India PAN Card for foreign nationals and overseas entities
In short
PAN (Permanent Account Number) is India's taxpayer identification number, issued by the Income Tax Department through its authorised service providers Protean (NSDL) and UTIITSL. Foreign nationals and entities incorporated outside India apply on Form 49AA; Indian residents use Form 49A. Identity and address evidence issued outside India is normally required to carry an Apostille or attestation by an Indian embassy or consulate, and Thai-language documents must be translated into English before that certification step. Our role is translation, certification of the translation and assembling the document set — we are not agents of the Indian tax authority.
Documents usually required
Passport
Primary identity evidence for individual applicants. The spelling on the application must match the passport data page exactly.
Proof of address
House registration, a bank statement or a utility bill. Thai-language documents need an accompanying English translation.
Certificate of incorporation
For entities registered outside India, with an English translation and the certification chain the receiving side asks for.
Date-of-birth evidence
A birth certificate or other official record, used when the receiving side wants evidence beyond the passport.
Photograph and signature in the prescribed format
Sizes and file formats follow whatever the service provider's portal specifies at the time of lodgement.
Step by step
Confirm the form and applicant status
Check whether the applicant falls under Form 49AA (non-resident individuals and foreign entities) or Form 49A, because the accepted document sets differ.
Obtain freshly issued originals
Thai official records should be re-issued by the issuing office rather than photocopied, so the certification chain can proceed.
Translate into English with a certification statement
The translation must cover seals, signatures and any text on the reverse, and carry the translator's statement of accuracy.
Certify along the chain the receiver specifies
Usually the Department of Consular Affairs, then either an Apostille or attestation by an Indian embassy or consulate, depending on the current requirement.
Lodge through an authorised provider
Submit via Protean (NSDL) or UTIITSL through the channel published by the Income Tax Department, and keep the acknowledgement number for tracking.
Common reasons for rejection
- • Name spelling on the application not matching the passport, which causes rejection.
- • Using photocopies that were never re-certified, so the certification chain cannot continue.
- • Translating the body text only and omitting seals or reverse-side text.
- • Choosing the wrong certification route — an Apostille when the receiver asked for Indian consular attestation.
- • Address evidence expiring while the file waits in a certification queue.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Thai national outside India obtain a PAN?
Yes, where Indian tax law requires one — for example income or transactions reportable in India — using Form 49AA. Eligibility follows the Income Tax Department's rules in force at the time of lodgement.
Do Thai documents always need an Apostille?
Not always. It depends on what the receiving side specifies; some accept attestation by an Indian embassy or consulate. Ask for the requirement in writing first, then match the certification route to it.
Does every document need translating?
Only documents that are not already in English and are part of the required set. Send scans of the full set and we will identify which ones need translation.
How long does it take?
Translation and file assembly are quoted in working days once complete scans arrive. Timeframes at the Department of Consular Affairs, embassies and Indian providers depend on their own queues and cannot be stated as fixed numbers.
What does a foreign company need?
Typically the certificate of incorporation with an English translation plus documents for the authorised signatory, which usually pass through signature certification and an international certification chain.
Are you an agent of the Indian tax authority?
No. We provide translation, certification of translations and document preparation only. Approval and issuance of a PAN rest solely with the Indian authorities.
Official sources
Related pages
Reviewed August 2026. General document-preparation information, not tax or legal advice. Indian requirements change; confirm with the receiving authority before you act.