NEET UG NRI Quota 2026: The NRI quota is a special reservation for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) students who want to study medicine in India through NEET 2026. It allows NRI students or children of Indian workers living abroad to apply for reserved seats in medical colleges, mainly in private and deemed universities. Although qualifying for NEET is mandatory, the cutoff marks for NRI seats are generally different from those for the general category, and the tuition fees are typically higher.
This article provides a valuable information about getting admission to medical colleges in India through NRI quota.
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Highlights
| Particulars | Description |
| Name of Examination | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG) |
| Conducted by | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Application Begins | 8 February 2026 |
| Application End | 11 March 2026 |
| NEET 2026 Admit Card | Last week of April 2026 |
| NEET Exam 2026 | 3 May 2026 |
| Result Declaration | 14 June 2026 (Tentative) |
| Counselling Process | July/ August 2026 |
| Batches Start | September 2026 |
Understanding the NRI Quota
- NEET doesn’t have a special quota, but NRI students who qualify can still apply for seats under the NRI category during admissions.
- Some government, private, and deemed medical colleges set aside seats especially for NRI students who clear NEET-UG.
What is the NRI Quota in NEET?
Deemed universities in India reserve 15% of their MBBS seats for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) students, including Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). This gives NRI students a different way to get admission, separate from the All India Quota (AIQ) and State Quota.
No Separate NRI Quota in NEET Exam:
- NEET is the common entrance test for all, and it doesn’t have a separate NRI quota.
- However, students who meet the NRI category rules can apply for NRI seats during the admission process.
- Some government, private, and deemed universities reserve seats for NRI candidates who qualify in NEET.
Who Can Apply as an NRI Candidate:
NRI students can take the NEET-UG exam if they meet these basic requirements:
- Age: They must meet the age limit set by NEET-UG rules.
- Education: They should have passed Class 12 (or an equivalent exam) with the required subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
- NEET Exam: They must appear for and qualify in the NEET-UG exam.
Who Qualifies as NRI Candidates in NEET?
Candidates are eligible for the NRI quota in NEET if they fulfill the following conditions:
- Indian Origin and Settled Abroad: The candidate must be of Indian origin and currently residing in a foreign country.
- Children of Indian Citizens Abroad: Indian citizens’ children who are staying abroad are also considered under the NRI category.
- Born Abroad with Indian-Origin Parents: Candidates born abroad but having parents of Indian origin fall within the NRI category.
- Children of Government Employees on Deputation: Candidates who are children of State or Central Government employees staying abroad during their deputation period are eligible for the NRI quota.
- Residing Abroad for 5 Years: Candidates should have resided outside India for at least 5 years to gain NRI status.
- Education from Residing Country: Additionally, candidates must have completed their 10th and 10+2 examinations from the country where they currently reside.
Benefits of the NRI Quota
- Lower Cutoff Chances: Since fewer students compete for NRI seats, the required NEET score is often lower than in the general category, giving NRI students a better chance.
- More College Options: Many deemed universities in India offer NRI seats, so students have a wide range of colleges to choose from, not just government ones.
- Stay Connected to Culture: Studying in India lets NRI students stay close to their culture and experience the Indian style of medical education.
Eligibility Criteria for NRI Students
The eligible criteria for admission to MBBS programs in Indian Medical Universities under the NRI quota is given below:
- NRI Status Proof: Candidates must provide documents to confirm your NRI status.
- Valid Passport: A current, valid passport is needed.
- NEET Qualification: They must take and pass the NEET exam with a qualifying score.
- Education Background: They should have completed your education in the 10+2 system or an equivalent.
- Required Subjects: They must have studied Biology, along with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- Family Connection: They need to show a real blood relationship with your financial sponsor, such as a parent, sibling, aunt, or uncle.
- Age Limit: You must be at least 17 years old and not older than 25.
Document Required
Here’s a list of documents that an NRI student must carry during MBBS admission;
- Valid passport
- Student visa
- NOC from the Ministry of External Affairs, GOI (Government of India), New Delhi
- Non-Objection Certificate issued by the Ambassador/ competent authority of the candidate’s country to allow their stay and study in India
- Class X Marksheet and Passing Certificate
- Marksheet of the Qualifying Examination
- Vaccination Certificate
- Transfer Certificate
- Health Certificate
- Migration Certificate
- Health Insurance Certificate
- Community Certificate
- Passport-size colour photographs of candidates (six copies)
- Joint declaration by the parent and the applicant as per the format
- Recent stamp-size colour photographs (four copies)
Past-Years NEET UG NRI Quota Cut-off
This section provides information about previous years NRI Quota NEET MBBS cutoff:
NEET UG 2025 Cutoff
The following is the NEET UG cutoff 2025:
| Category | Cut-off Percentile | Cut-off Score | No. of Candidates |
| UR / EWS | 50th Percentile | 686 – 144 | 11,45,976 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 143 – 113 | 1,00,769 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 143 – 113 | 34,326 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 143 – 113 | 14,478 |
| UR / EWS – PwD | 45th Percentile | 143 – 127 | 455 |
| OBC – PwD | 40th Percentile | 126 – 113 | 270 |
| SC – PwD | 40th Percentile | 126 – 113 | 55 |
| ST – PwD | 40th Percentile | 126 – 113 | 11 |
NEET UG 2024 Cutoff
The following is the NEET UG cutoff 2024:
| Category | Cut-off Percentile | Cut-off Score | No. of Candidates |
| UR / EWS | 50th Percentile | 720 – 164 | 11,65,904 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 163 – 129 | 1,00,769 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 163 – 129 | 34,326 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 163 – 129 | 14,478 |
| UR / EWS – PwD | 45th Percentile | 163 – 146 | 455 |
| OBC – PwD | 40th Percentile | 145 – 129 | 270 |
| SC – PwD | 40th Percentile | 145 – 129 | 55 |
| ST – PwD | 40th Percentile | 141 – 129 | 11 |
NRI Quota Seats and Fees in NEET 2026
The following table shows some of India’s leading medical colleges that offer MBBS admissions under the NRI quota, along with their states, MBBS NRI quota fees and seats reserved:
| Name of the College | State | MBBS NRI Quota Fees | Number of NRI Quota Seats |
| Vinayak Mission Medical College & Hospital Karaikal | Puducherry | $ 45,500 | 22 |
| Sree Sidharth Medical College (SSMC Tumkur) | Karnataka | $ 50,000 | 23 |
| Maharishi Markendeshwar Institute of Medical Science & Research, Mullana | Haryana | $ 1,92,870 (for the entire course) | 22 |
| Datta Meghe Medical College Nagpur (DNIMS), Wardha | Maharashtra | $ 33,000 | 38 |
| Yenepoya Medical College, Malanpur | Karnataka | $ 64,000 | 38 |
| Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum | Karnataka | $ 45,500 | 30 |
| BVDU Medical College & Hospital, Sangli | Maharashtra | $ 85,050 | 38 |
| Amrita School of Medicine, Kota | Kerala | $ 50,000 | 22 |
| Bharti Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College, Pune | Maharashtra | $ 85,050 | 38 |
| Dr DY Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre (DYPMC), Pune | Maharashtra | $ 60,000 | 38 |
Note: The NRI quota fees and the number of seats are subject to change.
State-wise MBBS NRI Quota Fees
The table below shows the NRI quota fee structure in different states of India. NRI students can check the details for the state where they wish to apply for admission:
my childrens were born in dubai, but all their education was in india, are they eligible for NRI quota
Yes, they are eligible for the NRI quota. For more information, you can contact our counseling expert at 987-305-6333.