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IIIT Admission Guide for OCI, PIO & Foreign National Students
Eligible OCI, PIO and Foreign National students can apply to participating Indian Institutes of Information Technology through the Direct Admission of Students Abroad scheme, commonly known as DASA.
DASA offers supernumerary undergraduate seats at participating NITs, IIITs, SPAs, IIEST and other listed institutions. Admission is based on the candidate’s JEE Main rank, DASA category, programme choices, eligibility and seat availability.
However, OCI, PIO and Foreign National are not interchangeable categories. The student’s citizenship, passport, OCI or PIO classification, schooling history and qualifying examination can affect the residential conditions and documents applicable to the application.
This guide explains the complete process for IIIT admission for OCI, PIO and Foreign National students, including eligibility, JEE Main, participating institutes, fees, documents, choice filling and seat allotment.
Check the correct applicant category, DASA eligibility, JEE Main requirement, documents and participating IIITs before counselling.
| Admission Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Admission Route | DASA at participating IIITs |
| Eligible Candidate Groups | OCI, PIO, Foreign National and eligible NRI candidates |
| Entrance Examination | JEE Main |
| B.Tech Paper | JEE Main Paper 1 |
| Seat Type | Supernumerary DASA seats |
| Counselling Authority | Central Seat Allocation Board |
| Seat Categories | DASA Non-CIWG and DASA-CIWG where applicable |
| Selection Basis | JEE Main CRL rank, category, choices and seat availability |
| Do All IIITs Accept DASA? | No |
| Foreign Qualification | Equivalence or grading documentation may be required |
| Application Portal | DASA through the CSAB system |
| Institute Fees | Can differ between IIITs |
CSAB conducts the DASA undergraduate process alongside its special-round framework, and the official portal publishes the information brochure, seat matrix, schedule, restrictions and counselling resources for each admission cycle.
Confirm the correct DASA category, passport status, OCI/PIO documents and JEE Main requirement before planning IIIT choices.
Yes, provided the student satisfies the applicable DASA conditions and selects a participating IIIT.
DASA is open to eligible candidate groups that include:
Foreign Nationals
Overseas Citizens of India
Persons of Indian Origin
Non-Resident Indians
The student must also satisfy the relevant age, Class 12, subject, JEE Main and residential conditions.
Admission is not automatic because a student holds an OCI card or foreign passport. The candidate must qualify under the correct category, obtain a valid JEE Main rank, submit accepted documents and receive a seat through counselling.
Use the JEE E-Book to plan JEE Main, JEE Advanced, DASA, NIT and IIIT admission routes.
Download JEE E-BookDo not assume every IIIT accepts DASA. Check institute name, programme name and seat availability before applying.
No.
Only the IIITs and programmes appearing in the current official DASA seat matrix should be treated as participating institutes.
Some institutions use “IIIT” in their names but operate their own international-admission systems. They should not automatically be included in the central DASA list.
For example, the international admission process of an independently administered IIIT may use its own application, examination or SAT-based criteria. That process is separate from the central DASA counselling managed through CSAB.
Students should check three things before applying:
Institute name → programme name → DASA seat availability
Citizenship, passport, OCI/PIO proof and school records should match the category selected during DASA registration.
Citizenship, passport, OCI/PIO status and schooling history can change the applicable DASA rules and documents.
These categories are related to overseas admission but do not have identical meanings.
| Candidate Category | General Meaning | Main Admission Check |
|---|---|---|
| OCI | Foreign citizen holding a valid Overseas Citizen of India card | OCI classification and applicable DASA residential rule |
| PIO | Person of Indian Origin recognised under applicable admission documentation | Current recognised status and supporting documents |
| Foreign National | Citizen and passport holder of a country other than India | Foreign citizenship, academic and JEE Main conditions |
| NRI | Indian citizen residing or studying abroad under applicable rules | Indian citizenship plus prescribed overseas-study conditions |
Applicants should select their category based on legal status and supporting documents—not simply because their parents live outside India.
OCI cardholders may apply to participating IIITs through DASA, subject to the rules applicable to their OCI classification.
An OCI candidate commonly holds a foreign passport along with a valid OCI card. However, the student’s residential requirements can depend on whether the candidate is treated under the applicable OCI/PIO foreign or Indian classification in the admission framework.
