PAN card is essential not only for every taxpaying citizen of India but also for Non-resident Indians (NRIs) who have got taxable income in India.

For NRIs, PAN card is important even to carry out a financial transaction, mutual fund investments, sell and purchase of land or property, etc. NRIs who do not have a government-owned PAN card can apply for it online. The procedure to apply for a PAN card is fairly simple for NRIs. However, they need to furnish some required documents to process the PAN application. Apply for a PAN Card in India if you are an NRI by following below steps.

1. Form 49A and Form 49AA for NRI PAN Card

NRIs with Indian citizenship should apply for PAN card by filling form 49A while NRIs who are citizens of another country must fill form 49AA. Both these forms are easily available on the UTIITSL & NSDL websites. An applicant to require to duly fill the above-mentioned forms as per his/her citizenship and submit it online after which an acknowledgment receipt of 15-digit number is generated that needs to be sent to the designated address along with the essential documents to complete the PAN application process. This is the compulsory requirement to apply for a PAN Card in India if you are an NRI

2. Payment Fee for NRI PAN Card

When it comes to NRIs, the payment made to apply for a PAN card differs widely as per their address of communication. For example, an NRI applicant whose communication address is outside India must submit the PAN application fee of Rs.989/-. It would include the application fee, postal charges and applicable taxes. But if the communication address provided by the NRI is within India, the PAN application fee would be Rs.107/-. The fee can be paid by debit/credit card or via net banking, in case of online application. Alternatively, a demand draft in favor of UTIITSL or NSDL can be made and dispatched along with the documents and the form.

The required fees need to be paid to apply for a PAN Card in India if you are an NRI.

3. Documents required for NRI PAN Card

While applying for a PAN card in India, an NRI applicant requires two passport-sized photographs that need to be affixed in the space provided in the form. Plus, a copy of identity proof should also be submitted along with the form. As a valid proof of identity, an applicant can use a copy of passport, a copy of bank account statement in the country he/she resides and a copy of duly attested NRE bank account statement showing at least two transactions in six months.

These documents are must to process if you want to apply for a PAN Card in India if you are an NRI

Process to apply for a NRI PAN card in India

Mentioned below are some easy steps that need to be followed if you want to apply for a PAN Card in India if you are an NRI-

1. Visit the NSDL or the UTIITSL website (here we’re taking the example of NSDL website)
2. Go to site
3. Fill out the PAN application form 49A or 49AA, based on your citizenship
4. Submit the duly filled application form online. Soon your computer screen will display a duly filled application form which you are required to cross-check and ensure that the information you provided in the form is accurate both in terms of factual errors & typo/spelling errors. Once you are done with the cross-checking part and editing, just submit the form online.
5. After successfully submitting the form, you’ll get an acknowledgment slip online constituting a 15- digit number. Take a print out of this receipt.
6. Now, stick two photographs in the space provided in the acknowledgment receipt.
7. Sign the acknowledgment receipt. You can also use a thumb impression instead of signatures. Whichever option you choose, ensure that it is done in the column specified for it. Any mistake here would lead to application rejection.
8. Once done with this process, attach all essential documents such as a copy of identity proof, address proof, 2 coloured passport-sized photographs with white background, Demand draft in favor of NSDL, (in case you are not doing online payment) etc. and send it.
9. It would take around 15 days for your application to reach the NSDL office (from the day it has been posted). It should also be noted that your PAN card will be dispatched to your communication address only after the payment is realized and all the proofs are verified.

Important points to note while applying for NRI PAN Card

Here are some of point to remember if you want to apply for a PAN Card in India if you are an NRI-

1. NRIs can provide their foreign address as communication address in the PAN application form if they do not have the Indian address of their own.
2. Since the facility of dispatching PAN card outside India is available in selected countries only, therefore, it is wise to check if the facility is available in your selected country or not.
3. In order to avoid application rejection, one must fill out the PAN application form with accurate details and the right communication address so that the PAN card is dispatched to the right address.
4. Always fill out the PAN application form with black ink and in BLOCK LETTERS.
5. Signatures or the thumb impression of the applicant should be done only in the box provided and not on the photograph attached to it.
6. Make sure to provide the correct AO code.
7. The proof of address and identity provided in the PAN application form should have similar details like the spelling of the applicant’s name, address, date of birth, etc.
8. If the applicant is minor, his/her guardian should also provide their proof of address and identity.

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