JEE Main 2027 Registration for NRI, OCI, PIO and Foreign Candidates

Students living abroad often mix up two separate processes. NTA conducts the JEE Main exam and issues the score and rank. The seat allocation for NITs, IIITs, Schools of Planning and Architecture and other centrally funded institutions is done by other bodies: JoSAA or CSAB for the normal route, and the DASA scheme for foreign nationals, OCI, PIO and NRI candidates. Your JEE Main registration is the first step for all of them.

As of mid-October 2026, NTA has not opened JEE Main 2027 registration or released the Information Bulletin. This page uses the JEE Main 2026 bulletin, the 2026 NTA FAQ and the DASA 2026 brochure as the pattern. The 2027 documents may differ, so confirm them at jeemain.nta.nic.in and the DASA and CSAB sites before acting. If you are new to the process, read our step-by-step form guide first, since most steps are common.

The 2026 NTA FAQ gave one clear instruction for foreign national candidates (OCI or PIO): enter 111111 in the PIN code field of the address section, since an Indian PIN code does not apply. The bulletin also said that for city choice, foreign candidates select cities based on their present and permanent address from the list of exam cities, in order of priority, just like other candidates, with a maximum of four choices.

Two checks matter most. First, enter your name exactly as in your Class 10 certificate and identity proof, because the details must tally across documents. Second, think about the verification route. The 2026 form used Aadhaar or DigiLocker verification and offered another identity-proof route for those not using them, with the identity proof uploaded as a JPG file of 10 KB to 200 KB. A candidate without Aadhaar should read how the 2027 form handles this, and our page on the APAAR ID and Aadhaar requirement explains what was mandatory and optional last time. In the 2026 FAQ, the APAAR ID was stated as not mandatory.

The 2026 Session 1 city list had overseas entries for Manama (Bahrain), Doha, Dubai, Kathmandu, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, Singapore, Kuwait City, Kuala Lumpur, Lagos, West Java, Washington, Munich and Abu Dhabi. That is about fifteen foreign cities, concentrated in the Gulf and a few other hubs. If you live far from these, you may need to choose the nearest one that your address criteria allow.

City allotment is decided by NTA from your choices and the bulletin said it can be a different city from the one you prefer. Once allotted, the centre cannot be changed. Our exam city selection guide explains how to fill the four choices, and the city slip release page shows when you will learn the outcome. Book flights or visas only after the city slip and admit card.

The state code of eligibility is the State where you passed Class 12, not where your family lives. For OCI candidates, the 2026 bulletin said that those who pass Class 12 in India are on par with Indian nationals. OCI candidates who pass Class 12 from an institution abroad are eligible for All India quota seats in all NITs, IIITs and Other-CFTIs but not for Home State quota seats. Read the full explanation on our state code of eligibility page.

For boards that are not named in the bulletin, the 2026 text asked candidates to produce an Association of Indian Universities certificate showing that their qualification is equivalent to Class 12. Cambridge A levels and the International Baccalaureate diploma were named as accepted. Start the AIU process early because it can take time. See also the general JEE Main 2027 eligibility criteria.

The DASA 2026 brochure said the scheme covers foreign nationals, OCI, PIO and NRI candidates for NITs, IIEST, IIITs, SPAs and some other institutes, with allocation through CSAB. The academic requirement was a valid JEE Main score card and rank in the relevant paper (Paper 1, 2A or 2B), a minimum of 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA in Class 12 (as stated in the brochure), and the prescribed subjects. Candidates born on or after 1 October 2001 were eligible in that cycle, and the brochure had a residential requirement for Indian nationals studying abroad.

The brochure also set out three seat tags: DASA (SAARC), DASA (Non-SAARC) and DASA-CIWG. NRI candidates whose parents work in the listed Gulf countries could be tagged CIWG and could also be considered for Non-CIWG seats under the Non-SAARC tag. You log in to the DASA and CSAB Special Rounds portal with your JEE Main application number and password, so keep them safe; our page on login and application number recovery covers what to do if you lose them. All the DASA figures here are from 2026 and may change for 2027.