In a major breakthrough for global hopefuls seeking to study undergraduate programmes at the elite Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has formally opened registration for the JEE Advanced 2025 for foreign nationals as well as candidates from the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) – Foreign (F) category. This special registration window offers a chance for deserving candidates to apply directly for JEE Advanced 2025 without having to take the JEE Main exam, which is otherwise a requirement for all Indian nationals.

The registration process for these categories has started through the official JEE Advanced website – jeeadv.ac.in. Interested candidates can access the portal to complete their application process. As per details provided in the official brochure, the last date to finish the registration is May 2, 2025. Nevertheless, candidates should make sure that the exam fee is paid by May 5, 2025, as this is the last step towards validating their application for the elite examination.

As per the instructions released in the JEE Advanced 2025 information brochure, a total of 10 percent of the total seats in all academic programmes at IITs are reserved for foreign national candidates. This category includes candidates who are exempted from appearing for the JEE Main 2025 and can go directly to apply for JEE Advanced. This provision is intended to attract a diversified group of international students to seek engineering education in India, as a representation of the international aspirations of the IIT system.

The registration fee for candidates falling under this category is different depending on their country of residence and the location of the examination centre they wish to appear at. For candidates choosing exam centers within India, the charge for SAARC residents is USD 100 or Rs 8,500, and for non-SAARC residents, the charge is USD 200 or Rs 17,000. On the other hand, for candidates choosing exam centers outside India, the charge is USD 150 or Rs 12,750 for SAARC residents and USD 250 or Rs 21,250 for non-SAARC residents. This differential pricing is intended to cater to global candidates as well as consider the logistical and administrative costs associated with their examination schedules.

Candidates are needed to upload specific documents as a part of registration, and proper format and size requirements are expected to be met. Candidates must provide a passport-size photo, taken recently, and signature, both in JPG format, within file sizes ranging from 4–100 KB and 1–30 KB respectively. Further, a recent photo identity proof must be uploaded in PDF format, within the file size limitation of 50 to 500 KB.

Foreign national applicants are particularly asked to upload their foreign passport or a certificate of citizenship, whereas OCI/PIO (F) applicants have to upload their OCI or PIO card along with their foreign passport or certificate of citizenship. These have to be uploaded in PDF format and within the specified file size range. To prove age, all applicants have to upload their birth certificate in PDF format. In addition, a scan of the mark sheet of Class XII is compulsory, except for candidates who will be sitting for the Class XII examination for the first time in 2025. Candidates are also free to upload any other testimonials if so required, but this is not necessary.

The application procedure has been made simplified for the benefit of users. To start, applicants need to go to the official JEE Advanced website and click on the link named “Online Direct Registration for Foreign National Candidates and OCI/PIO (F) Candidates” placed on the home page. Following the detailed reading of instructions given, candidates should then go ahead with choosing the option “Direct Registration”. The application form online is to be completed with correct and verifiable personal, academic, and contact information.

After filling out the application form, candidates have to upload all of the mandatory documents, following strictly the stated file formats and size requirements. Thereafter, payment of the application fee is facilitated through various methods like debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI. Applicants must make certain that their payment is successful in order to preclude their application from being rejected. Upon completion of payment processing, the applicants have to save and keep for record the confirmation page, which will be an evidence of successful submission and helpful in future as well.

This initiation of registration marks a watershed moment for foreign nationals and OCI/PIO candidates to pursue higher education at the IITs. These organizations, renowned world-wide for excellence and innovation-led strategy, have been opening up in a significant manner to welcome international students as a part of the dynamic and diversified educational framework. The reservation of 10 percent for foreign students is evidence of the dedication of the IITs to being globally oriented and excellent.

With the window of registration now open and a well-defined roadmap for the application process, candidates interested in applying are urged to go through the required steps at the earliest. JEE Advanced continues to be one of the most competitive entrance examinations globally, and for international candidates, this route provides an outstanding chance to become a part of India’s top engineering institutions.