Can an NRI apply for a PAN card without Aadhaar?

I would be careful about treating every NRI as automatically exempt from Aadhaar requirements without checking the applicable rule.

The relevant question is whether you qualify as a non-resident under the income-tax provisions and whether the exemption applies to your particular PAN application. Your passport and overseas residence are relevant background, but you should follow the official eligibility conditions.

Since you mentioned that you moved to the UK several years ago, gather your Indian passport, overseas address evidence and any other documents listed in the current Form 93 instructions. The application may require additional supporting documents depending on the circumstances.

For a fresh application made on or after 1 April 2026, the Income Tax Department's guidance identifies Form 93 for Indian citizens. The old Form 49A reference may still appear in older online articles, so make sure you're following the current form instructions.

If the online form does not clearly explain how an eligible NRI should proceed without Aadhaar, I would contact the authorised PAN service provider before submitting it. That is safer than entering an incorrect Aadhaar number or using another person's details.

Also, if you already have a PAN, use the correction or reprint route where appropriate instead of applying for a new one.

I applied for PAN-related information while living overseas, and the most confusing part was figuring out which documents were required for each purpose. Proof of identity, proof of address and proof of date of birth are separate requirements, so I would not assume that one document automatically covers everything.

For an Indian citizen living abroad, an Indian passport may be useful, but you should check the current Form 93 document list to see which documents meet each requirement. The official guidance also identifies certain other documents that may be accepted, depending on the proof required.

Another thing to check is the communication address. If you want the physical PAN card delivered to your overseas address, make sure you select the correct communication address and check the applicable fee and delivery conditions.

The Income Tax Department lists UTIITSL and Protean eGov as authorised PAN application providers. Start from the official government PAN guidance and follow the provider's current instructions rather than an old tutorial that still refers to previous forms.

I would also check that you are applying for a new PAN and do not already have one. A person should not apply for a second PAN simply because they cannot find their existing card.

If you have never been allotted a PAN, checking the updated application route first should help avoid submitting the wrong form.

From what I checked on the Income Tax Department website, an NRI who qualifies as a non-resident under the applicable income-tax rules may be exempt from the Aadhaar requirement. However, I would confirm that your tax residency status and circumstances meet the exemption conditions before applying.

There is an important distinction between being an Indian citizen living abroad and qualifying as a non-resident for income-tax purposes. Those descriptions do not automatically mean the same thing in every situation.

The official PAN guidance also says that new applications filed from 1 April 2026 use the updated application forms. For an Indian citizen, including an eligible NRI, the relevant individual application is Form 93. Form 95 is for an individual who is not an Indian citizen.

You can check the current information on the Income Tax Department's PAN guidance page.

I would prepare your Indian passport and overseas address proof, then check the instructions for Form 93 to confirm the accepted documents. The Department's guidance specifically mentions an overseas bank account statement or NRE bank statement as possible address evidence for an Indian citizen residing outside India.

I wouldn't try to obtain Aadhaar solely because you assume it is compulsory. First, establish whether the exemption applies to you and follow the current official application instructions.