PAN and Aadhaar for NRIs and OCI holders
These two come up constantly and neither is a consular service. They are worth a page because the assumption that the consulate handles them sends people to the wrong building.
PAN
The Permanent Account Number is a tax identifier. An NRI can apply from abroad, online, through the authorised agencies, and the card is posted to a foreign address. The consulate has no role in it beyond attesting a document if one is asked for.
Aadhaar, and the rule that catches everyone
An Aadhaar requires 182 days of residence in India in the twelve months before applying. An NRI who does not meet that cannot get one, however long they have held Indian nationality.
| PAN | Aadhaar | |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | Income Tax Department | UIDAI |
| Apply from abroad | Yes | No |
| Residence requirement | None | 182 days in India |
| Consulate's role | None | None |
Which one you actually need
For investing, banking or filing tax in India, the PAN. For most government services inside India, the Aadhaar. An NRI who visits occasionally will need the first and cannot have the second.
- Neither is issued by a consulate: there is no appointment to book
- PAN: apply online, posted to a foreign address
- Aadhaar: 182 days in India first, no exceptions
- OCI holders are in the same position as NRIs here
- If a document needs attesting for the application, that is consular
NRO and NRE accounts, and where the PAN fits
An NRI who earns rent, dividends or interest in India is taxed on it, and the PAN is what the deduction is reported against. Without one, tax is withheld at the higher rate and reclaiming it means filing a return anyway.
Banks ask for it when an account is opened. Brokers ask for it before any trade. It is the identifier the whole Indian financial system runs on, and getting it early is cheaper than getting it under pressure.
The OCI card is not an identity document in India
An OCI proves the right to be there. It does not open a bank account, file a tax return or buy a SIM card on its own, and that surprises people who assume it works like a national identity card. For those, the PAN does the work.