DASA Admission for NRI Students, Eligibility, Fees, Documents Required
DASA Admission for NRI Students: Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) is a centralized program introduced by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to ensure foreign national, PIO, OCI and NRI students seeking admission in the best technical institutions in India.
For NRI students, DASA specifically reserves a 15% special supernumerary category, along with several seats under the CIWG (Children of Indian Workers in Gulf countries) scheme. DASA Admission for NRI Students to UG programs is based on JEE Main scores, while PG admissions require either GRE or GMAT scores. The entire admission scheme is online through the information provided on the official website dasanit.org, including registration, admission and counselling information.
Students can find complete information about DASA admission for NRI students, including eligibility, admission fees, counselling, and more, below.
DASA Admission for NRI Students Overview
The Direct Admission of Students Abroad 2026 program provides an organized way for NRI students to gain admission into India’s top technical colleges. The entire DASA 2026 registration and counseling process is done completely online, therefore making it very straightforward for students to apply. The table below provides an overview of DASA admission for NRIs in 2026:
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DASA Admission for NRI Students Overview |
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|---|---|
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Aspect |
Details |
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Scheme Name |
Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA 2026) |
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Conducted By |
One of the NITs under the Ministry of Education |
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Who Can Apply |
NRIs, PIOs, OCIs, Foreign Nationals, and Indian students |
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Eligibility |
Completed Class XI & XII abroad, valid JEE Main score required, minimum 75% marks or 7.5 CGPA |
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Quota Reserved |
There are 15% supernumerary seats in NITs, IIITs, SPAs and other CFTI. |
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CIWG Sub-Quota |
Reserved to Children of Indian Workers in the Gulf countries (CIWG). |
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Admission Basis |
JEE Main rank for UG; GRE/GMAT scores for PG |
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Application Mode |
Fully online registration via dasanit.org |
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Tuition Fee |
USD 4000 per semester (non-CIWG); USD 2000 per semester (CIWG) |
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Counselling Process |
Online choice filling, seat allotment, and final repor |
Also Know: JEE Mock Test Analysis, Know Step by Step Process
DASA 2026 Eligibility for NRI Students
To In order to apply to DASA 2026, NRI students should meet the following key eligibility requirements:
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Nationality: Applicant must be an NRI (Non-Resident Indian), PIO (Person of Indian Origin), OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) or a Foreign National.
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Academic Qualification: Must have completed Class XI and XII (or equivalent) from a recognized board outside India.
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Required Subjects: Physics and Mathematics are compulsory, along with one of Chemistry, Biology, or Computer Science.
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Minimum Marks: At least 75% aggregate or equivalent CGPA in qualifying exams.
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Documents Needed: Valid passport, academic transcripts, and proof of NRI status are required during application.
Also Know: What is JEE Main 180 Marks Percentile Score?
DASA Admission 2026 Through JEE Main for NRI Students
For DASA admission 2026, NRI students must appear in the JEE Main 2026 exam, which is required for all undergraduate admissions under this scheme. The admission process uses the best JEE Main score for ranking. The process for DASA Admission 2026 through JEE Main for NRI Students is as follows:
1. Mandatory JEE Main for DASA 2026
JEE Main is a mandatory exam for the NRI student applying for DASA 2026. Aspirants must appear in either the January or April 2026 session of the exam. Students from NRI countries (excluding Nepal) cannot apply for admission through DASA without a valid JEE Main Score.
2. Best Score Consideration
Students can take JEE Main twice a year (January and April session). The higher of these two scores will be used for ranking and admission. This allows students to have a better chance to do well because they have two chances to succeed.
3. Online Application Process
The entire application for DASA 2026 admission is done online through the official portal dasanit.org. The registration window usually opens between April and June 2026.
4. Centralized Counselling Process
Once registered, counselling takes place online in a centralized way. Students are expected to enroll in their course preference under the official site. Allotment of seats is done based on JEE Main rank of the student, student preferences and seat availability in institutions such as NITs, IIITs and other technical colleges.
