Credit Card Without PAN in India: The Form 60 Route

So, you’ve started making some money and want to get your first credit card. You’ve got a bank account, you’ve got a steady income, and you've got everything you need to apply – except a PAN card. It’s generally a key requirement for credit card applications.

Can you get a credit card without a PAN card? You can. There's one narrow, legal way – the Form 60 route – that allows you to get a credit card without PAN details.

Let’s find out more about it.

Why PAN shows up on every single application

It's the law. Under Income Tax Rule 114B, applying for a credit or debit card is one of the transactions that legally requires your PAN (Permanent Account Number).

Doesn’t matter whether the card is premium or entry-tier; you need to supply your PAN details. A card application meant for ₹10,000 a month in spending has the same PAN requirement as one meant for ₹10 lakh.

But if you don't have a PAN, the law also gives you a way through: Form 60. It's a declaration that suffices until you have got your PAN sorted.

In Form 60, you have to state your name, address and the transaction you're doing. Then, if your income is above the basic exemption limit, you also have to say you've already applied for a PAN. Yes, you have to apply for a PAN and mention the application date and acknowledgement number.

Form 60 isn’t a permanent substitute for a PAN card. It’s more like an excuse for not having one. You’ll need your PAN someday.

Where Form 60 actually gets you a card

Only two banks currently take Form 60 for a credit card – IDFC FIRST and SBI – and that too, only for their FD-backed (secured) cards.

You open a fixed deposit, and the bank issues the card against that deposit. SBI's UNNATI Card, for example, is available with a minimum FD of ₹25,000. Because your own money is sitting in the FD, the bank doesn't need your full financial profile the way an unsecured card would.

The Form 60 won't get you a regular, unsecured card. So, if you don't have a PAN, you can expect an FD-backed credit card or nothing.

Watch out: your limit stays small, and your credit history barely moves. Because FDs of ₹50,000 or more are treated as high-value (under Rule 114B) enough to need PAN or Form 60 on its own, your deposit itself tends to stay modest. The no-PAN route generally sits under that number rather than stacking a bigger card on a bigger FD. Then, CIBIL and other credit bureaus file your credit history under your PAN, and a credit card opened without one has nowhere reliable to report to. So, your credit history doesn't properly start until you add a PAN to the account.

Get a PAN instead – it's faster than the workaround

If a PAN is realistically days away, get that before you open an FD for a capped card. You can get a PAN in one of the following two ways:

1. Instant e-PAN through the income tax e-filing portal: It’s free and takes minutes. If you aren't a minor and you have Aadhaar with a mobile number linked to it, you can apply. You just verify through DigiLocker and get your e-PAN right away.
2. Regular NSDL or UTIITSL route: It’s for those who are looking for a physical card, or don’t have an Aadhaar-linked mobile. The card can be mailed to an address anywhere in India, and it takes 15–20 days for the whole process. It usually costs you ₹107.

Once you have a PAN, you can apply for any card in India the ordinary way. Plus, your spending starts building your credit history from day one. Read our full credit card eligibility guide for what else issuers check once that's sorted.

FAQs about credit card without PAN

Does paying with a Form 60 card mean the tax department can't see my spending?

They can. Banks report high-value credit card payments whether or not you have a PAN. Under the government's Statement of Financial Transaction rules, your account gets flagged if you pay ₹1 lakh or more in cash toward a credit card bill, or ₹10 lakh or more through any other mode, in one financial year. Not having a PAN doesn't switch that reporting off – it just leaves the transaction unmatched to a PAN file until you get one.

Can I add my PAN later and get a better card?

Yes. Once you have a PAN, update your KYC with the bank. It can then run a normal credit check, consider you for an unsecured card or a higher limit on the same one, and your spending from that point starts reporting properly to your credit bureau file. What you spent before adding the PAN generally doesn't get added retroactively, so the sooner you link it, the sooner your credit history actually starts.

Do I need any ID at all if I don't have a PAN?

Yes, you need an ID. Form 60 isn't a free pass on identification. You still submit an accepted ID and address proof, such as Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence, along with the form.

Is Form 60 only for people who don't earn enough to pay tax?

No. Anyone without a PAN can use it, earning or not. The difference is what you have to add. If your income is above the basic exemption limit, you must also state that you've already applied for a PAN, with the date and acknowledgement number. You can't use Form 60 indefinitely once you're liable to file tax.

Disclaimer

This is my honest read, not formal financial advice. I'm not your advisor, and before you act on anything big, run it past a professional. But here's exactly how I'd think about it.