What the PAN application asks for
| Photograph | Signature | |
|---|---|---|
| Size as written | 3.5 × 2.5 cm (a portrait photo: 2.5 cm wide, 3.5 cm tall) | 2 × 4.5 cm (a landscape box: 4.5 cm wide, 2 cm tall) |
| Resolution | 200 DPI | 200 DPI |
| In pixels at 200 DPI | 197 × 276 px (width × height) | 354 × 157 px (width × height) |
| File | JPEG, colour, up to 20 KB | JPEG, colour, up to 10 KB |
| Kilomill preset | Photo settings | Signature settings |
From the scanning table in Protean’s (formerly NSDL) instructions for online PAN applications, read on 28 October 2026. If the form you are filling shows different limits, follow the form. We found no official UTIITSL page with file limits, so UTIITSL numbers are not listed here.
How to prepare the photo
- Start from a clear, recent colour photo on a light background, face looking straight at the camera.
- Add it above. It is cropped to 2.5 × 3.5 cm (197 × 276 pixels), tagged 200 DPI and compressed under 20 KB.
- Check the face is centred. If not, use Crop & rotate on the result and frame the head and shoulders.
How to prepare the signature
- Sign on plain white paper with a dark pen and take a sharp, well-lit photo or scan.
- Open the signature settings and add the photo. The paper is turned pure white, the empty margins are cropped, and the signature is fitted into 4.5 × 2 cm at 200 DPI under 10 KB.
- Check it is readable; a very faint signature can become patchy, so retake it with a darker pen.
For other exams and forms, the photo and signature size table lists official limits with a one-click preset for each.