Documents Required for Your PAN Card Application

For NRI Individuals (Form 49A — Indian Citizens Living Abroad)

NRIs who hold an Indian passport use Form 49A. Each document must be a clear photocopy (not handwritten) and must be attested/notarized before submission from abroad.

Proof of Identity (any one)

Proof of Address (any one)

This should reflect your current overseas address if you want the PAN records to show your foreign address. You may also provide an Indian address if preferred.

Proof of Date of Birth (any one)

For Foreign Nationals (Form 49AA — Non-Indian Citizens)

Foreign nationals who are not Indian citizens use Form 49AA. The document requirements are similar but refer to your foreign passport and country-issued documents.

For Foreign Companies / Business Entities

Photograph Specifications

Two passport-size photographs are required for every PAN Card application. The Income Tax Department has strict photo requirements:

Notarization & Attestation — What NRIs in the USA Need to Know

Any documents submitted to India from abroad must be attested to prove their authenticity. For NRIs in the United States, here are your options, from easiest to most thorough:

1. 1

   Notarization by a US Notary Public

   A notary public certifies that the copy is a true and accurate copy of the original. Available at banks (often free for customers), UPS Stores, FedEx Office, law offices, and many public libraries. Cost: usually $5–$15 per document.

   The notary signs and stamps each copy with their seal. This is widely accepted for PAN Card applications submitted via authorized agents like PAN Card Express.

2. 2

   Apostille

   An apostille is a higher level of authentication under the Hague Convention (of which the US and India are both members). US documents can be apostilled at the Secretary of State office of the state where the document was issued. For personal documents (passport copies), apostille from the state Secretary of State is accepted.

   Cost: $10–$20 per document; processing time varies by state (usually 5–15 business days; expedited services available).

3. 3

   Indian Consulate / Embassy Attestation

   The Indian Consulate in your nearest US city (New York, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Atlanta, etc.) can attest documents. This is the most authoritative attestation but requires an appointment and an in-person visit.

   For many NRIs, this is inconvenient. Notarization or apostille is generally sufficient and far more practical.

Document Preparation Tips

• Use a flatbed scanner (not a phone camera if possible) for document copies. Scan at 300 DPI minimum. The clearer, the better.
• Print in color — monochrome photocopies of identity documents are sometimes rejected.
• Keep the original safe — never mail original passport or identity documents. Only attested photocopies are sent.
• Check expiry dates — your Indian passport should ideally be valid. If expired, apply for a new passport first, or use your OCI card as the primary document instead.
• Bank statements: If using as address proof, download directly from your bank's website in PDF format. Print on a clean page. Handwritten statements or screenshots from a phone are not accepted.
• Name consistency: Your name must appear identically across all documents. If your passport says "Rajesh Kumar Sharma" but your bank statement says "R. K. Sharma," you may need an additional declaration explaining the variation.