Introduction

If you're a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and have income in India, whether through rent, investments, or other sources, verifying your PAN (Permanent Account Number) is essential. Whether you're filing taxes, investing, or completing KYC processes, your PAN needs to be valid, active, and correctly marked with your NRI status.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to verify your PAN online through the Income Tax Department’s e-Filing portal. It’s quick, free, and doesn’t require you to have your physical PAN card in hand.

Why Should You Verify Your PAN as an NRI?

As an NRI, verifying your PAN ensures that your PAN is active and valid in the tax system. This is especially important to: 

• Avoid issues while filing income tax returns (ITR) in India

• Confirm that your NRI status is correctly recorded with the Income Tax Department

• Complete financial and legal transactions without delays
  
  

What if You Don’t Have Your PAN Card Handy?

Many NRIs don’t carry their original PAN card while living abroad. Fortunately, the online verification process only requires you to know your PAN number, full name, and date of birth. This makes it easy to check the status even if you don’t have the physical document with you.

Step-by-Step Guide to Verify Your PAN Online

Step 1: Visit the Income Tax e-Filing Portal

Go to the PAN verification page on the official Income Tax Department site: Online PAN Verification

The page should look like this.

Step 2: Enter Your PAN and Identity Details

On this page, enter the following information:

• PAN Number (as printed or known)

• Full Name (exactly as per Income Tax Department record)

• Date of Birth (in DD/MM/YYYY format)

• Mobile Number (Indian or international, to receive an OTP)

Ensure all details are accurate, especially your name and date of birth. Typos or format errors can cause verification to fail.

Step 3: Submit the Form and Enter OTP

Click Submit or Continue.

An OTP (one-time password) will be sent to the mobile number you entered. Enter that OTP on the next screen to proceed.

Step 4: View PAN Verification Status

If all details are correct, you’ll see a message confirming the PAN is active:

If there’s any issue—such as an inactive PAN, name mismatch, or other discrepancy—you’ll receive a message stating what went wrong.

Some Tips

• If your PAN was originally issued when you lived in India, your residency status may still be marked as "Resident". Do update it.

• If your address or other details have changed, you can update them through the PAN correction form (Form 49A).

You may be miles away, but staying connected to your financial identity in India doesn’t have to be difficult. Verifying your PAN online is a small step that keeps you compliant, secure, and in control—no matter where you are.