No Aadhaar? NRI students can now apply for JEE Main 2027 with a passport
By TUF News Desk · Published 4 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
A student studying abroad asked the National Testing Agency a plain question on X: he had no Aadhaar, no PAN and no Indian driving licence, so how was he supposed to register for JEE Main 2027? The agency answered in one line. A passport will do.
That reply, reported on November 4, 2026, settles a problem that had been blocking Non-Resident Indian candidates since Session 1 registration opened on October 24. The National Testing Agency has now confirmed that NRI students can complete the online application with a valid passport as proof of identity, instead of Aadhaar.
Why the form was stopping NRI applicants
Registration for JEE Main 2027 runs through MeriPehchaan, which authenticates candidates through DigiLocker, e-Pramaan or JanParichay. Those systems are built around domestic identity documents, and several NRI applicants reported trouble at the authentication and e-KYC stages because they did not hold Aadhaar, PAN or an Indian driving licence. NTA pointed candidates to its public notices of October 28 and 30, which set out alternative login paths and re-KYC steps.
The detail that must match exactly
The passport route only works if the form agrees with the documents behind it. Check the name, parents names and date of birth entered in the form against both the passport records and the Class 10 board certificate. Every detail must match exactly. A small difference in spelling or date between the form and the passport can create trouble later, when the admit card and the identity document are checked at the exam centre.
What to do if a form is already stuck
Some candidates started a form, hit the verification wall and left it incomplete. They have two ways back: file a fresh application before the November 22 deadline, or use the correction window from November 27 to 29, 2026, to change identification details. The fresh-application route is wider than a fix for NRI candidates alone. NTA has also allowed candidates to submit a fresh form even if they have already registered or paid the fee, which helps applicants who entered wrong information earlier.
How to apply
Applications go through the official JEE Main website. Start a new registration, choose an authentication method through MeriPehchaan, and enter the name, mobile number and email address. The system generates an application number and password. Log in with those credentials, fill in the details, upload the photograph, signature and identity document, pay the fee and download the confirmation page. Our admission documents checklist covers the scans to keep ready before starting.
JEE Main is the gateway to undergraduate engineering programmes at National Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Information Technology and other participating institutes. Paper 1 scores also decide who qualifies for JEE Advanced, the entrance test for the Indian Institutes of Technology, including the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
Dates to keep in front of you
Registration runs from October 24 to November 22, 2026, with the fee also due by 11:50 pm on November 22. The late application window runs from November 23 to 26, with the late fee payable by 11:50 pm on November 26. The correction window follows from November 27 to 29. The exam city intimation slip is due on December 30, 2026, and admit cards will be released on January 13, 2027. Session 1 will be held on January 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28, 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Can NRI students apply for JEE Main 2027 without Aadhaar?
Yes. NTA has clarified that NRI candidates can use a valid passport as identity proof to complete JEE Main 2027 Session 1 registration.
What is the last date to apply for JEE Main 2027 Session 1?
November 22, 2026, till 11:50 pm without a late fee. A late-fee window runs from November 23 to 26, 2026.
What if an NRI candidate already started an incomplete JEE Main application?
They can file a fresh application before the deadline, or use the correction window from November 27 to 29, 2026, to change identification details.
When is JEE Main 2027 Session 1 held?
On January 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28, 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Can NRI students apply for JEE Main 2027 without Aadhaar?
Yes. NTA has clarified that NRI candidates can use a valid passport as identity proof to complete JEE Main 2027 Session 1 registration.
What is the last date to apply for JEE Main 2027 Session 1?
November 22, 2026, till 11:50 pm without a late fee. A late-fee window runs from November 23 to 26, 2026.
What if an NRI candidate already started an incomplete JEE Main application?
They can file a fresh application before the deadline, or use the correction window from November 27 to 29, 2026, to change identification details.
When is JEE Main 2027 Session 1 held?
On January 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28, 2027.
Sources: Times Now, Jagran Josh, The Telegraph India