PAN Card Photo and Signature Size — NSDL and UTIITSL Requirements
Applying for a PAN card online is supposed to be straightforward — fill a form, upload a photo, pay the fee. But the photo upload is where a surprising number of applications stall. NSDL and UTIITSL (the two authorized agencies for PAN issuance) each have their own portal with slightly different upload requirements. Here's what you need to know so your application goes through cleanly.
NSDL Portal Photo Specifications
For the NSDL e-filing portal (the more commonly used one), your photo should be in JPEG/JPG format, under 50 KB in size, with dimensions of approximately 3.5 cm x 2.5 cm (which is around 413 x 295 pixels at 300 DPI). The photo should be in colour with a white or light background. Your face should be clearly visible and centred.
The signature file follows the same rules: JPEG format, under 50 KB, with the signature in black or dark blue ink on white paper. Some versions of the form also accept PNG, but stick with JPG to be safe — it works on both portals.
UTIITSL Portal Differences
UTIITSL's portal is slightly more flexible with photo dimensions but can be stricter about other things. They accept photos up to 100 KB in some cases, and the dimension requirements are less rigid. However, their upload interface is less reliable, so keeping your files small and clean gives you the best chance of a smooth upload.
Regardless of which portal you use, the safe approach is the same: resize to roughly 400 x 300 pixels, compress to under 50 KB in JPG format, and make sure the photo is clear and recent. This works on both NSDL and UTIITSL without issues.
Photo Guidelines — What They Actually Check
PAN card photos end up printed on your actual card, so they care about clarity. Your face should take up most of the frame. Ears should be visible. No sunglasses or tinted lenses. Head coverings are allowed only for religious reasons. The expression should be neutral — no big smiles or frowns.
The most rejected photos are ones that are too dark, too blurry, or have a cluttered background. If you're using a phone camera, step outside or stand near a window for natural light, and use a white wall as your background. Two minutes of setup saves you a week of reapplication.
Quick Processing Workflow
Take or scan your photo. Crop to a passport-style frame with a roughly 7:5 ratio. Resize to about 413 x 295 pixels. If the file is over 50 KB, compress it. For your signature, scan or photograph it against white paper, crop tightly, resize to about 300 x 100 pixels, and compress if needed.
iPhone users: your photos are in HEIC format by default. The PAN portal wants JPG. Convert to JPG before you start resizing. Android users usually don't have this problem since most Android phones save as JPG.
Quick Reference
Photo: ~3.5 x 2.5 cm | ~413 x 295 px | Under 50 KB | JPG | Colour | White background. Signature: Under 50 KB | JPG | Black/blue ink on white paper. Works for: New PAN applications, corrections, re-issuance. Tip: Keep your original high-resolution photo — you'll need it for other ID applications too.