PAN card photo size
For the PAN application through Protean with a digital signature, the photo must be a colour JPEG, 3.5 × 2.5 cm at 200 DPI, no more than 20 KB. This page makes that exact file.
Set to: 197 × 276 px (2.5 × 3.5 cm at 200 DPI) · Under 20 KB
or drop it here · up to 50 MB, free
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Fit the face inside the oval: the top of the head near the upper edge of the oval, the chin at its lower edge.
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PAN card photo size in 3 steps
- Select a recent colour photo on a white or light background. 197 × 276 px (2.5 × 3.5 cm at 200 DPI) and Under 20 KB are already chosen.
- Fit the frame around your face and the top of your shoulders.
- Click Resize photo and attach the JPG in the PAN application.
Protean PAN requirements (DSC route)
| Photograph | Colour, JPEG, 200 DPI, 3.5 × 2.5 cm (height × width), max 20 KB |
|---|---|
| Signature | Colour, JPEG, 200 DPI, 2 × 4.5 cm, max 10 KB |
| Documents | Black and white, 200 DPI, PDF/A or JPEG, max 300 KB per page |
| This tool | 197 × 276 px, which is 2.5 × 3.5 cm at 200 DPI, under 20 KB |
Sources: Protean PAN instructions (DSC) · Protean: PAN documents scanning and uploading
Centimetres turned into pixels
Protean gives the size in centimetres and a resolution of 200 DPI. At 200 dots per inch, 2.5 cm is 197 pixels and 3.5 cm is 276 pixels, so a 197 × 276 JPG is exactly the photo the instructions describe. A JPG that small rarely goes above 20 KB, and the tool lowers the quality a little only if it has to.
Compress Image under 20 KB also brings a photo below the limit, but it keeps the original shape and pixels. Use this page when you want the photo at the exact size the instructions give.
Which PAN route are you on
The 20 KB photo limit belongs to the Protean route where you sign with a digital signature certificate and upload scans. Protean's own article on scanning for the e-Sign route quotes a higher ceiling of 50 KB for the photo, and on paperless e-KYC with Aadhaar the photo is taken from Aadhaar and you upload nothing. A 197 × 276 file under 20 KB is accepted in every case where an upload is asked for, so it is the safe choice. UTIITSL, the other PAN agency, has its own form; follow its instructions if you apply there.
Signature and documents
The signature must be under 10 KB; the PAN card signature page crops it and keeps it under that limit. Documents scanned in black and white at 200 DPI usually stay under 300 KB per page; if not, Compress PDF or Compress Image brings them down.
Use a recent photo with a plain light background and your face clearly visible, without dark glasses. The tool crops and resizes but does not change the background or the face.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PAN card photo size in KB?
Up to 20 KB for the Protean DSC route, as a colour JPEG. Protean quotes up to 50 KB for the e-Sign route.
What is the PAN card photo size in pixels?
Protean gives 3.5 × 2.5 cm at 200 DPI, which works out to 197 × 276 pixels (width × height).
Where do I resize the PAN signature?
On the PAN card signature page, which makes a cropped JPG under 10 KB.
Is my photo uploaded to your site?
No. It is processed in your browser on your device.