JoSAA 2026 Withdrawal Process – How to Withdraw & Get a Refund

JoSAA permits withdrawal only during a defined set of early-to-mid rounds each year — typically up through the second-to-last round. Once the final round's results are out (Round 5 on July 16, 2026 for the 2026 cycle), withdrawal is generally no longer an option; candidates holding a seat at that point are bound to it administratively, subject only to the institute's own cancellation policy (which usually involves no refund or a steep deduction).

This structure is consistent year over year — JoSAA wants to discourage last-minute seat blocking that would prevent other candidates from being allotted in time for academic session start.

1. Log in to your JoSAA candidate portal with your JEE Main/Advanced credentials.
2. Navigate to the seat allotment / response section where Freeze, Float, Slide options appear.
3. Select the "Withdraw" option if it is available for the current round (it disappears once the withdrawal-eligible window passes).
4. Confirm the withdrawal — this is typically irreversible once submitted.
5. Note your withdrawal confirmation/reference number for refund tracking.
6. Monitor your registered bank account for the refund, processed per the official timeline for that year.

JoSAA's refund policy, consistent across recent years, returns the seat acceptance fee minus a processing charge when withdrawal happens within the eligible window. The later in the process you withdraw, the smaller the refundable amount typically is in some years — always check the current year's official refund table published on josaa.nic.in before deciding when to withdraw.

If you're weighing JoSAA against a state counselling seat, see our JoSAA vs state counselling comparison before withdrawing from either.