PAN Card Photo and Signature Dimension Guide (NSDL / UTIITSL)
Step-by-step instructions to format candidate photo (200 DPI, 3.5x2.5cm) and signature for online NSDL e-PAN applications.
NSDL and UTIITSL PAN application portals require photos at 200 DPI (3.5cm × 2.5cm, under 50KB) and digital signatures at 200 DPI (2.0cm × 4.5cm, under 20KB).
Why It Matters
Because PAN cards are physical laminated photo IDs with strict printing dimensions, NSDL portal automated pre-checks immediately reject files that fail to match 200 DPI resolution headers or byte limits.
Step-by-Step Workflow
1. Crop Source Photo
Use ToolMela PAN Card Crop to isolate the photo to 3.5 × 2.5 cm.
2. Clean Signature
Crop handwritten signature and boost contrast to pure black-on-white.
3. Set 200 DPI Headers
Confirm the export includes 200 DPI metadata tags.
4. Check File Size
Ensure photo is <50KB and signature is <20KB before uploading to NSDL.
A freelancer applying for a business PAN card uploads a passport scan. ToolMela's PAN Crop utility extracts the photo, standardizes the signature to 200 DPI at 14KB, and produces clean NSDL-compliant uploads.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Technical Realities & Limitations
Physical verification may take 5–10 business days after digital upload.
Apply This Workflow With ToolMela Utilities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DPI requirement for PAN applications?
Both NSDL and UTIITSL require color photos and signatures scanned at exactly 200 DPI resolution.