Therefore, families should not use a blanket rule such as:
“Every OCI student must complete Classes 11 and 12 abroad.”
Nor should they assume:
“Every OCI student studying in India is automatically eligible.”
The correct answer depends on the candidate’s classification under the current DASA rules.
An OCI applicant should verify:
| OCI Applicant Check | OCI Applicant Check |
|---|---|
| Foreign citizenship and passport | Minimum marks or CGPA |
| Valid OCI documentation | Correct JEE Main paper |
| Applicable OCI classification | Residential condition, where applicable |
| Class 12 or equivalent qualification | Institute and programme availability |
| Required B.Tech subjects | — |
Possibly, depending on the candidate’s applicable OCI classification.
An OCI student who is in Class 12 in India should not be automatically subject to the Indian NRI overseas-study requirement in his case. Similarly, the student should not assume that an OCI card dispenses with all residential requirements.
The family should confirm the candidate’s classification in the current DASA brochure and provide documents consistent with that classification.
A US citizen with an OCI card who has studied in India for Classes 11 and 12 should be assessed as per the rules applicable to that student’s OCI/foreign status.
The student should not be assessed merely as:
“Parents live in the USA, so the child is NRI.”
Citizenship and OCI classification are more important than the family’s residential description.
Eligible PIO candidates can apply to participating IIITs through DASA, subject to recognised status and the current admission rules.
The PIO documentation and legal terminology have changed over time so applicants are advised to refer to the identity and status documents as recognized in the current DASA brochure and not old articles written for previous admission systems.
PIO candidates must also satisfy:
| PIO Applicant Check | PIO Applicant Check |
|---|---|
| Age requirement | JEE Main requirement |
| Class 12 or equivalent qualification | Applicable residential conditions |
| Required academic subjects | Document verification |
| Minimum marks or CGPA | — |
DASA continues to use OCI/PIO terminology within its candidate-category and eligibility framework.
A Foreign National is generally a student holding citizenship and a passport issued by a country other than India.
Eligible Foreign National candidates may apply through DASA for programmes offered by participating IIITs.
Examples can include citizens of:
| Country | Country |
|---|---|
| United States | United Arab Emirates |
| Canada | Saudi Arabia |
| United Kingdom | Qatar |
| Australia | Oman |
| Singapore | Kuwait |
| Bahrain | — |
Foreign citizenship alone is not sufficient for admission. The candidate has to fulfill the academic, age, JEE Main, programme and document requirements as laid down in the DASA framework.
Yes, a qualifying US citizen may apply as a Foreign National or under the relevant OCI category where applicable.
A US citizen without an OCI card may be considered under the Foreign National framework.
A US citizen with a valid OCI card should apply using the category applicable to their OCI status.
Both students still require the correct academic qualification and JEE Main rank for central DASA admission to participating IIITs.
Central DASA, regular counselling and independent international admission are different processes.
Overseas families should compare the admission routes available to the student before registering.
DASA is the primary central overseas-admission route at participating IIITs.
The general path is:
JEE Main → DASA Registration → Document Verification → Choice Filling → Seat Allotment → IIIT Reporting
Eligible OCI, PIO and Foreign National candidates compete for DASA seats according to their category, rank and preferences.
Some candidates may also be eligible for the regular NIT+ counselling route depending on their citizenship and category.
JoSAA/CSAB regular admission and DASA are separate seat-allocation systems.
The regular NIT+ route uses its own category and seat rules, while DASA uses designated supernumerary seats for eligible overseas candidates.
Some independently administered IIITs may operate their own international-admission process.
For example, a university may have its own:
Application portal
Eligibility conditions
SAT requirement
Fee structure
Counselling schedule
If an institute specific international route is named central DASA, the institute should be within the official DASA seat matrix.
| Student Situation | Route to Check |
|---|---|
| US citizen without OCI | DASA as Foreign National at participating IIITs |
| US citizen with OCI | DASA under applicable OCI classification |
| Canadian citizen with OCI | DASA under applicable OCI classification |
| Foreign citizen studying in India | DASA eligibility based on applicable Foreign National/OCI rules |
| PIO candidate studying abroad | DASA under applicable PIO rules |
| Indian passport holder studying abroad | DASA as eligible NRI, subject to overseas-study requirements |
| OCI candidate eligible for regular counselling | Compare applicable DASA and regular counselling routes |
| Student targeting a non-DASA IIIT | Check institute-specific admission process |
Check age, subjects, marks, JEE Main Paper 1 and foreign-board documents before final counselling preparation.
