Applying for a new PAN card or updating your existing PAN card through NSDL (Protean) or UTIITSL? Both portals have strict photo and signature specifications. Uploading the wrong size is the #1 reason for application rejection.
PAN Card Photo Specifications (NSDL & UTIITSL)
| Parameter | NSDL (Protean) | UTIITSL |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Size | 3.5 × 2.5 cm | 3.5 × 2.5 cm |
| Photo Pixels | 132 × 170 px (min) | 132 × 170 px (min) |
| Photo File Size | 2KB – 20KB | 2KB – 20KB |
| Photo Format | JPG / JPEG | JPG / JPEG |
| Signature File Size | 2KB – 10KB | 2KB – 10KB |
| Signature Dimensions | 140 × 60 px | 140 × 60 px |
Step-by-Step: Prepare PAN Card Photo
Step 1: Crop to Passport Size
Use our Image Cropper to crop your photo to a 3.5:2.5 aspect ratio (7:5). Your face should occupy 70–80% of the frame with a white background.
Step 2: Resize to Correct Dimensions
Use our Image Resizer and set width to 132px minimum (recommended 200px for better quality).
Step 3: Compress to Under 20KB
Use our Compress Image to 20KB tool to reduce the file to exactly 20KB or less.
Step 4: Prepare Your Signature
Use our Signature Resizer to resize to 140×60 px and compress under 10KB.
Common PAN Card Photo Errors
- "File size exceeds 20KB" — Use our compressor to reduce below 20KB
- "Invalid image dimensions" — Ensure minimum 132×170 pixels
- "Unsupported format" — Convert PNG to JPG using our PNG to JPG Converter
- "Photo not clear" — Use high-quality scan, avoid over-compression below 5KB
Related Tools
- Compress to 20KB — Exact size for PAN card uploads
- Image Resizer — Set exact pixel dimensions
- Signature Resizer — Resize scanned signature
- PNG to JPG — Convert format for portal compatibility