Can an NRI apply for a PAN card without an Aadhaar card?

One more thing to consider is the difference between an NRI and an OCI holder.

If you are an Indian citizen living in the UK, you fall under the Indian-citizen category for PAN applications. Under the new application system effective April 1, 2026:

• Form 93: Indian citizens, including NRIs and RNORs.
• Form 95: Individuals who are not Indian citizens, including foreign nationals and OCI cardholders.

For an NRI applying through Form 93, passport details are mandatory. The new form also captures residential status and country-of-residence TIN details.

You can check the official Income Tax Department PAN FAQs and the relevant application instructions before submitting. Do not assume that the document requirements for an OCI holder and an Indian citizen living overseas are identical.

I think there is some confusion between Aadhaar being required for PAN application and Aadhaar-PAN linking.

These are related but separate requirements.

The Income Tax Department provides an exemption from Aadhaar-PAN linking for individuals who qualify as non-residents under the applicable income tax provisions.

I have seen people living abroad assume that simply having an overseas address automatically makes them exempt. That is not necessarily the case. Your actual residential status for the relevant financial year matters.

Also, if you are an OCI cardholder or a foreign citizen, the application category is different. An Indian citizen living abroad should not apply using the foreign-citizen form just because they have foreign residency.

I would recommend checking the latest Income Tax Department FAQ before submitting your application, especially because the new PAN forms became applicable in April 2026.

Yes, NRIs can generally apply for an Indian PAN card without having an Aadhaar card. I applied for my PAN while living in the UAE, and I did not have an Aadhaar number.

The important point is your residential status under Indian income tax rules. A person who qualifies as a non-resident is exempt from the Aadhaar-PAN linking requirement.

Since you are an Indian citizen living abroad, you should use the Indian-citizen application category rather than the foreign-citizen category.

There has also been a change in PAN application forms from April 1, 2026. Indian citizens, including NRIs, now use Form 93 for fresh PAN applications.

You should keep your Indian passport, overseas address proof and country-of-residence tax identification details ready. The exact supporting documents should be checked against the current application instructions.