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Good news for Indian students living abroad: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has clarified that eligible Non-Resident Indian (NRI) candidates who do not have an Aadhaar card can complete JEE Main 2027 Session 1 registration using a valid Indian passport. NTA also introduced a dedicated registration choice for these candidates.
This matters to Indian families in the USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, where students will be having an Indian passport but will not possess an Aadhaar, PAN and driving license. The guide highlights the new rule, the procedure for registration through the JEE Main exam, the special NRI procedure, application forms, fees and cut off dates.
Quick answer — updated 12 November 2026: An NRI applicant without Aadhaar but with a valid Indian passport can choose “Apply through the NRI (Having No Aadhaar)” on the official JEE Main 2027 Session 1 registration page. The regular deadline is 22 November 2026, 11:50 PM IST. An additional ₹500 late fee applies from 23–26 November 2026. This facility does not automatically apply to foreign-passport or OCI candidates.
FIND THE ANSWER YOU NEED
Start with the registration option that fits your identity documents, then follow the application steps.
On 3 November 2026, NTA responded to a query from an NRI candidate who could not register without the usual Indian identity documents. The agency confirmed that a passport could be used. On 9 November 2026, NTA gave more specific instructions: NRI candidates without Aadhaar and holding a valid Indian passport should use the designated no-Aadhaar NRI option in the Session 1 application.
The clarification removes an identity-document obstacle at the registration stage. It is not an exemption from JEE Main academic eligibility, a new admission quota or a change to DASA/CIWG counselling rules.
For a practical application walkthrough, read our JEE Main registration guide and NRI eligibility guide. The original passport clarification was reported by NDTV; verify binding rules and updates directly with NTA.
Yes, only for the particular category of NRI that is specified by the NTA. If the student is an NRI, lacks an Aadhaar card and possesses a valid Indian passport, then they can take up the particular process of registration for NRI students. The ones possessing the Aadhaar card must proceed with the identification process as per their convenience from the live portal.
Note that being a student of Indian origin studying abroad doesn’t necessarily mean that you possess the Indian passport. The students possessing OCI card or being US, UAE or any other national citizen should comply with the instructions given by the NTA separately.
Not every candidate should select the same identity route. The special NRI option announced for JEE Main 2027 Session 1 is for NRI applicants without Aadhaar who hold a valid Indian passport. The table below helps students identify the appropriate starting point before filling out the form.
| Comparison point | Aadhaar-based registration | Special NRI passport registration |
|---|---|---|
| Who should use it? | Eligible candidates using Aadhaar as their identity proof. | Eligible NRI candidates who do not have Aadhaar and have a valid Indian passport. |
| Identity proof | Aadhaar details, as requested by the application portal. | Valid Indian passport details, as requested by the special NRI application route. |
| Registration option | Select the relevant Aadhaar/identity option shown in the live NTA form. | Select “Apply through the NRI (Having No Aadhaar)” for Session 1. |
| Other form steps | Complete academic details, exam-paper/city choices, applicable uploads, fee payment and confirmation. | Complete the same broader application stages, following any additional instructions shown for the NRI route. |
| Does this change exam eligibility? | No; normal JEE Main eligibility rules apply. | No. Passport acceptance addresses registration identity proof, not academic eligibility or admission quotas. |
| Important limitation | Aadhaar is not necessarily the only accepted identity method for all candidates; follow the portal. | Do not assume this Indian-passport NRI option applies to OCI or other foreign-passport holders. |
Not Sure Which Registration Route Applies to You?
Check your nationality, Aadhaar availability and passport type before applying. TestprepKart can help you understand the process; only NTA can confirm official application requirements or resolve portal issues.
| Applicant situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| NRI, no Aadhaar, valid Indian passport | Use the dedicated “NRI (Having No Aadhaar)” route. |
| NRI who has Aadhaar | Follow the applicable standard identity/registration options shown by NTA. |
| OCI cardholder or other foreign passport holder | Use the relevant foreign-national/OCI process. Do not assume the Indian-passport NRI route is available. |
| Indian citizen living in India | Follow the normal JEE Main registration instructions and accepted identity methods. |
Before you begin: Check the student’s nationality and identity documents, not just the family’s country of residence. For broader distinctions, read JEE eligibility criteria for NRI and OCI students.
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Want the registration process and JEE preparation guidance in one place? Follow the step-by-step registration guide right below, then get an extra head start with our FREE JEE E-Book.
Our eBook assists international students in organizing Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics study for practice and preparation along with school timings in the USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Go now—download your Free JEE E-Book and start preparing with a clear plan.
Download Your Free JEE E-BookNote: The eBook is a JEE preparation resource. For the official application procedure, follow the NTA portal and the registration steps below.
