PAN Card Reprint: Complete Guide (2026)

Last updated: August 2026

Quick Answer

A PAN card reprint is a request for a duplicate physical copy of an existing PAN card, issued with the same PAN number and the same demographic details already on record. It costs ₹50 for delivery within India and ₹959 for delivery outside India. Applicants use it when the original card is lost, damaged, or simply needs a fresh physical copy, not when any detail on the card needs to change.

What Is a PAN Card Reprint

PAN, or Permanent Account Number, is a ten-character alphanumeric identifier issued by the Income Tax Department to every taxpayer in India. Once allotted, the number itself never changes, even if the applicant loses the physical card, moves house, or damages the card beyond use.

A reprint request asks Protean eGov Technologies (formerly NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited) or UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Ltd (UTIITSL) to issue a fresh physical card carrying the exact details already in the department’s database. Nothing on the card changes. The name, date of birth, photograph, signature, and address remain exactly as they were on the original card.

This distinction matters because a large share of PAN service requests get delayed or rejected for a simple reason: the applicant filed a reprint request when what they actually needed was a correction request, or the other way round.

PAN Reprint vs PAN Correction: Know the Difference First

This is the single most important decision point in the entire process, and it is where most applicants go wrong.

Filing a reprint request when a correction is actually needed will not update anything. The applicant will simply receive a fresh card with the same outdated or incorrect details, and will have paid the fee for nothing. If any field needs to change, the correct route is the “Change/Correction in PAN Data” form on the Protean or UTIITSL portal, not the reprint facility.

Who Can Request a PAN Card Reprint

The reprint facility is available to PAN holders in either of these two situations:

1. The applicant’s most recent PAN application, whether for allotment or correction, was processed through Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov).
2. The applicant obtained their PAN through the Instant e-PAN facility on the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal.

For PAN holders whose PAN was originally issued through UTIITSL, the reprint request goes through the UTIITSL portal instead. There is no cross-provider flexibility. A PAN issued via Protean cannot be reprinted through UTIITSL, and vice versa, since each provider holds the original application record for the applications it processed.

Documents and Information You Will Need

Before starting, keep the following ready:

• PAN number
• Aadhaar number (mandatory for OTP-based authentication)
• Date of birth (or incorporation date for non-individual applicants)
• A working mobile number and email address, ideally the ones already registered with the PAN record
• A payment method: debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI
• GST number, only if applicable to the applicant

No physical documents need to be couriered for a straightforward reprint with no data changes, provided the applicant completes Aadhaar-based e-KYC during the online process. This is one of the most practitioner-relevant details, since it separates the reprint process from a correction request, which frequently still requires supporting documents.

How to Identify Your PAN Issuing Authority

Since the reprint request must go through the correct provider, applicants who are unsure whether Protean or UTIITSL processed their original PAN can check in one of two ways:

1. Look for the original PAN allotment letter or email. It will name the issuing authority directly.
2. If that record is unavailable, attempt the reprint request on the Protean portal first, using PAN and date of birth. If the system does not recognize the record, try the UTIITSL portal instead. Only the correct provider will return a match.

Step-by-Step: PAN Card Reprint via Protean (NSDL)

1. Visit the official Protean reprint page at onlineservices.proteantech.in.
2. Enter the PAN number, Aadhaar number, and date of birth (or month and year of birth, depending on the form version in use).
3. Review the partially masked personal details displayed on screen to confirm they match the applicant’s record.
4. Choose an OTP delivery option: registered mobile, registered email, or both.
5. Enter the OTP within the 10-minute validity window to authenticate the request.
6. Choose the delivery format: physical PAN card, e-PAN, or both.
7. Pay the applicable reprint fee online.
8. Download and save the acknowledgement receipt. This number is required to track the request later.

The reprinted card is typically dispatched to the address already on record with Protean. Applicants who also need the e-PAN can download it from the same portal once processing is complete.

Step-by-Step: PAN Card Reprint via UTIITSL

1. Visit the UTIITSL PAN portal at pan.utiitsl.com.
2. Select “Reprint of PAN Card” from the service list.
3. Enter the PAN number, Aadhaar number, and date of birth.
4. Verify the auto-populated details against the applicant’s actual record.
5. Authenticate through Aadhaar-based OTP.
6. Select the delivery mode required.
7. Pay the reprint fee.
8. Save the coupon or acknowledgement number generated after payment.