Confirm candidate status, age, Class 12 qualification, subject combination and JEE Main Paper 1 requirement.
The current DASA UG framework considers candidate status, age, academic qualification, subjects, marks and JEE Main rank.
| Eligibility Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Candidate Category | Eligible OCI, PIO, Foreign National or NRI |
| Qualifying Examination | Class 12 or recognised equivalent |
| Minimum Marks | 75% aggregate or 7.5 CGPA out of 10 in five subjects |
| Compulsory Subjects | Mathematics and Physics |
| Additional Subject | Chemistry, Biotechnology, Computer Science or Biology |
| Entrance Examination | JEE Main |
| Required Paper | JEE Main Paper 1 |
| Age for DASA 2026 | Born on or after October 1, 2001 |
| Admission Basis | JEE Main CRL rank, category, choices and seats |
These requirements are published in the official DASA UG information brochure for the 2026 admission cycle.
Use JEE Main preparation, DASA choice filling and document planning together instead of treating them as separate tasks.
Yes, for B.Tech admission through the central DASA UG route.
Eligible OCI, PIO and Foreign National candidates need a valid JEE Main Paper 1 rank for B.E./B.Tech programmes.
Current central DASA admission is not based on the old SAT Subject Test system.
The JEE Main 2026 will have Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech and Paper 2A and Paper 2B for architecture and planning programmes.
| Programme | JEE Main Paper |
|---|---|
| B.E./B.Tech | Paper 1 |
| B.Arch | Paper 2A |
| B.Plan | Paper 2B |
Paper 1 is generally required for most IIIT undergraduate DASA programmes which are B.Tech or related computing and engineering programmes.
The answer depends on the admission route.
For the central DASA UG route managed through CSAB, admission is based on JEE Main.
However, some independently administered IIITs may run their own international-admission process and may accept SAT scores under their separate rules.
Like, a certain international process for an institute like DASA could come out with its own deadlines for applications and SATs. This process is not to be confused with the central CSAB-DASA admission process.
Therefore:
Central participating IIIT through CSAB-DASA → JEE Main
Independent IIIT international route → check that institute’s own criteria
Students completing school outside India may hold qualifications such as:
US High School Diploma
International Baccalaureate
Cambridge A Levels
British curriculum qualification
CBSE qualification from a school abroad
Other recognised national qualifications
A foreign qualification must be recognised as equivalent to the required Indian Class 12 standard.
Candidates may also be required to provide grading, conversion or equivalence documentation where their transcript is not in a standard percentage or 10 point CGPA format.
Students are not allowed to use any unofficial online formulas for converting GPA into percentage. Conversion shall be as per the method accepted by the Board, Examination Authority or Admission Authority.
Residential eligibility is one of the most misunderstood parts of DASA.
The overseas-study rule for an Indian NRI candidate is not to be blindly adopted for each and every Foreign National/OCI candidate.
The DASA brochure separates candidate groups and OCI/PIO classifications in the application of residential conditions.
| Student Situation | Main Eligibility Question |
|---|---|
| Indian citizen studying abroad | Has the student completed the required overseas schooling? |
| US citizen without OCI studying in India | Does the Foreign National framework permit the schooling history? |
| US citizen with OCI studying in India | Which OCI classification applies? |
| OCI student studying abroad | Does the candidate satisfy the applicable OCI and academic conditions? |
| PIO candidate | Which recognised status and residential rule applies? |
The student’s own nationality, status and schooling history matter more than general statements such as “the family is NRI.”
Not all IIITs may take part. Please verify the institute name, programme and seat category before adding choices.
The exact list must be taken from the current official seat matrix because participation can change by admission cycle.
The 2026 DASA matrix includes several IIIT and IIITDM institutions, including institutes such as:
| Participating IIIT / Institute | Participating IIIT / Institute |
|---|---|
| BV-IIITM Gwalior | IIIT Allahabad |
| IIIT Guwahati | IIIT Kota |
| IIIT Sonepat | IIIT Una |
| IIIT Sri City | IIIT Vadodara |
| IIITDM Kancheepuram | IIITDM Jabalpur |
| IIIT Tiruchirappalli | IIIT Dharwad |
| IIIT Kottayam | IIIT Pune |
| IIIT Bhagalpur | IIIT Bhopal |
| IIIT Raichur | — |
Candidates should confirm the precise institute name, programme and category seats in the latest official matrix before adding choices.
