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PAN Card Photo and Signature Requirements Online (India)
Applying for a new PAN card or submitting a correction online, through Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov) or UTIITSL, means uploading a photo and a signature as separate fields on the form. Getting the format right the first time saves you from a rejected or delayed application.
Photo and signature must be JPEG
For the online PAN application and correction forms, the photo and signature uploads must be in JPEG format — PNG and PDF are not accepted for these two specific fields, according to the application instructions published on the Protean (NSDL) PAN services site. This is a common point of confusion, since most people default to PNG when saving a phone screenshot or a scanned signature.
If your photo or signature is currently a PNG, screenshot, or PDF, convert it to JPEG before starting the form — trying to upload the wrong format usually just gets rejected by the upload field itself, costing you time mid-application.
Getting a signature into JPEG format
The most reliable way to get a signature ready is to sign your name on a plain white sheet of paper, photograph it in good lighting, and crop it down to just the signature. If you're doing this from a phone photo, converting straight from your camera roll to a properly cropped JPEG keeps the file clean and readable.
- Sign clearly on plain white paper with a dark pen
- Photograph it in even lighting, avoiding shadows
- Crop the image down to just the signature
- Save or convert the final image as a JPEG before uploading
On exact size and dimension limits
You'll see specific pixel dimensions and kilobyte limits — like particular width/height ratios or size caps — repeated across many third-party PAN-application guide sites. We weren't able to independently confirm an exact figure directly from Protean's own published instructions, so rather than repeating a number that might be outdated or inaccurate, the safer approach is to check the live upload screen at the time you apply: it will typically state the exact pixel dimensions and file size it expects for that specific field, and will reject an upload that doesn't match.
If your upload keeps failing
A rejected upload on this form is almost always a format or dimension mismatch rather than a content problem. Double-check that the file is genuinely saved as a JPEG (not a PNG renamed with a .jpg extension), and that you're uploading it to the correct field — photo and signature are separate uploads and easy to swap by mistake.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload a PNG or PDF for my PAN photo or signature?
No. Both fields require JPEG format specifically for the online PAN application and correction process.
What's the exact file size limit?
The live application form states the current pixel dimensions and size limit for each field at the time you use it. We recommend checking that screen directly rather than relying on a fixed number, since we couldn't confirm one consistently from an official source.
Can I use a scanned signature instead of a photographed one?
Yes, as long as the final file is saved as a JPEG and meets the dimensions the form specifies. A scan or a clear photo both work.
Does this apply to both new applications and corrections?
Yes, both the new PAN application and correction forms through Protean/NSDL and UTIITSL use the same JPEG requirement for photo and signature uploads.