JoSAA 2026 Registration Date & Fee

JoSAA registration opens for candidates only after JEE Advanced results are declared, since eligibility for IIT seats requires a valid JEE Advanced rank while eligibility for NIT, IIIT and GFTI seats is based on JEE Main rank — the portal is designed to accept both categories of candidates once the results that determine their eligibility are out. This means the exact registration start date shifts slightly each year depending on when JEE Advanced results are released, rather than being fixed to a specific calendar date across years.

Once registration opens, candidates must complete two distinct actions within the same window before the deadline: registering on the JoSAA portal (creating your login and confirming your basic eligibility details), and separately filling and locking your choice list of institute-branch combinations in order of preference. Simply registering without filling and locking choices does not make you eligible for seat allotment — the choice list is what the allotment algorithm actually runs against, so missing this step even after successful registration effectively removes you from the counselling process for that round.

Unlike some other admission processes that occasionally offer a late registration window with an additional penalty fee, JoSAA has consistently maintained a hard deadline with no late-entry provision. Once the registration and choice-filling window closes, the portal simply stops accepting new registrations or choice list submissions for that admission cycle — there is no mechanism to appeal, pay a late fee, or request an extension on an individual basis. This makes the registration deadline one of the most unforgiving dates in the entire JEE-to-JoSAA pipeline, and candidates are strongly advised to register as soon as the portal opens rather than waiting until the final days.

If you miss the JoSAA registration window entirely, your options for that year's admission cycle become significantly narrower. You would not be eligible for JoSAA-coordinated seats at IITs, NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs, though depending on timing you might still explore other, separate counselling processes for state or private institutions that run on independent schedules. This is precisely why tracking the exact registration dates for the current year — rather than relying on rough memory of when it happened in a previous year — is critical, since even a delay of a day or two can permanently close the door on JoSAA participation for that admission cycle.

1. Create your JoSAA login: Use your JEE Main or JEE Advanced application number and password/date of birth to log in to the JoSAA portal for the first time.
2. Pay the registration fee: Complete the one-time, category/gender-dependent registration payment online via net banking, card, or UPI to activate your counselling account.
3. Fill your choices: Build an ordered list of institute-branch combinations you're willing to accept, typically ranking your most preferred option first. You can add, remove, and reorder choices multiple times until the window closes.
4. Lock your choices: Before the deadline, you must explicitly lock your final choice list — an unlocked list may or may not be considered depending on that year's rules, so locking is strongly recommended well before the last date.
5. Participate in mock allotments (optional but recommended): JoSAA typically releases one or two mock allotment rounds before the real Round 1, letting you see where your current choice order would place you and adjust accordingly.
6. Await Round 1 allotment and respond: After each round's allotment is published, you must respond within the payment deadline — choosing to accept and freeze, accept and upgrade (float), or decline — along with paying the seat acceptance fee if applicable.