5. Cutoff and Score Requirements
There is no separate cutoff list for NRI students. However, a JEE Main score above the 75th percentile is likely to secure admission into popular and competitive branches. Higher scores increase chances of getting seats in top institutes through the DASA scheme.
Also Know: JEE Main 2026 Preparation Strategy
DASA 2026 Fee Structure for NRI Students
DASA 2026 fee structure is expected to include a non-refundable registration fee of US $300, paid online during application. As per the previous years, the first-semester tuition fee is likely to be US $2,000 for SAARC countries, US $4,000 for Non-SAARC countries, and CIWG candidates will have to pay Rs. 62,500.
Tuition fees for additional semesters are also paid to the allotted institute. Hostel and mess charges - Additional charges are paid to the college. The approximate total initial payment of the Non-SAARC candidates is around US$4300. As of now, the DASA 2026 fee structure is yet to be officially announced by the authorities.
Also Know: JEE Main 2026 Registration For UAE Students
Documents Required for NRI Quota Admission Through DASA 2026
To get NRI quota admission using DASA 2026, students need to upload the following documents online:
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Valid passport of student & parent.
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Scanned copy of visa/work permit/residency proof
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Mark sheets of Class XI and XII for a recognized board outside India
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JEE Main 2026 scorecard.
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Proof of date of birth (Class X certificate/ Government ID)
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Recently taken passport-sized photo and signature in the required format.
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For CIWG candidates, a parent's Gulf employment certificate is also needed.
All documents should meet size and format requirements specified on the official DASA website.
Also Know: JEE Exam Centres in UAE, Centre List in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi
DASA 2026 Counseling Process for NRI Students
DASA 2026 counseling process for NRI students is fully online and usually held in July after the JEE Main results. The process includes:
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Choice filling: Students select preferred courses and colleges on the DASA portal.
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Mock allotment: Students get a preview of possible seat allocation based on merit.
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Seat allotment rounds: Multiple rounds of seat allocation based on rank and preferences.
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Seat acceptance and reporting: Candidates confirm their seat, upload required documents, and report to the allotted institute.
- Important Note: Special or spot rounds may be conducted to fill leftover seats. CIWG and NRI candidates participate together in this centralized counseling.
Also Know: DASA Registration 2026
Is JEE Main Compulsory for DASA 2026 for NRI Students?
Yes, JEE Main is compulsory for DASA 2026 admission for all NRI students applying to undergraduate programs.
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Candidates must appear in at least one of the JEE Main sessions in January or April 2026.
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Ranking is based on the highest score on the attempts.
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DASA admission is no longer accepting SAT subject tests.
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This ensures a fair, merit-based admission process for all candidates including NRI and CIWG quotas.
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Direct admission to IITs is separate and may allow some exemptions, but DASA requires JEE Main scores for NITs, IIITs, and other technical institutes.
Also Know: DASA 2026, Important Dates, Notification, Eligibility, Fees, Cut off
DASA Admission for NRI Students FAQs
Q1: What are the eligibility criteria of NRI students under DASA 2026?
Ans: Foreign NRI students need to have either Class XI and XII with minimum marks of 75% or CGPA 7.5 and a genuine JEE Main 2026 score to be admitted under DASA.
Q2: What is the admission process under the DASA 2026 through JEE Main?
Ans: NRI students register through dasanit.org and add their top JEE Main 2026 score and undergo centralized counselling to seat allotment in NITs and IIITs and other institutes.
Q3: When do NRI students have the DASA 2026 registration date?
Ans: The DASA 2026 registration window generally opens in the second week of June, and within this time the students will have to do their online registration and submit all the relevant documents.
Q4: What documents are required for NRI quota admission through DASA 2026?
Ans: Applicants must have a valid passport, NRI certificates, foreign mark sheets of Class XI and XII, JEE Main 2026 scorecard, birth certificates, and recent photograph and signature.
Q5: How much are NRI students spending at DASA 2026?
Ans: The registration fee is non-refundable and is US $300. At Non-SAARC countries tuition costs around US $4,000 per semester, whereas at CIWG candidates tuition costs around US $ 2,000 which have to be handled online during the enrolment.