Programme availability differs between institutes, but the DASA matrix can include areas such as:
| Programme Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | Computer Science and Engineering |
| Information Technology | IT and related programmes |
| Artificial Intelligence | AI and AI-focused CSE |
| Data Science | Data Science and Analytics |
| Cyber Security | CSE with Cyber Security |
| Electronics | Electronics and Communication Engineering |
| Computing | Mathematics and Computing |
| VLSI | Electronics with VLSI specialisation |
| Design | Design programmes at selected IIITDM institutes |
| Integrated Programmes | Listed dual-degree or integrated programmes |
A candidate should not assume that every participating IIIT offers CSE, AI, Data Science and ECE under DASA. The available programme list should be checked institute by institute in the seat matrix.
DASA seats are supernumerary seats provided for eligible overseas candidates.
The number of seats differs by:
IIIT
Programme
Category
Admission cycle
DASA seat availability should therefore be discussed using programme-level data rather than one general number for all IIITs.
The official CSAB portal publishes the UG DASA seat matrix and any revised version for the admission cycle.
CIWG is a category within DASA connected with eligible children of Indian workers in approved Gulf countries.
It should not automatically be applied to every OCI, PIO or Foreign National applicant living in the Gulf.
A candidate seeking CIWG consideration must satisfy the CIWG category definition and submit accepted parent-employment documents.
OCI, PIO and Foreign National students should confirm their eligibility rather than assuming that residence in Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, Muscat, Kuwait City or Manama automatically creates CIWG status.
For candidates who do not qualify for CIWG, DASA Non-CIWG may still be the appropriate overseas seat category.
The initial DASA payment may not equal the complete IIIT semester cost. Check balance tuition and institute charges.
The standard initial DASA payment depends on the candidate category.
| DASA Category | Registration Component | First-Semester Tuition Component | Initial Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-SAARC | US$300 | US$4,000 | US$4,300 |
| SAARC | US$300 | US$2,000 | US$2,300 |
| Standard CIWG | US$300 | ₹62,500 | US$300 + ₹62,500 |
| CIWG + Non-CIWG | US$300 | US$4,000 initially | US$4,300 |
The registration component is non-refundable under the current framework.
The initial DASA payment should not always be treated as the final semester fee at every IIIT.
Individual IIITs may charge:
Balance tuition
Institute admission fee
Development fee
Hostel fee
Mess charges
Security deposit
Examination fee
Student activity charges
Insurance or other institutional costs
Students must check the current fee notice of the specific IIIT before accepting a seat.
A Foreign National student’s DASA fee category can depend on the country classification applicable to the admission rules.
Candidates from Non-SAARC countries generally follow the Non-SAARC payment structure, while eligible candidates from SAARC countries follow the prescribed SAARC structure.
Do not estimate the fee category based on the OCI card alone. The candidates should adhere to the category and payment instruction generated through the official counselling system.
Keep passport, OCI/PIO proof, Class 10–12 records, JEE Main details and equivalence documents ready where applicable.
An OCI applicant should generally prepare:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Foreign Passport | Citizenship and identity |
| OCI Card | OCI status |
| Class 10 Certificate | Date of birth |
| Class 11 Academic Record | Schooling history where relevant |
| Class 12 Marksheet/Certificate | Academic eligibility |
| JEE Main Rank Details | Merit verification |
| School Study Certificate | Residential or educational history |
| Grade Conversion/Equivalence | Foreign-board interpretation where required |
| DASA Allotment Letter | Final institute admission |
| Medical Certificate | Where prescribed |
The exact documents depend on the candidate’s OCI classification and admission-cycle requirements.
PIO candidates should commonly prepare:
Applicants should verify which PIO-related document is currently accepted rather than relying on old PIO-card instructions.
