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DASA vs CIWG 2027 Planning Guide for USA & Gulf NRI Students
DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad) is the admission scheme used for eligible candidates seeking seats in participating NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, SPAs and other listed technical institutes. CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf) is a reserved category in DASA for NRI candidates who are eligible and fulfill the parent Gulf-employment criteria relevant to them.
For the 2026 DASA cycle, Admission Criteria: Through JEE Main 2026 Rank. The official DASA UG 2027 brochure is not yet out so 2027-28 dates, fees, age rules, result deadlines, examination centers and other cycle-specific requirements are not yet confirmed.
The 2026 rules on this page are for planning purposes only Update all 2027 fields once the CSAB & NTA release the official 2027 documents.
| Student profile | Likely route | Main eligibility focus |
|---|---|---|
| NRI student studying in the USA | Usually DASA Non-CIWG | JEE Main rank, academic qualification and NRI documents, requirement of foreign study |
| Student in the USA with a parent working in an eligible Gulf country | May qualify for DASA-CIWG | NRI status plus qualifying parent Gulf-employment documents |
| NRI student studying in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait or Bahrain | DASA-CIWG or DASA Non-CIWG, depending on documents and selected tag | JEE Main rank, NRI status, study history and parent employment |
| Foreign National or OCI/PIO student in the USA or Gulf | DASA Non-CIWG unless the candidate separately satisfies CIWG conditions as an eligible NRI | Nationality, academic qualification, JEE Main rank and applicable DASA category |
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| NRI quota | A general or informal term used for seats available to NRI candidates under different college, state or national admission policies |
| DASA | Direct Admission of Students Abroad, the central scheme used for admission to participating technical institutes |
| DASA Non-CIWG | DASA seats available to eligible candidates who do not use the CIWG category |
| CIWG | Children of Indian Workers in Gulf, a reserved seat category within DASA for eligible NRI candidates |
| Admission examination | 2026 official reference: JEE Main 2026 rank. 2027: to be confirmed in the official DASA UG 2027 brochure. |
| IIT admission | Not covered by DASA; IIT undergraduate admission follows JEE Advanced and JoSAA rules |
DASA seats are supernumerary and may be available up to 15% of the programme-wise intake. Within this 15% DASA pool, seats equivalent to 5% of the programme intake are reserved for CIWG. In other words, one-third of DASA seats are CIWG seats.
Get clarity on whether the student should plan for DASA Non-CIWG, DASA-CIWG, JEE Main rank preparation or document verification.
Related guide: complete DASA UG admission guide covers institutes, eligibility, fees, registration, cutoffs and refunds.
DASA stands for Direct Admission of Students Abroad.
It is a Ministry of Education scheme for eligible students seeking undergraduate admission to participating Indian technical institutions, including:
Participating institutions and programmes may vary from year to year. So students should go by the present DASA seat matrix and not rely on an old college list. IITs are not covered under DASA for undergraduate admission.
CIWG stands for Children of Indian Workers in Gulf.
There is no separate CIWG entrance examination or separate CIWG counselling system. CIWG is a reserved category within the DASA admission process.
For 2027 planning, use the current 2026 framework only as a reference. Under the current framework, a candidate seeking the DASA-CIWG category tag must satisfy the applicable DASA rules and the published CIWG conditions.
The candidate must be an eligible NRI.
The parent-employment condition and qualifying period for 2027 must be checked in the official DASA UG 2027 brochure once released.
The required parent passport, visa, work permit and employer certificate must be submitted.
The candidate must satisfy all other DASA eligibility rules.
For DASA 2026, candidates use JEE Main 2026 rank. The corresponding JEE Main requirement for DASA 2027 should be confirmed from the official 2027 brochure.
Do not select the CIWG tag for 2027 until the candidate has checked the official 2027 definition, country list, qualifying employment period and required parent documents.
