JEE Advanced 2026: Dates, Syllabus, Eligibility, Pattern

JEE Advanced 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must meet all five of the following criteria. Candidates will be disqualified if any of these requirements are not met.

1. JEE Main 2026 Score
   Candidates from all categories must be among the top 2,50,000 candidates in JEE Main 2026 B.E/B.Tech Paper 1.
2. Number of Attempts
   A candidate is allowed a maximum of two attempts in two consecutive years for the JEE Advanced examination.
3. Prior Admission to IITs
   Candidates who have previously accepted an IIT seat — regardless of whether they continued in the program — are not eligible for admission.
4. Age Limit
   Candidates must have been born on or after October 1, 2001. SC, ST, and PwD candidates are eligible with a five-year relaxation, i.e., born on or after October 1, 1996.
5. Class 12 Examination
   Students who passed their Class 12 examination in 2025 or 2026 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as mandatory subjects are eligible to apply.

Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Nationals

Foreign national candidates must meet a distinct set of qualifying requirements. Candidates who are not Indian citizens, or whose parents are not from India, are regarded as foreign nationals. Candidates not falling under the OCI/PIO criteria are counted as foreign nationals.

As per the Supreme Court of India decision dated February 03, 2023 (Writ Petition Civil 891/2021), OCI/PIO candidates who secured their OCI/PIO card before March 4, 2021 shall be considered as Indian nationals for the purpose of IIT admissions.

Key points for foreign nationals:

• JEE Main Requirement: Foreign nationals must appear in the B.E./B.Tech. Paper of JEE Main 2026 and qualify to be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026.
• No Reservations: As per Government of India guidelines, foreign nationals are not eligible for reservations in any category.
• Educational Qualification: Applicants must have successfully completed their 10+2 level education.
• International Students in India: Students who have completed their Class 12 board examinations in India can appear under the OPEN category.
• Parental Identification: Foreign nationals are required to provide identification for both parents.
• Seat Allocation: Approximately 10% of available seats are reserved for foreign applicants.

JEE Advanced 2026 Application Form and Registration Process

After the JEE Main 2026 results are declared, the application form for JEE Advanced 2026 will be released on the official website. Qualifying candidates must register and fill out the application form online, followed by payment of the application fee.

Step-by-Step Registration Process

1. Visit the official JEE Advanced website: jeeadv.ac.in
2. Register using your JEE Main 2026 roll number, password, and security pin.
3. Fill in personal details — name, parents’ names, contact information, and address.
4. Choose up to eight preferred exam cities.
5. Upload a passport-size photograph and signature.
6. Verify all details and submit the application form.

Documents Required for Upload

• Class X Certificate or Birth Certificate (PDF, 50 KB – 300 KB)
• Class XII (or equivalent) Certificate (PDF, 50 KB – 300 KB)
• Category Certificate (PDF, 50 KB – 300 KB)
• Additional Category Certificate — Optional (PDF, 50 KB – 300 KB)
• PwD Certificate (PDF, 50 KB – 300 KB)
• Scribe Request Letter (PDF, 50 KB – 300 KB)
• DS Certificate (PDF, 50 KB – 300 KB)
• OCI Card / PIO Card (PDF, 50 KB – 300 KB)

Certificate formats are available in Annexure II of the JEE Advanced 2026 Information Brochure on the official website.