PAN card (Protean / NSDL) Photo and Signature Size 2026
Official upload sizes for PAN card, and a tool to make each file correctly on this page.
- Free, no login
- Files stay on your phone
- Works on mobile
Last updated:
About the PAN card upload rules
When you apply for a new PAN card or a correction online through the Protean (formerly NSDL) portal, you may be asked to upload a photograph and a signature if you are not using Aadhaar based e-KYC. The photo should be 3.5 x 2.5 cm (height x width) and the signature 2 x 4.5 cm, both scanned at 300 DPI, JPG format and no larger than 50 KB.
A PAN card photo is printed small on the card, so a sharp face with a plain white background matters more than file size. The signature is also printed on the card, so use a dark pen and sign the way you sign on bank documents.
PAN card photo and signature size table
| Document | Pixel size | File size | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo | 295 x 413 px | up to 50 KB | JPG / JPEG |
| Signature | 531 x 236 px | up to 50 KB | JPG / JPEG |
Photo 3.5 × 2.5 cm and signature 2 × 4.5 cm at 300 DPI, max 50 KB each.
How to make the PAN card photo
- Take the photo in daylight, facing a window, against a plain white or light wall.
- Keep your face straight with both ears visible. Remove caps and dark glasses.
- Open the tool above, tap Photo and choose your photo.
- Drag the photo so your face sits inside the oval guide, then press Create file.
- Check that the result shows 295 x 413 px and up to 50 KB, then download it.
How to make the PAN card signature
- Sign with a black or dark blue pen on plain white paper. A thick, steady line reads best.
- Take a photo from straight above in good light, without your shadow on the paper.
- Tap Signature above, choose the photo and crop tightly around the signature.
- Keep Make paper pure white on. It removes shadows and grey paper.
- Download the file. It will be 531 x 236 px and up to 50 KB.
No paper nearby? Use Sign on screen in the tool and sign with your finger. Some exams want a signature on paper only, so check the notification if you are unsure.
Common reasons PAN card uploads get rejected
- The file is a few KB over the limit because it was compressed on a different site that counts KB differently. This tool stays safely inside both ways of counting.
- The photo is stretched because it was resized without cropping. Always crop to the right shape first, as the tool does.
- The background is busy or dark. Use a plain light wall, or the FormKit app's white background option.
- The signature is faint or on lined paper. Sign darker on plain paper.
- The file is PNG or HEIC instead of JPG. Files made here are always JPG.
Frequently asked questions
What is the photo size for PAN card?
The PAN card photo should be 295 x 413 px and up to 50 KB in JPG format.
What is the signature size for PAN card?
The PAN card signature should be 531 x 236 px and up to 50 KB in JPG format.
Is it safe to make my PAN card photo here?
Yes. The tool works inside your browser. Your photo is never uploaded to any server, so nobody else can see it.
Where can I check the latest PAN card rules?
On the official website (www.protean-tinpan.com) in the current notification. Sizes can change between years, so check before you upload.
Official website: www.protean-tinpan.com