Before selecting DASA Non-CIWG or DASA-CIWG, students should understand eligibility, fee difference, document planning, JEE Main rank use and counselling steps. This free JEE eBook helps NRI families prepare with a clearer admission roadmap.
| Criteria | DASA Non-CIWG | DASA-CIWG |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Direct Admission of Students Abroad, Non-CIWG category | Children of Indian Workers in Gulf |
| Who can apply? | Eligible foreign nationals, OCI/PIO candidates and NRIs | Eligible NRIs whose parent meets the Gulf-employment condition |
| Geographical coverage | Worldwide, subject to DASA rules | Eight specified Gulf countries |
| Admission basis | 2026 reference: JEE Main 2026 CRL rank | 2026 reference: JEE Main 2026 CRL rank |
| Seat category | Non-CIWG supernumerary DASA seats | Reserved seats within the DASA pool |
| Seat share | Remaining DASA seats after the CIWG share | One-third of DASA seats |
| 2026 first-semester tuition reference | USD 4,000 for DASA Non-SAARC | ₹62,500 |
| Registration fee | USD 300 | USD 300 |
| Extra documents | DASA identity, academic and residential documents | All DASA documents plus parent Gulf-employment documents |
| Best suited for | Eligible NRIs from the USA, Canada, UK, Singapore and other countries | Eligible Gulf-linked NRI students |
| Counselling portal | DASA and CSAB Special portal | Same portal |
Admission in either category is determined by the candidate’s JEE Main Common Rank List position, order of choices, applicable category tag and seat availability.
| Candidate situation | Route to check |
|---|---|
| Eligible DASA candidate who does not satisfy CIWG conditions | DASA Non-CIWG |
| Eligible NRI candidate whose parent satisfies the applicable Gulf-employment rules and can provide the required documents | DASA-CIWG |
| Candidate eligible for CIWG who also wants consideration for Non-CIWG seats | Check the applicable double-tag option under the official cycle rules |
Important: CIWG is not a separate entrance exam or separate counselling programme. It is a category within DASA.
Before shortlisting colleges, review the DASA and CIWG seat matrix so choices are planned with realistic institute and branch expectations.
The list below is the DASA 2026 reference list. It is not a confirmed DASA 2027 country list. Applicants must verify the 2027 brochure before selecting the CIWG category.
The official DASA 2027 CIWG country list has not yet been published. The DASA 2026 brochure lists the following eight countries for CIWG:
| No. | Eligible country |
|---|---|
| 1 | United Arab Emirates |
| 2 | Bahrain |
| 3 | Iraq |
| 4 | Iran |
| 5 | Kuwait |
| 6 | Oman |
| 7 | Qatar |
| 8 | Saudi Arabia |
The official 2027 country list may change. Students should use this 2026 list only for planning and must verify the 2027 brochure for final category selection.
This list is broader than the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries because DASA also includes Iraq and Iran for CIWG purposes.
Not necessarily.
For 2027, the qualifying parent-employment period has not yet been published. Candidates should check the official DASA UG 2027 brochure for the exact date/period and the required passport, visa, work-permit and employer-certificate conditions.
Related guide: NIT admission guide for NRI students explains NRI admission routes for NITs.
An NRI student based in the USA or Gulf can apply through DASA when the nationality, academic, JEE Main and residential conditions are satisfied.
Whether the student can use CIWG depends mainly on the parent’s qualifying Gulf employment and the candidate’s NRI status—not only on the student’s present country of residence.
A student completing high school in the USA whose parents do not satisfy the applicable CIWG Gulf-employment condition would normally need to check DASA Non-CIWG eligibility.
If the parent’s UAE employment and documents fulfill the official requirements, the student may be eligible for DASA-CIWG.
A student currently studying in the USA may still qualify for CIWG if the parent satisfies the official cycle-specific Qatar employment condition and can submit the required documents.
Therefore, a USA address or a Gulf address alone is not a factor in CIWG eligibility. Eligibility is based on the NRI status of the candidate, his study history and the qualifying Gulf employment of the parent.
DASA 2026 uses JEE Main 2026 ranks. Students planning for 2027 should prepare for the next JEE Main cycle while waiting for the official DASA UG 2027 brochure to confirm the admission basis. The TestPrepKart JEE app helps NRI students practise topics, revise chapters, take mock tests and track performance while studying from the USA or Gulf countries.