UTIITSL processes reprint requests independently of Protean, so applicants whose original PAN went through UTIITSL will not find their record on the Protean portal, and should not attempt to split the request across both.

PAN Card Reprint Fees: Complete Breakdown

This fee structure is identical whether the request is filed through Protean or UTIITSL, since the Income Tax Department standardizes PAN service charges across both authorised providers. There is no separate discount for choosing e-PAN over a physical card when a fresh reprint request is being filed.

A related but different charge applies to e-PAN downloads. If a PAN was allotted or last updated within the past 30 days, the e-PAN can be downloaded free of cost from the relevant provider’s portal. After that 30-day window, a small download fee applies, currently ₹8.26 on the Protean portal, separate from the ₹50 reprint fee for a physical card.

e-PAN Download vs Physical PAN Reprint

These are two different services, and conflating them is a common source of confusion.

An e-PAN download retrieves a digital, password-protected PDF of the existing PAN card. It does not involve reprinting anything and is meant for applicants who need the PAN details immediately, for instance to complete a bank KYC process the same day.

A PAN reprint request produces a new physical card, couriered to the applicant’s registered address. It takes longer than an e-PAN download because it involves physical printing and dispatch, but it is the only option for applicants who specifically need a laminated card for offline use, such as for identity verification at a government office.

Applicants who need both can select that option during the reprint request itself on either portal, rather than filing two separate requests.

How Long Does PAN Reprint Take

Once the online request, OTP authentication, and payment are complete, physical PAN cards are generally dispatched within 15 working days of the application being processed. The e-PAN, where selected, is typically available for download much sooner, often within 24 hours of successful processing, since it does not depend on courier logistics.

Delivery timelines beyond dispatch depend on India Post or the courier partner used, and can extend further for addresses outside metro areas or outside India. Applicants who have not received their card well beyond the standard window should check the tracking status before assuming the request failed.

How to Track Your PAN Reprint Application

On the Protean (NSDL) portal:

1. Visit the NSDL PAN status page.
2. Select “PAN – Reprint of PAN Card” as the application type.
3. Enter the acknowledgement number generated at the time of the request.
4. Complete the captcha and submit.

On the UTIITSL portal:

1. Visit the UTIITSL PAN status page.
2. Enter the Application Coupon Number, or alternatively the PAN and date of birth.
3. Complete the security check to view the current status: processing, printing, or dispatched.

Applicants who have lost their acknowledgement number can use the “Know Your Acknowledgement Number” tool on the Protean portal, which retrieves it using name, date of birth, and registered mobile number.

PAN 2.0 and the QR Code Reprint

The Income Tax Department’s PAN 2.0 initiative introduced enhanced PAN cards carrying a QR code for instant verification. Cards issued before this rollout do not display the QR code. Existing PAN holders who want the updated design do not need a fresh PAN allotment. A standard reprint request through Protean or UTIITSL, at the same ₹50 fee, generates the updated card with the QR code, since the underlying PAN number and data remain unchanged.

This matters for practical reasons beyond aesthetics. Several banks and financial institutions have started using QR-based verification during in-person KYC checks, so PAN holders with an older card design may find it useful to request a reprint specifically to obtain the QR-enabled version, even if their existing card is otherwise undamaged.

Recent Regulatory Changes Affecting PAN Reprint in 2026

Applicants filing a reprint request in the second half of 2026 should be aware of two changes that affect the wider PAN ecosystem, even though the core reprint process itself is unchanged:

New application forms for fresh PAN allotment. Effective April 1, 2026, fresh PAN applications must use the revised Form 93 or Form 94 for Indian citizens and entities, and Form 95 or Form 96 for foreign citizens and entities. This applies to new PAN allotment, not to reprints of an existing PAN, but it signals a broader modernization of PAN-related forms that reprint applicants should watch for in future updates.

Stricter correction verification. Also effective April 1, 2026, correction requests now require Form PAN CR-01, and identity details submitted for correction must match Aadhaar records exactly. Aadhaar alone is no longer treated as sufficient standalone proof for date-of-birth verification in many correction cases, and additional supporting documents may be required. This does not apply to a straightforward reprint with no data changes, but it reinforces why applicants should be certain they need a reprint and not a correction before starting, since the correction path has become more document-intensive.