JEE Main registration is completed online. NTA’s 2027 The bulletin covers registration, filling the application form, uploading files, payment of fees, and downloading the confirmation page. The below steps are helpful to both Indian students and eligible NRI candidates, with the difference being that of identity route to be discussed in the subsequent section.
Open the NTA JEE Main website (jeemain.nta.nic.in) to access the JEE Main 2027 Session 1 application. For a detailed walkthrough, use the TestprepKart registration guide. Read NTA’s information bulletin before starting, and avoid unofficial websites asking for application fees or passwords.
Begin the process of new registration and choose the option of identity that is appropriate to the student. NRI applicants who do not have Aadhaar and have valid Indian passports should choose the NRI option. Provide the required identity and contact information and set your password.
Login using the application number and password. Provide the name, date of birth, nationality, address, information of the educational institution and Class 10/Class 12 or its equivalent. NTA suggests that name and date of birth should match the Class 10 marksheet. Those pursuing education under foreign curriculum are advised to refer the requirements of qualifying examination and equivalency from the bulletin.
Select Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech, Paper 2A for B.Arch/B.Planning. Please choose the preference order of the examination cities from the list provided for your application. The NTA allows up to 4 cities based on certain conditions.
Perform the live photo task and submit your latest photo, signature, certificate of class X and any other certificates that apply to you in the format prescribed by NTA. In case you are a foreigner, including OCI applicant, then you have to submit your non-Indian passport as mentioned in the notice.
Verify the details and make the payment using the modes available at the NTA website such as credit/debit cards/net banking or UPI. Fee amount will depend upon the chosen paper(s), type, gender and location (whether in India or abroad).
Once the payment succeeds, download and save the confirmation page. In the notification, it has been stated that the application will only be deemed to be made successfully after the fee has been paid. You should keep the application number, password, and confirmation page safe.
Need a Detailed JEE Main Registration Walkthrough?
Use TestprepKart’s step-by-step guide for application planning and common form-filling questions.
Read JEE Registration GuideThe unique process is highly significant for Indian students who reside in the USA or Gulf countries and do not possess Aadhaar. Please follow the live instructions accordingly:
Note: The 2027 information circular also explicitly asks for uploading of the non-Indian passport PDF of foreign nationals, including OCI. This should not be confused with the Indian passport required to be uploaded for the NRI/no-Aadhaar special category. The Indian passport is to be uploaded only if the application form requests one at present.
Prepare the following documents and details before opening the form:
| Document / information | 2027 requirement or practical purpose |
|---|---|
| Valid Indian passport | Identity document for eligible NRI candidates using the no-Aadhaar route; keep details available. |
| Live photograph | Capture during the application using a camera or supported QR/mobile process, with suitable lighting and background. |
| Scanned recent photograph | JPG/JPEG, 10–200 KB; colour photograph with approximately 80% face visible against a white background. |
| Signature | JPG/JPEG, 10–100 KB. |
| Class 10 or equivalent certificate/marksheet | PDF, 50–300 KB; name and date of birth must match the application. |
| Class 12 / equivalent qualification details | School, board, passing/appearing year and other academic information requested by the form. |
| Disability/UDID and related certificates (where applicable) | Required PDF certificates, generally 50–300 KB, as specified by NTA. |
| Non-Indian passport (foreign nationals, including OCI) | PDF, 50–300 KB, for this separate nationality group. |
| Mobile number, email and payment method | For communication, verification, registration and payment. |
In case of students appearing through US high school, British or any other foreign examination, the recognized qualifying examination criteria laid down in the bulletin should be looked into. In case of equivalence certificate, one should follow the criteria of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
The NTA 2027 information bulletin publishes the following schedule. Deadlines are in Indian Standard Time (IST), so students outside India should account for time-zone differences.
| Event | Session 1 — January 2027 |
|---|---|
| Registration begins | 24 October 2026 |
| Regular application and fee-payment deadline | 22 November 2026, 11:50 PM IST |
| Late application with additional ₹500 | 23–26 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM IST |
| Form correction window | 27–29 November 2026, up to 11:50 PM IST |
| City intimation slip | 30 December 2026 (scheduled) |
| Admit card | 13 January 2027 (scheduled) |
| JEE Main Session 1 examination | 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 January 2027 |
Session 2: The notice has the dates for registration from 5 January to 3 February 2027. Late fee submission period is from 4 February to 7 February. Correction is from 8 to 10 February. Exams are to be held between 2 to 7 April 2027.
There is no single flat “NRI fee”. For one paper (Paper 1, 2A or 2B), NTA’s 2027 fees depend on candidate category and exam-centre location:
| Category | Centre in India | Centre outside India |
|---|---|---|
| General male | ₹1,000 | ₹5,000 |
| General female | ₹800 | ₹4,000 |
| Gen-EWS/OBC-NCL male | ₹900 | ₹4,500 |
| Gen-EWS/OBC-NCL female | ₹800 | ₹4,000 |
| SC/ST/PwD/PwBD (male or female) | ₹500 | ₹2,500 |
| Third gender | ₹500 | ₹2,500 |
For permitted combinations of two or more papers, higher fees apply. The late application window adds ₹500, and payment processing charges/GST may be additional. Always check the final amount generated by the NTA portal.