Related guide: JEE guide for NRI students helps students prepare for the JEE Main rank required for DASA.
The points below summarize the current 2026 framework for planning purposes. They are not confirmed DASA 2027 eligibility rules. CSAB may change nationality, age, academic, residential, result-deadline or document requirements for 2027.
Candidates must satisfy all applicable nationality, age, academic, residential and examination requirements.
The following candidate groups may participate in DASA:
OCI and PIO candidates should check their applicable OCI/PIO classification carefully because their treatment may depend on the date of obtaining the card and the option selected under the relevant admission rules.
DASA 2027 age rule: not yet officially announced. Do not project the 2026 cutoff forward. Check the exact date-of-birth requirement in the DASA UG 2027 brochure once it is published.
The date recorded on the Class 10, equivalent board, university or government-issued certificate is used as proof of birth.
Confirmed for DASA 2026: admission uses the applicable JEE Main 2026 rank. For DASA 2027: wait for the official brochure before stating the JEE Main 2027 requirement as confirmed.
| Programme | Required paper |
|---|---|
| B.E. or B.Tech | JEE Main Paper 1 |
| B.Arch | JEE Main Paper 2A |
| B.Planning | JEE Main Paper 2B |
For DASA 2026, seat allocation is based on the applicable JEE Main rank, not SAT scores or a separate DASA entrance examination. Confirm the 2027 admission basis after the official brochure is released.
The student must have completed Class 12 or an equivalent qualification with:
The qualification must be recognised by the Association of Indian Universities.
The candidate must have passed:
The candidate must also obtain at least 75% aggregate marks or 7.5 CGPA out of 10 in the prescribed subjects.
The candidate must have passed a 10+2 examination with Mathematics and must satisfy the 75% or 7.5-CGPA aggregate requirement.
Foreign nationals studying in any country, including India, may be eligible when they satisfy the prescribed requirements.
Indian nationals and OCI/PIO candidates treated at par with Indian nationals must generally complete at least two years of education abroad, including Class 11 and Class 12 or equivalent, during the previous eight years. They must also pass the qualifying examination from abroad.
DASA 2027 result deadline: not yet officially announced. Students appearing for Class 12/equivalent should check the DASA UG 2027 brochure for the final date by which their qualifying-examination result must be available.
Students whose results are pending must submit the required undertaking during the document-upload process.
The DASA 2026 brochure listed a 12-year high school diploma from an accredited US school among the recognised qualifications. Students applying in 2027 must confirm that the same qualification wording appears in the official DASA UG 2027 brochure.
Students in the Gulf may study under CBSE, ISC, IB, Cambridge, American or other international curricula. They should verify subject combinations, aggregate marks, school recognition and AIU equivalence requirements under the official 2027 rules once released.
The school must have accreditation from the relevant state education authority or from a recognised regional accrediting agency. The 2026 brochure also stated that AIU does not accept a high school diploma completed through the online or distance mode under this provision. Families should check if the same restriction is still in place in 2027.
If the qualification is not in the recognised list or confirmation of equivalence is needed the student will have to obtain an AIU equivalence certificate.
DASA seats are supernumerary, meaning they are created in addition to the regular seat intake.
The number of DASA seats can be up to 15% of the regular intake on a programme-wise basis. Within this DASA award:
One-third of DASA seats are CIWG seats.
The remaining two-thirds are Non-CIWG seats.
Vacant CIWG seats are converted into Non-CIWG seats during Round II.
The phrase “5% CIWG reservation” means 5% of the programme intake within the overall 15% DASA supernumerary allocation. It should not be interpreted as 5% of the DASA seats.
The official DASA 2027 fee structure has not yet been released. The amounts below are shown as a 2026 reference to help families estimate costs. They are not confirmed 2027 fees.
