62. Pan Card Online Application

From UK

Q. Dear Sir, I have gone through your most useful and informative web site. However, could you please advise me as how a British citizen of Indian origin holding PIO card can apply for a PAN Card? Do I need my supporting documents to be attested by Indian High Commission officials? I live far away from Indian High Commission. It is normally very difficult to get any information from them on the phone and they never respond to emails and so getting any document attested by them will be next to impossible. You have listed all the countries in the world where one can obtain PAN card online, then why only UK is not listed? Some time ago, I wrote to two web addresses listed in the Income tax department site for information on this matter. They never replied. Perhaps you know there are many web sites such nriinvest.com etc claim to help in obtaining a PAN Card with a small fee. I wonder is it safe to hand over confidential information to such people? We live in a very bad times hence your help will be most appreciated. Hope to hear from you. Thanking you. Yours Sincerely P. Pathak A. In the countries listed on my website for online PAN application UK is included, you may have missed it. It is shown as 'United Kingdom' As a PIO card holder you may be able to use a copy of your PIO Card plus copy of your Passport and perhaps not have to get any attestation done at the high commission. Both PIO and OCI are Indian government issued documents. I suggest you call the Indian High Commission up on the telephone and seek clarification. Normally applicants who cannot sign but use a Thumb Impression are required get their form attested by a Magistrate or a Notary Public or a Gazetted Officer, under official seal and stamp. Regards to companies that get PAN Cards for a fee, I am unable to comment on them, personally I would hesitate to use them. I believe they email you the forms to fill (forms that are freely available on the Internet) and ask you to submit the forms back to them. Their fee is around Rs 2300 compared to the actual cost of Rs 744. While money may not be the issue here for NRIs, especially when compared to convenience, the idea of giving out copies of your passport and PIO card to persons unknown should be well thought out as you have suggested in your email.