Regulatory details on PAN services can shift with departmental circulars, so applicants should confirm current requirements on the Income Tax Department’s official site or the Protean and UTIITSL portals before submitting a request.

Common Mistakes That Delay PAN Reprint Requests

• Filing a reprint when a correction was needed. This wastes the fee and the processing window, since a reprint reproduces the existing record exactly.
• Using the wrong provider portal. A PAN issued via UTIITSL will not show up on the Protean portal, and the request will fail at the verification step.
• Assuming the Income Tax e-filing portal handles reprints. The e-filing portal’s Instant e-PAN facility is built for fresh PAN allotment only. It cannot process reprint or correction requests; those must go through Protean or UTIITSL.
• Entering a mobile number or email not linked to Aadhaar. OTP authentication depends on the number registered with UIDAI, not just the number on file with the PAN record.
• Not saving the acknowledgement number. Without it, tracking becomes dependent on the “Know Your Acknowledgement Number” recovery tool, which adds an extra step.

What Tax Professionals Say About PAN Reprint Requests

Chartered accountants and tax practitioners who handle PAN-related paperwork for clients regularly flag the same recurring pattern: most delays trace back to applicants choosing the wrong request type, not to any fault in the online systems themselves. A reprint that should take under two weeks often gets treated as a troubleshooting problem when the actual issue is that the applicant needed a correction instead.

Practitioners also point out that salaried employees frequently request a reprint mid-way through a bank KYC deadline, only to discover their registered mobile number is no longer active. Since Aadhaar-linked OTP is mandatory for the process, this single mismatch is enough to stall an otherwise simple request. Keeping the Aadhaar-linked mobile number current is a preventive step worth taking before, not during, a time-sensitive filing.

This guide does not attribute these observations to a single named advisor, since no specific quote from an identified professional could be independently verified for this piece. The patterns described reflect commonly reported experiences among practitioners who process PAN service requests as part of routine compliance work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the PAN number change after a reprint?

No. A PAN reprint issues a fresh physical card with the same ten-character PAN number and the same demographic details already on record. Only the physical card is replaced. If the PAN number itself appears to have changed, that indicates a data or duplicate PAN issue, not a standard reprint.

Can I request a PAN reprint without Aadhaar?

Aadhaar-based OTP authentication is required for the standard online reprint process through Protean or UTIITSL. Applicants without a linked Aadhaar number will need to use the offline application route instead, which involves submitting physical documents to a TIN-FC or PAN centre.

How much does a PAN card reprint cost in 2026?

The reprint fee is ₹50 for delivery within India and ₹959 for delivery outside India, inclusive of applicable taxes. This fee applies equally whether the request is filed through Protean or UTIITSL, since the Income Tax Department standardizes charges across both providers.

What is the difference between e-PAN download and PAN reprint?

An e-PAN download retrieves a digital copy of an existing card, often free within 30 days of allotment or update. A PAN reprint produces a new physical card that is couriered to the registered address, and always carries the standard ₹50 or ₹959 fee.

How long does it take to receive a reprinted PAN card?

Physical cards are generally dispatched within 15 working days of successful processing. Actual delivery time depends on postal or courier logistics after dispatch, and can vary by location.

Can I change my address while requesting a PAN reprint?

No. A reprint reproduces the existing record exactly, including the address on file. To update the address on the card, applicants must file a “Change/Correction in PAN Data” request instead of a reprint.

What happens if I use the wrong portal for my reprint request?

The request will fail at the verification step, since Protean and UTIITSL each hold records only for the applications they originally processed. Applicants unsure of their issuing authority should check their original PAN allotment communication before choosing a portal.

Key Takeaways

• A PAN reprint produces a duplicate physical card with no change to any existing detail; it costs ₹50 within India and ₹959 abroad.
• Confirm whether Protean or UTIITSL originally processed the PAN before starting, since each provider only handles its own records.
• If any detail on the card needs to change, use the correction route, not the reprint facility.
• Aadhaar-linked OTP is mandatory for the online process, so an inactive registered mobile number is one of the most common points of failure.
• Physical cards typically dispatch within 15 working days; e-PAN downloads are usually available within 24 hours.
• Regulatory changes effective April 1, 2026 tightened correction verification requirements but did not change the core reprint process.