Under the 2026 framework, the DASA Enrolment Fee includes the non-refundable registration fee and the applicable first-semester tuition fee.
| Candidate tag | 2026 registration fee reference | 2026 first-semester tuition reference | 2026 initial amount reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DASA-CIWG | USD 300 | ₹62,500 | USD 300 plus ₹62,500 |
| DASA Non-SAARC | USD 300 | USD 4,000 | USD 4,300 |
| DASA SAARC | USD 300 | USD 2,000 | USD 2,300 |
| CIWG and Non-CIWG double tag | USD 300 | USD 4,000 | USD 4,300 |
The SAARC row reflects the 2026 framework. Applicants must confirm whether the same category and fee conditions continue in the 2027 brochure.
Hostel, mess, admission, security and other institute charges may be additional and may vary by institution. Candidates should verify the allotted institute’s fee structure before accepting admission.
Understand the expected fee difference between DASA Non-SAARC, DASA SAARC and CIWG before locking choices or making payment plans.
Yes.
An eligible CIWG candidate may choose to be considered for both CIWG and DASA Non-CIWG seats. This creates a double tag.
Under the 2026 framework, a candidate using the CIWG + Non-CIWG double-tag option follows the applicable higher initial payment rule and the published refund adjustment if finally allotted under CIWG. Applicants must confirm the 2027 amount and refund rules before payment.
The official DASA UG 2027 workflow has not yet been published. The sequence below summarizes the 2026 process so families know which stages to prepare for. Portal steps, willingness options, verification rules and the number of rounds may change in 2027.
In the 2026 cycle, candidates register through the DASA/CSAB Special process using the applicable JEE Main credentials and provide nationality/category information.
Candidates pay the applicable DASA Enrolment Fee according to their tag/category and current-cycle instructions.
Upload identity, academic, residential, medical and category documents. CIWG candidates also need the prescribed parent Gulf-employment documents.
Check the candidate portal for verification queries and respond before the official deadline.
After successful verification, candidates select participating institutes and programmes in preference order and follow the cycle-specific locking rules.
The 2026 process uses two DASA seat-allotment rounds. Do not assume the number of rounds will be identical in 2027 until the new brochure and schedule are published.
Candidates follow the allotted institute’s reporting, original-document verification and balance-fee instructions.
Status: The official DASA UG 2027 schedule has not yet been published. Do not publish projected dates created by simply shifting the 2026 calendar by one year.
When CSAB releases the 2027 schedule, update this section with the confirmed dates for:
SEO update rule: add exact 2027 dates only after they appear in the official DASA UG 2027 schedule.
The following documents are taken from the 2026 framework and are useful for advance planning. The official DASA 2027 document checklist may change:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Candidate’s passport | Identity and nationality verification |
| Class 10 or government certificate | Date-of-birth proof |
| Class 10, 11 and 12 marksheets | Academic verification |
| School study certificate | Proof of completion of Classes 11 and 12 |
| Percentage or CGPA equivalence | Required when the board uses another scale or awards grades |
| Foreign-study proof | Required for applicable NRI candidates |
| Medical certificate | Must use the prescribed format |
| OCI certificate or PIO card | Required when applicable |
| Pending-result undertaking | Required when the final result is not available |
| Translated documents | Required when original records are not in English or Hindi |
The candidate’s name should be consistent across the passport, qualifying examination documents and JEE Main result.
CIWG applications depend heavily on parent Gulf-employment documents. Start checking passport, visa, work permit and employer certificate requirements early.
Under the current reference framework, CIWG candidates should be prepared for documents such as:
A certificate from the employer confirming the parent’s qualifying employment in the eligible Gulf country under the applicable cycle rules
The employer certificate must follow the format prescribed in the DASA brochure and should be issued on the company or organisation letterhead.
The JEE Main 2027 information bulletin has not yet been released. The table below shows selected 2026 foreign-city references for USA and Gulf students. Do not present these as confirmed 2027 examination centres:
| Country | City | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | Manama | ZZ01 |
| Qatar | Doha | ZZ03 |
| UAE | Dubai | ZZ04 |
| Oman | Muscat | ZZ06 |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | ZZ07 |
| UAE | Sharjah | ZZ08 |
| Kuwait | Kuwait City | ZZ10 |
| USA | Washington | ZZ15 |
| UAE | Abu Dhabi | ZZ17 |
These are 2026 reference locations only and are not confirmed JEE Main 2027 examination cities.
