays. The project also consolidates three separate portals (Income Tax e-filing, NSDL/Protean, and UTIITSL) into one unified platform, and strengthens duplicate-PAN detection. Existing PAN cards without a QR code remain valid — there's no deadline forcing you to switch, and the transition is designed to be seamless for all current holders. As of mid-2026, the full unified portal was still rolling out (an 18-month build awarded to the project's Managed Service Provider), so PAN services in the interim continue through the existing NSDL/UTIITSL portals depending on which originally issued your PAN.
Who is eligible
- Every existing PAN card holder is automatically eligible for the free e-PAN upgrade — no separate eligibility test.
- First-time applicants: any Indian citizen with valid identity, address and date-of-birth proof.
- Foreign citizens who need a PAN for financial or tax purposes in India, with appropriate documentation.
- Minors: a parent or legal guardian can apply on the child's behalf.
Documents required
- Proof of Identity: Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving Licence
- Proof of Address: Aadhaar, a recent utility bill, or a valid rent agreement
- Proof of Date of Birth: Birth certificate, matriculation certificate, or Aadhaar
- For fastest instant e-PAN generation: Aadhaar linked to an active mobile number, for OTP-based e-KYC
How to get your upgraded e-PAN
- Check the back of your existing PAN card to see whether it was issued via Protean/NSDL or UTIITSL — this determines which portal to use in the interim, before the unified portal is fully live.
- Existing holders: visit the relevant portal (onlineservices.protean-tinpan.com for NSDL-issued cards, or the UTIITSL portal for UTIITSL-issued ones) and request a "Reprint of PAN Card" or e-PAN download — this generates your free, QR-enabled e-PAN.
- New applicants: apply via Form 49A on the same portals, submitting your identity, address and date-of-birth proof.
- The e-PAN PDF with QR code is delivered free to your registered email; a physical card costs a nominal fee (around ₹50) for domestic delivery.
- If you hold more than one PAN (which is against the law), proactively report it to your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer to avoid penalties, since PAN 2.0's improved duplicate-detection will surface it.