PAN Card (NSDL / UTIITSL) Photo — Size, Dimensions & Requirements

Applying for a new PAN or updating an old one online (through the NSDL/Protean or UTIITSL portals) needs a photo and signature upload with tight size limits. Get them wrong and the portal errors out — or worse, the printed card arrives with a photo so compressed your own bank doesn't recognize it. Check your files here first.

How to check your PAN photo

1. Upload the photo you plan to use for the PAN application.
2. The validator checks the format, KB size and dimensions against the PAN preset above.
3. Fix any failures with the linked compress/resize tools and re-check.
4. Validate the signature file separately — it has its own limits.

Tips for a PAN photo that actually looks good on the card

• The photo printed on a PAN card is small. Crop close to the face (head and shoulders) so your face isn't a tiny dot on the final card.
• Plain white/light background, even lighting, no shadows across the face.
• For signature: sign with a dark pen on plain white paper, photograph it from directly above in bright light, and crop tight to the signature. A skewed, grey signature is a common rejection reason.
• Don't over-compress. If your file is already within the limit, upload it as is — every extra compression pass costs clarity.

Frequently asked questions

What photo size does the PAN application need?

The current limits (format, KB and dimensions) are shown in the validator preset above, matching the official portals' upload rules for photo and signature.

Why does my PAN card photo look so blurry after printing?

Usually because the uploaded file was heavily compressed or cropped from a tiny area of a group photo. Start from a sharp, close-up photo and compress only as much as needed — this tool stops at the required size, no more.

Can I use the same file for photo and signature?

No — they're separate uploads with separate rules. Validate each one against its own preset.

Aadhaar-based e-KYC PAN doesn't ask for a photo. Why does this page exist?

e-KYC pulls your Aadhaar photo automatically. But physical-mode applications, corrections/reprints and many agent-assisted flows still need a proper photo upload — that's what this checker is for.

Is my document photo safe here?

Yes — validation happens locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to any server.