How do NRI, OCI, PIO, and Foreign Nationals Get Admission into IITs/ NITs?

JEE Main is an eligibility exam for the JEE Advanced exam - the entrance exam for the IITs. JEE Advanced is conducted by the IITs themselves. NRIs (Non-Resident Indians), OCI (Overseas Citizen of India), PIO (Person of Indian Origin), and Foreign Nationals can appear for the JEE Advanced exam directly if they meet the eligibility criteria.

For admission to NITs, they can take the DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad) scheme. The DASA scheme is for admission to NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical institutions (CFTIs).

To be eligible to get the exemption for the JEE Main exam, OCIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals need to meet the following criteria:

• Foreign nationals or those who hold OCI or PIO cards may register directly for the JEE Advanced 2022 exam if they have studied or are studying abroad at the 10+2 level or its equivalent.
• Those who studied or are studying in India, however, had to sit for the JEE Main 2022 exam under the Open category - like Indian citizens. They also have to meet the JEE Advanced 2022 eligibility criteria applicable to Indian citizens.
• Candidates must have cleared the Class XII examination for the first time in 2021 or 2022 for the first time with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. If the board exam result was declared, it will be considered as an appearance in the exam, even if it was not conducted.
• Students, who appeared for Class XII exams or their equivalent in 2020 and their results were declared on or after October 15, 2020, are allowed to appear in JEE Advanced 2022.
• For JEE Advanced 2022, candidates who studied or are studying abroad must be born on or after October 1, 1997. Relaxation is given to students from countries where a minimum stint in the armed or allied forces is mandatory for a certain period. But students have to upload a certificate or testimonial issued by the competent authority at the time of exam registration.
• Foreigners, OCIs, and PIOs can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in consecutive years.
• Candidates who were admitted to IITs earlier but did not join the institute are not eligible to sit for the exam this year. But if they did not report online or at the reporting center or their seat was canceled for some reason or they withdrew before the last round of seat allotment can sit for the JEE Advanced exam once again.

Other Things Applicable to Foreigners, OCIs, and PIOs

Candidates need to present their OCI card, PIO card, foreign passport, and/or citizenship certificate wherever required.

These candidates are considered in addition to the Top 2,50,000 students selected for the JEE Advanced 2022 exam through the JEE Main 2022 exam. It means that they are admitted to supernumerary seats that be up to a maximum of 10% of the total number of seats for every course.

Also, OCI, PIO, and foreigners are not eligible for reservation under any category - whether it is based on physical disabilities, caste-based, or gender-based.

JEE Advanced 2022 registration fee for candidates residing in SAARC countries is USD 75. Candidates from non-SAARC countries have to pay USD 150. Besides it, candidates may also have to pay service charges, processing fees, and other charges banks may levy. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

This year, JEE Advanced exams are not being conducted in any foreign countries or exam centers. Hence, students will have to appear for the exam at the allotted exam center in India at their own expense.

Foreign, OCI, and PIO candidates who want to take admission to the B. Arch. Program in the IITs will have to sit for the AAT (Architecture Aptitude Test) after clearing the JEE Advanced 2022 exam successfully.

Foreign nationals need to apply for the JEE Advanced 2022 exam (directly or as a one-time exception) from August 2, 2022, to August 11, 2022.

The last date for the foreign candidates to pay the registration fee for the JEE Advanced 2022 exam is August 12, 2022.

How can foreign nationals, OCIs, and PIOs get admission into NITs?

Admission to undergraduate engineering programs at NITs for foreign nationals, OCIs, and PIOs is done through the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) Scheme. Candidates have to secure a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent CGPA in Class XII board exams with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. They must also have a valid SAT score.

The total number of seats available under the DASA scheme is 15% of the total intake in each discipline and category.

DASA UG 2022 registration is expected to be open from September to October 2022.

Admission to NITs through the DASA scheme is based on Class XII marks and SAT subject test scores.

The foreign nationals, OCIs, and PIOs can apply for multiple NITs through the DASA UG application form. Candidates will have to fill in their choices of NITs and courses while filling up this form.

NITs participating in the DASA scheme will release their respective merit list on the official website. DASA ranks are expected to be declared online in late October 2022. Candidates will be able to check their DASA rank by entering their SAT scores.

The DASA Counselling 2022 is expected to be conducted in November 2022. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Should I pay USD 75 or USD 150 for JEE Advanced 2022 registration?

Candidates from SAARC countries have to pay USD 75. SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation It has seven members - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. If you are from any of the seven countries (except India), you will have to pay USD 75. All other candidates have to pay USD 150 to register for JEE Advanced 2022. Any bank charges have to be borne by the candidate.

1. I am a foreign national. Can I take admission to any of the IITs?

Yes, you can. But only if you qualify in the JEE Advanced exam and get a good enough All India Rank. The total number of seats available for foreign nationals is supernumerary which means that they are in addition to the Top 2,50,000 students. The cap for supernumerary seats is 10% of the total number of seats for every course.

1. How can I take JEE Advanced coaching as a foreign national?

AskIITians offers specialized JEE Advanced coaching programs for NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals online. The coaching is designed by ex-IITians and experienced faculty to supplement your studies and ease you into the Indian education system and standards. You can also avail of a free trial to see if the program is right for you.

1. Why study B. Arch. in IIT?

The B. Arch. program in the IITs is one of the best in the world. It offers a well-rounded education that covers all aspects of architecture - from design and theory to history and construction. The curriculum is constantly updated to keep up with the latest developments in the field. Students also have the opportunity to work on real-world projects and get hands-on experience.

1. What are the eligibility criteria for B. Arch. in IIT?

To be eligible for B. Arch. in IIT, you must have a valid JEE Advanced score and rank. You will also have to qualify in the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) conducted by the IITs. Foreign nationals, OCIs, and PIOs are not eligible for reservation under any category.