Instant e-PAN Through Aadhaar: Eligibility, Steps and Download

If you have never had a PAN and your Aadhaar is linked to a working mobile number, you can get a free e-PAN on the Income Tax Department’s e-Filing portal. You verify with an Aadhaar OTP, note the acknowledgement number, and download the PAN as a PDF once it is allotted. No form, photo or paper is needed.

Key facts

Who is eligible for instant e-PAN

You can use the service if all of these apply:

• No PAN has ever been allotted to you.
• You have a valid Aadhaar with updated KYC details, linked to an active mobile number.
• You are not a minor on the date of the request.
• You are not a representative assessee under section 160 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 or section 303 of the Income-tax Act, 2025.

Foreign citizens cannot use this Aadhaar e-KYC route. Your date of birth is fetched through DigiLocker, so keep that login handy.

Two common blocks come from Aadhaar itself. If Aadhaar shows only your year of birth, update the full date first. If your name, date of birth or gender in Aadhaar is wrong, or no mobile is linked, fix that with UIDAI. A mobile number can only be added at an Aadhaar enrolment centre.

Steps to request e-PAN on the e-Filing portal

1. Go to the e-Filing portal home page and click Instant e-PAN.
2. Click Get New e-PAN.
3. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number, tick the I confirm that box and click Continue.
4. Read the consent terms and click Continue.
5. Enter the 6-digit OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile, tick the box to validate your Aadhaar details with UIDAI, and click Continue.
6. Complete the DigiLocker step to fetch your date-of-birth details when prompted.
7. Tick the acceptance box and click Continue.
8. Note the Acknowledgement Number shown on screen. A copy is also sent to your mobile.

Validating your email ID is optional at this stage. The OTP expires after 15 minutes, and you get three attempts to enter it correctly.

How to check e-PAN request status

1. On the portal home page, click Instant e-PAN.
2. Choose Check Status / Download PAN.
3. Enter your Aadhaar number and click Continue.
4. Enter the 6-digit OTP and click Continue.
5. Read the status on screen.

If the status says “PAN allotment request has failed”, write to epan@incometax.gov.in.

Downloading the e-PAN PDF

Once the PAN is allotted, the status page shows View e-PAN and Download e-PAN buttons. Click Download e-PAN to save the PDF.

If you have an e-Filing account, you can also log in and go to Dashboard > Services > View / Download e-PAN, then verify with the OTP.

The PDF is password-protected. According to ClearTax, the password is your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format, so 15 August 1990 becomes 15081990.

Is e-PAN valid everywhere a physical card is?

Yes. The Income Tax Department’s FAQ calls the e-PAN “a valid form of PAN”. You can share the PDF wherever a PAN copy is asked for.

Instant e-PAN does not come with a plastic card. If you want one, request a reprint through Protean or UTIITSL, the two agencies the Department points to. Protean charges ₹50 for a reprint posted within India through its separate reprint link.

If you already have a PAN: download options

You cannot request instant e-PAN once a PAN has been allotted to you, even if you have lost the card. Download a copy instead.

There is no official download that works with a mobile number alone. Every route asks for your PAN or Aadhaar and then sends an OTP to your registered mobile or email.

If your Aadhaar is linked to the wrong PAN, ask your Jurisdictional Assessing Officer to delink it before you apply for instant e-PAN. Our PAN and Aadhaar linking guide explains how linking works. Your new PAN is also what you quote when you file your income tax return, and a tax professional can help if your records are tangled.

Frequently asked questions

Is instant e-PAN really free?

Yes. The Income Tax Department charges nothing for instant e-PAN on the e-Filing portal.

Can I get a new e-PAN if I lost my PAN card?

No. The service is only for people who have never been allotted a PAN. Download your existing e-PAN from Protean or UTIITSL instead.

What is the password for the e-PAN PDF?

ClearTax reports it is your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format, such as 15081990 for 15 August 1990.

Can I download my PAN card with my mobile number?

Not with the mobile number alone. You enter your PAN or Aadhaar, and the OTP goes to the mobile or email on record.

Will I get a physical PAN card with instant e-PAN?

No. You can order a printed card through the Protean or UTIITSL reprint service; Protean charges ₹50 for delivery in India.

Can a minor or an NRI use instant e-PAN?

A minor cannot. Foreign citizens cannot use this e-KYC route, and anyone without an Aadhaar linked to a mobile has to apply on the regular PAN form.

Do I need to visit a centre or upload a photo?

No. The process is fully online, with no in-person verification and no scanned photo or signature.

Sources

• Instant e-PAN user manual — Income Tax Department e-Filing portal (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Instant e-PAN — Income Tax Department e-Filing portal (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Instant e-PAN FAQ — Income Tax Department e-Filing portal (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• FAQs on e-PAN (PDF) — Income Tax Department (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Request and download e-PAN — Protean eGov Technologies (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• FAQs – Request for New PAN / reprint fees — Protean eGov Technologies (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• Update Aadhaar — UIDAI (checked 16 Sep 2026)
• PAN card download from NSDL, UTIITSL — ClearTax (checked 16 Sep 2026)