In the official 2027 bulletin, nine exam cities are mentioned, which are out of India and in seven countries. There is no exam city mentioned in the USA for the year 2027, as Washington D.C. is not in this list of exam cities. US students need to look at the available cities in their application.
| Country | JEE Main 2027 city | NTA code |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | Manama | ZZ01 |
| Kuwait | Kuwait City | ZZ10 |
| Nepal | Kathmandu | ZZ05 |
| Oman | Muscat | ZZ06 |
| Qatar | Doha | ZZ03 |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | ZZ07 |
| UAE | Dubai | ZZ04 |
| UAE | Abu Dhabi | ZZ17 |
| UAE | Sharjah | ZZ08 |
City selection criteria: According to the 2027 bulletin, for those candidates whose current residence, permanent residence, or both are not in India, a selected city should always be within India. The portal limits the choice of cities using address details, and NTA can assign a city other than the preferred one.
Read more about JEE exam centers abroad on TestprepKart. Indian families in the USA must first see their preference list, allotted center, and immigration requirements before booking non-refundable travel.
The correction period for Session 1 according to the NTA bulletin is scheduled from 27 – 29 November 2026, and corrections can only be made to the fields authorized by NTA. Moreover, according to the notice issued by NTA on 30 October 2026, candidates are allowed to reapply for Session 1.
Under that notice, the last application with successful fee payment and a confirmation page is treated as valid. Fees paid for an earlier successful form are not refunded or adjusted against the fresh form. The notice also warns against sitting the examination more than once under different application numbers. If you only need to update an allowed field, consider the correction facility instead of submitting and paying for a new form.
No separate DASA or CIWG admissions change is established by this passport clarification. It concerns how eligible NRI students identify themselves while applying for JEE Main 2027. Admission through DASA/CIWG is a separate process with its own nationality, residence/schooling, entrance-score, fee and counselling rules.
For NIT and IIIT admission planning, explore TestprepKart’s DASA UG guide, DASA/CIWG seat matrix and JEE Main vs JEE Advanced guide for NRIs. Use the relevant 2027 counselling notice when it is issued.
Students studying abroad need to take care of two distinct processes – correct NTA registration process and proper JEE Main study plan. JEE test prep is provided by TestprepKart for students who come from NRI background. NTA is the only authority when it comes to questions regarding application identity, deadline, cost and exam city allotment.
Students can review JEE Main previous-year papers, explore JEE preparation support or request a trial session.
Ready to Start JEE Main 2027 Preparation?
Registration is just the first milestone. Discuss a JEE Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics study plan tailored to your overseas school schedule. This is preparation support, not an official NTA application service.
Yes. An NRI candidate without Aadhaar who holds a valid Indian passport can use NTA’s special no-Aadhaar NRI registration option for Session 1.
Yes, for the NRI category described in NTA’s November 2026 clarification. Keep the passport valid and enter the requested details accurately.
Do not assume so. NTA specified a valid Indian passport for this special route. OCI and other foreign nationals should use the appropriate identity/nationality path and follow applicable upload instructions.
The regular deadline is 22 November 2026 at 11:50 PM IST. A late-fee application window runs from 23 to 26 November 2026, subject to NTA updates.
The bulletin includes Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Riyadh, Doha, Muscat, Kuwait City and Manama. A candidate may choose only the exam cities offered in their application, and allotment is not guaranteed.
No USA city appears in the official 2027 overseas list. US-based candidates should examine the permitted city choices on their application, including Indian locations.
NTA has scheduled a correction window from 27 to 29 November 2026, but only permitted fields can be edited. The separate October 30 notice also describes the conditions for submitting a fresh application.
JEE Main scores are used for the DASA undergraduate engineering admission route, but the applicable DASA/CIWG conditions and counselling schedule must be checked separately. The new passport rule does not establish an admission-policy change.
The clarification from NTA offers a practical solution for NRIs who have an Indian passport but no Aadhaar for their JEE Main 2027 Session 1 registration. The safest way would be to choose the right no-Aadhaar NRI choice, confirm information with school information, upload documents in the correct format, pay within the deadline and save the confirmation page.
People living outside India will have to consider the test cities available and maintain the registration process different from the admission process of DASA, CIWG etc. It is best to consult the official NTA site for the latest guidelines.
Related TestprepKart JEE Guides
Note: NTA remains the official authority for application eligibility, documents, fees and deadlines. Confirm current notices on NTA’s website before submitting the form.
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