The 2026 bulletin also listed foreign centres in Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Nigeria, Indonesia and Germany. The 2027 city list, availability and final allotment will remain subject to NTA rules and operational conditions.
Iran and Iraq were CIWG-eligible in 2026 but were not included in the JEE Main 2026 foreign-city list. Applicants should wait for the JEE Main 2027 bulletin before deciding which international city will be available for their examination.
There is no single fixed JEE Main score that guarantees admission under DASA or CIWG.
Opening and closing ranks depend on:
Students should use previous-year closing ranks only as planning references. A previous-year rank does not guarantee the same programme in a future admission cycle.
DASA and CIWG choices should be filled with rank range, seat matrix, category tag and previous allotment movement in mind.
Internally link this section to:
Related guide: NRI quota in IITs clarifies why IIT admission is separate from DASA.
CIWG is part of DASA. Both categories use the same DASA and CSAB Special seat-allocation portal.
The 2026 CIWG reference list includes the UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Confirm the 2027 list from the new brochure.
CIWG is assigned to eligible NRI candidates and requires qualifying parent-employment documents.
A USA-based student may qualify when the parent meets the Gulf-employment requirement and the student satisfies the remaining DASA rules.
A CIWG candidate who wants consideration for Non-CIWG seats must use the double-tag option and initially pay USD 4,300.
DASA UG 2026 seat allocation is based on JEE Main rank. Confirm the 2027 admission basis when the new brochure is released.
IIT undergraduate seats are not allocated through DASA.
The DASA UG 2026 process uses two DASA seat-allotment rounds. Do not assume the same number of rounds for 2027 until the official schedule is published.
Verification queries appear on the candidate portal and must be answered within the specified deadline.
DASA is the broader admission scheme for eligible students seeking seats in participating technical institutes. CIWG is a reserved category within DASA for eligible NRI candidates who satisfy the applicable Gulf-parent employment conditions.
No. CIWG is handled within the DASA admission process; it is not a separate entrance exam or separate counselling system.
Eligible NRI candidates whose parent satisfies the official Gulf-employment conditions for the applicable cycle should check CIWG eligibility and the required parent documents.
A USA-based NRI student can check DASA eligibility if the candidate satisfies the applicable nationality, academic, residential, examination and document rules.
Possibly, if the candidate is otherwise eligible and the parent satisfies the official CIWG employment and document requirements for the applicable cycle. The student’s present USA address alone does not determine CIWG eligibility.
For DASA 2026, admission uses the applicable JEE Main 2026 rank. The DASA UG 2027 brochure should be checked before presenting the 2027 examination requirement as confirmed.
No. IIT undergraduate admissions are not allocated through DASA.
The DASA 2026 reference list includes UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The official DASA 2027 country list must be verified once published.
No. The current 2026 reference fee structure differs by tag/category. Students should check the official DASA 2027 fee table before making any payment plan for 2027.
Under the current reference framework, CIWG seats form one-third of the DASA supernumerary seat pool. Candidates should still verify the official seat matrix for the relevant admission cycle.
The official DASA UG 2027 registration schedule has not yet been announced. Add exact dates only after CSAB publishes the 2027 schedule.
Families should prepare the candidate’s academic and identity documents and review the current parent passport, visa, work-permit and employer-certificate requirements. The final 2027 document list must be checked in the official brochure.
DASA and CIWG can provide valuable engineering-admission opportunities for students living outside India, but eligibility must be checked carefully.
Students should confirm:
A category or document error can affect seat eligibility even when the student has a strong JEE Main rank.
Prepare early for JEE Main, USA or Gulf school-document verification, CIWG eligibility, choice filling and NIT admission planning.
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The TestPrepKart JEE Academic Team supports NRI, OCI, PIO and foreign-national students with JEE Main preparation, DASA planning and engineering-admission guidance.
Last reviewed: August 24, 2026
Disclaimer: The DASA UG 2027 brochure has not yet been released. This page uses confirmed 2026 information as a planning reference. Any 2027–28 dates, fees, age limits, result deadlines, exam centres and cycle-specific rules must be updated only after the official 2027 documents are published.
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