How to Get a PRAN Number?

PRAN Number, or Permanent Retirement Account Number, is a unique 12-digit number identifying individuals enrolled under the National Pension Scheme (NPS).

Contents

1 Get PRAN Number
- 1.1 How to Apply Online for PRAN Card?

Get PRAN Number

PRAN Number card registration is mandatory for central and state government employees and can do with National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL).

There are two types of NPS accounts under PRAN:

Tier-I: This account is non-withdrawal and had meant for retirement savings
Tier II: It equals a savings account and allows you to withdraw your savings. However, it does not provide tax benefits.

After allotment of PRAN, NPS subscribers can receive a physical print of their PRAN on a PRAN card. As the PRAN card acts as a unique identifier for an NPS subscriber, the PRAN, once allotted, cannot be changed for the subscriber throughout their life.

You can apply for a PRAN card through offline or online modes-

Documents for Online PRAN Card Application

To apply for a PRAN card, you must provide the following documents-

Aadhaar Card
PAN Card or Permanent Account Number issued to you by the Income Tax Department
Scanned copy of a passport-size photograph
Scanned copy of bank passbook/cancelled cheque
A scanned copy of your signature
Scanned Copy of the Passport (Mandatory for NRI Applicants)

Please note that the file size of the scanned copy of the documents mentioned above should be between 4kb and 12kb and should be in .jpeg/.jpg format only.

How to Apply for PRAN Number Card Offline?

To apply for PRAN using offline mode, you can visit your nearest Point-of-Presence (PoP) at National Pension System, which is usually your bank.

PoPs are authorized to carry out various NPS-related activities, including accepting deposits, forwarding applications for NPS account transfer, partial withdrawal applications, nomination change applications, etc.

PRAN Card Application Form

As PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number) is primarily issued to subscribers of the National Pension System, the PRAN number application form is the same one used to subscribe to NPS. Following is a photo of the PRAN Card Number Application Form (NPS Application Form Annexure S1):

Key points of note while applying for PRAN Card-

Personal details of subscribers
Subscriber’s Job Details
Subscriber nomination details
Subscriber Scheme Details
Declaration by PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority) Subscriber

How to Apply Online for PRAN Card?

You can complete the entire a/c opening process online at the NSDL website. They are CRAs responsible for maintaining and opening NPS accounts in India.

You can apply for PRAN through your Aadhaar or PAN card using the online portal. Detailed steps had mentioned below-

Apply for PRAN using Aadhaar:

NPS KYC can complete using Aadhaar OTP (One Time Password) authentication
The Aadhaar OTP will send to the mobile Number registered in the Aadhaar database.
Your demographic details and photographs will be fetched from the Aadhaar database and automatically filled in the online form.
You have to fill in all the mandatory details online.
It would help to have your scanned sign (in .jpeg/.jpg format with a file size between 4 – 12kb) as part of the registration process.
If you want to replace the photo obtained from your Aadhaar, you can upload the scanned image.
You wi.ll be redirected to the payment gateway to make payment to your NPS account from a Debit/Credit Card or Internet Banking.

Apply for PRAN using PAN:

You must have a PAN (Permanent Account Number) card to apply for PRAN using your PAN card. The following are the main points that you should consider in your application for PRAN PAN-.

You must have a bank account with an impaneled bank for KYC verification for subscriber enrollment through eNPS.
Your KYC verification will do by the bank you selected during registration.
The name and address provided at the time of registration should match with bank records for KYC verification.
If the details do not match, they will reject the request. If the selected bank refuses KYC, the applicant must contact the bank.
You must fill in all the details online.
You must upload your scanned photograph and signature in .jpeg/.jpg format with a file size between 4 – 12kb.
You will be redirected to the payment gateway to make payment to your NPS account from internet banking.

NRI PRAN Number Card Application Process

While applying for a PRAN card Number, NRI subscribers should follow the given steps-

Select Bank Account Status, i.e., Non-Repatriable Account or Repatriable Account.
Provide NRE/NRO bank a/c details and upload a scanned copy of your passport.
Select the preferred address for communication – foreign address (there will be additional charges for communicating at a foreign address) or permanent address in India

How to activate your PRAN card?

The easiest way to activate your PRAN card is to sign the document using the eSign option electronically. If you have generated a PRAN card using Aadhaar, you can e-sign the document by following the steps below-

Select the ‘eSign’ option on eSign/Print & Courier page, and you will be redirected to the below page to generate OTP for the PRAN card activation process.
OTP will send to your mobile Number registered with your Aadhaar for verification purposes
After authentication using Aadhaar OTP, the registration form will be perfectly eSigned, and a confirmation message will be displayed.
Once the document is e-signed, you don’t need to send the physical copy of the form to CRA to activate your PRAN card.
eSign service costs Rs. 25.90 plus applicable service taxes (including UIDAI charges of Rs. 20)

Login to PRAN Card Portal for NPS

You can use the digit printed on your PRAN card to log into your NPS a/c online. Following are the steps for PRAN Number card login-

Go to the NPS portal and click the ‘Login for existing subscribers’ choice if you already have a PRAN card.
On the next page, you can use your Permanent Retirement Account Number printed on the PRAN Card and NPS Account Password to Login into your NPS account.
If you need to remember your login passcode or require to sign up for online PRAN card Number services, click the Generate/Reset Password link.

How do I print a PRAN card?

Select the ‘Print & Courier’ option on the eSign/Print & Courier page.
Take a printout of the completed form and paste your photo in the designated space.
Do not utilize staples/pins to affix the photograph.
Sign the designated blocks provided for signature.
After allotment of PRAN, you have to send the PRAN card application form completed with a photograph to the applicable CRA (Karvy/NSDL) within 30 days of allotment of the PRAN card.
You also have the option to print your ePRAN (Electronic PRAN) card Number by logging into your NPS a/c and selecting the ‘Print ePRAN’ option.
While ePRAN printing is free, printing and sending the physical PRAN card to your registered address is subject to GST and applicable charges.

How do I check my PRAN card status?

If you receive your PRAN card in physical form at your recorded address, you can easily track your PRAN card status online.

On the ‘Track PRAN Card Status’ page, you can check ‘Dispatch Status’ in case of a new PRAN card, reissued PRAN, and password/T-PIN.

Checking PRAN Card Balance

As PRAN is primarily issued as a unique identifier for NPS subscribers, checking your PRAN card balance is quickly done if you log into your National Pension System account.

After Login, you can check your balance in the mandatory Tier 1 and optional Tier 2 accounts provided under NPS Pension Scheme.

PRAN Card Customer Care

As PRAN Card had issued to subscribers of NPS, the NPS Customer service System also acts as the PRAN Card Customer Care System. Contact PRAN Card customer care services by phone, fax, online, email, and person at the nearest representative office. Know more about NPS/PRAN Card Customer Service.

Can I have more than one PRAN Number card?

No. You can have only one PRAN number/PRAN card, as the existing NPS rules allow only one NPS subscription (divided into Tier -1 and Tier- 2 accounts with the same PRAN) per person.

Even if you want to change your job, you don’t need to open a new NPS account, and you can continue your contribution in the existing account. However, you can quickly transfer your NPS account from one location to another.

You should note that you must integrate NPS and NPS Lite/Atal Pension Yojana (APY) systems. Hence, people with NPS and APY accounts end up with multiple PRAN cards, which can merge later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a Tier-II account without a Tier-I account?

No, you need to open a Tier-I account to open a Tier-II account.

Do I have an NPS account?

A subscriber can have NPS and PF (Provident Fund) accounts.

Is it a must to have a PRAN card Number?

Yes, all NPS subscribers must have a PRAN Number card.