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e-PAN card PDF password: format and how to open it

By the Fusion Office team · Updated

Quick answer

An e-PAN PDF is normally protected with your date of birth in DDMMYYYY format, as eight digits with no spaces or slashes: born on 5 March 1992, the password is 05031992. For companies and firms it's the date of incorporation. Once it opens, Unlock PDF can save a copy without the password.

The password format

  • Individuals: date of birth as DDMMYYYY. Born 5 March 1992 → 05031992.
  • Companies, firms, trusts and other entities: date of incorporation or formation, also as DDMMYYYY.
  • Always eight digits: keep the leading zeros for days and months below 10.

This applies to e-PANs downloaded from the Protean (NSDL) and UTIITSL websites and to instant e-PANs from the income tax portal.

If the password doesn't work

  • Use the date of birth recorded in your PAN, which can differ from other documents if it was entered wrongly.
  • Don't add slashes, dashes or spaces.
  • One guide reports some e-PANs using the PAN in lowercase followed by the date of birth (for example abcde1234f05031992). Try that if the date alone fails.

Save a copy without the password

  1. 1Open Unlock PDF and choose the e-PAN file.
  2. 2Enter the password.
  3. 3Press Unlock PDF and download the copy.

The unlocking runs in your browser, so your PAN card isn't uploaded anywhere.

When you send a PAN copy to someone, a line such as “Submitted for loan KYC only” added with Watermark PDF makes it harder to reuse. To send it with a password again, use Protect PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Is the e-PAN PDF password my PAN number?

Usually not: it's your date of birth as DDMMYYYY. A few reports mention the PAN in lowercase followed by the date of birth, so try that second.

Is an e-PAN valid as proof?

Yes. An e-PAN is a valid PAN card and can be used wherever a PAN card is accepted.