NSDL (Protean) vs. UTIITSL PAN Card Photo & Signature Size Guide (213×213 px)
Need to fix your photo or signature right now?
Applying for a new PAN card or submitting a CSF correction form online through Protean (formerly NSDL e-Gov) or UTIITSL frequently stalls at the document upload screen. Because the two official agencies enforce slightly different pixel and kilobyte rules, uploading an NSDL-formatted photo to the UTIITSL portal results in an instant dimension mismatch error.
1. NSDL (Protean) vs. UTIITSL Official Specification Matrix (2026)
| Document | UTIITSL Portal Spec | NSDL (Protean) Portal Spec | Universal Safe Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant Photograph | 213 × 213 pixels (300 DPI) Under 30 KB (JPG) |
3.5 cm × 2.5 cm (200 DPI) Under 50 KB (JPG) |
213 × 213 px at 25 KB – 28 KB |
| Applicant Signature | 400 × 200 pixels (600 DPI) Under 60 KB (JPG) |
2.0 cm × 4.5 cm (200 DPI) Under 50 KB (JPG) |
400 × 200 px at 35 KB – 45 KB |
| Supporting ID / Address PDF | PDF up to 2 MB | PDF up to 300 KB | Compressed PDF under 200 KB |
2. Why UTIITSL Rejects Standard Passport Photos
A normal Indian passport photo has a vertical rectangular ratio of 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm. However, the UTIITSL portal strictly checks for a 1:1 square canvas of exactly 213 × 213 pixels weighing less than 30KB. If you upload a rectangular photo, the server script blocks the file before submission.
Our PAN Card Photo & Signature Resizer comes pre-loaded with the exact 213 × 213 px (28KB) photograph preset and 400 × 200 px (45KB) signature preset so your file passes validation on the very first attempt.
3. Formatting Supporting Aadhaar / Voter ID PDFs Under 300KB
If you are submitting physical document scans via the "Forward Application Documents Digitally" option on Protean (NSDL), every PDF attachment must weigh less than 300KB. Use our Compress PDF to 200KB utility to shrink your Aadhaar or passport scan while keeping the 12-digit UID and address text crystal clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does UTIITSL require 213x213 pixels while NSDL asks for 3.5cm x 2.5cm?
Both portals require a square-ish portrait, but UTIITSL validates exact pixel dimensions (213×213 px at 300 DPI, under 30KB) while NSDL (Protean) validates 3.5cm × 2.5cm (approx. 295×413 px at 200 DPI, under 50KB). Formatting at 213×213 px under 28KB satisfies UTIITSL immediately.
What is the maximum PDF size for Aadhaar proof on the PAN card portal?
Supporting Proof of Identity (POI), Proof of Address (POA), and Proof of Date of Birth (DOB) documents must be uploaded in PDF format not exceeding 300KB.
Can I upload a selfie for an online PAN card correction?
No. Both Protean (NSDL) and UTIITSL reject selfies or photos with dark/patterned backgrounds. Your face must be centered straight-on against a plain white background with both ears visible.