Q.1232 UK NRI can apply for

PAN Card without Aadhaar Card

Question: You seem to have all the relevant answers for various NRI questions that you have explained very well. I am hoping that you will be able to help me with my query. I am an Non Resident Indian citizen, holding an Indian passport (by choice), living legally as a permanent resident in the United Kingdom for the last 24 years. I have not resided in India since 1991. I have had a hard time trying to get a PAN card for myself for the last few years and I have tried many times - both from the UK and when I have visited India too. I do not have an Aadhar Card as I am a non resident of India - I have not spent the total of 180+ days in India since 1991, but because I hold an Indian passport, I require an Aadhar Number to complete my PAN application. Is there a way out of this? Please advise. Many thanks and regards, Answer: Yes! There is a way out. However it requires some additional work. Read on . . . There are two types of forms for PAN card applications. One is for Indian citizens and the other for foreign citizens. The Indian citizen NRI category which is Indian citizens living abroad [NRIs] seem to have been left out from consideration when designing PAN application forms. The problem for NRIs when applying for a PAN Card online, as you are experiencing is the requirement to quote their Aadhaar Card number which obviously many NRIs do not have and are ineligible to get one, due to their non-resident status. Solution for NRIs applying for PAN Card if they do not have Aadhaar Card The way it currently stands is that NRIs who do not have Aadhaar Card cannot apply for PAN Card online. They can do so by applying through mail. • Download Form number 49A from the NSDL website https://www.tin- nsdl.com/downloads/pan/download/Form _49A.PDF • Leave the Aadhaar number part on the form blank. o The Form clearly states that this must be filled: ‘In case of a person, who is required to quote Aadhaar number or the Enrolment ID of Aadhaar application form as per section 139 AA’ this does not apply to NRIs if they are not resident in India and hence ineligible for Aadhaar unless they spend six months in India. • For proof of address the requirement for an Indian citizen residing outside India, a copy of Bank Account Statement in country of residence or copy of Non- resident External (NRE) bank account statements that are not more than three months old. • The mailing charges if the proof of residence is outside India is about Rs. 1017.