Foreign National applicants should generally prepare:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Foreign Passport | Nationality and identity |
| Birth/Secondary Certificate | Date of birth |
| Class 10 or Equivalent Record | Academic history |
| Class 11 Record | Schooling evidence |
| Class 12 or Equivalent Qualification | Academic eligibility |
| JEE Main Rank Details | DASA merit |
| School Recognition Documents | Where required |
| Grade Conversion/Equivalence | Interpretation of foreign results |
| Medical Certificate | Admission/reporting |
| Visa and Immigration Documents | Institute entry and stay, where applicable |
| DASA Allotment Letter | Final admission |
Candidates should also check the institute’s requirements relating to student visas, local registration, medical insurance and reporting.
The central DASA process runs through the CSAB platform.
B.Tech applicants should appear for JEE Main Paper 1.
Determine whether the candidate is applying as:
OCI
PIO
Foreign National
NRI
The selected category should match the candidate’s passport and legal documents.
Verify age, academic subjects, marks, qualification and applicable residential conditions.
DASA has the official system for registration and counselling for the JEE Main eligible candidates. As per CSAB, eligible candidates who qualified in JEE Main 2026 can apply for the DASA process through its portal.
The portal assigns the payment requirement based on the candidate’s DASA category.
Upload passport, OCI/PIO documents, academic records and other required certificates.
Candidates should monitor the portal and respond to document-verification queries before the deadline.
Select only participating IIIT programmes for which the candidate meets the academic and examination requirements.
The system allocates the highest available eligible preference based on rank, category and seat availability.
After allotment, the student must complete institute-level fee payment, document submission and reporting.
The DASA process shares the same central platform and timeline framework as the relevant CSAB special process for the current cycle.
Choice filling determines the order in which the counselling system considers institutes and programmes.
A student may arrange choices such as:
IIIT Allahabad – Information Technology
ABV-IIITM Gwalior – Computer Science and Engineering
IIIT Guwahati – Computer Science and Engineering
IIIT Sri City – Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
IIIT Pune – Computer Science and Engineering
This is only an example, not a recommended ranking.
Candidates should arrange choices according to their genuine preferences after comparing:
programme → fee → previous cutoff → location → curriculum → official placement data → personal interests
The student should include realistic backup programmes rather than selecting only a few highly competitive computing branches.
DASA cutoff refers to the opening and closing JEE Main ranks for a programme, institute, category and counselling round.
Cutoffs differ between:
IIITs
Programmes
DASA categories
Counselling rounds
A candidate should compare their rank with the correct DASA cutoff—not with the regular JoSAA cutoff.
Previous DASA opening and closing rank resources are available through the official CSAB portal.
These are separate search intents:
IIIT Allahabad IT DASA cutoff
IIIT Allahabad IT JoSAA cutoff
IIIT Allahabad IT CIWG cutoff
IIIT Allahabad IT Non-CIWG cutoff
They should not be treated as the same rank range.
A US citizen with an OCI card can potentially apply to a participating IIIT through DASA.
The candidate should verify:
A student who graduates from high school in the United States should not assume that GPA is the DASA percentage requirement. Use the approved grading or equivalency documentation.
A US citizen without an OCI card may apply as a Foreign National if the DASA conditions are met.
The student does not need to become an NRI because NRI refers to an Indian citizen residing outside India.
The main checks are:
Foreign passport + academic eligibility + JEE Main + DASA registration + documents
This distinction is important because many families incorrectly use “NRI student” for every child living in the USA.
For DASA admission to the participating IIITs, an OCI or Foreign National student living in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait or Bahrain can check.
However, residence in a Gulf country should not automatically be interpreted as CIWG eligibility.
The family must separately evaluate:
DASA category + CIWG definition + parent-employment documents
A student who does not qualify for CIWG may still apply under an eligible DASA Non-CIWG category.
| Factor | Central DASA Through CSAB | Institute-Specific Route |
|---|---|---|
| Participating Institutes | Institutes in official DASA matrix | One specific institution |
| Entrance Basis | JEE Main | May use SAT or another criterion |
| Application Portal | CSAB/DASA | Institute’s own portal |
| Seat Matrix | Central official matrix | Institute-specific |
| Counselling | Central seat allocation | Institute-managed |
| Fees | DASA payment plus institute charges | Institute’s international fee |
| Rules | DASA brochure | Institute admission policy |
The word “DASA” might show up on the international admission page of an independent institute, but families must check if it’s part of the central CSAB-DASA or an institute-run process.
OCI and Foreign National students should not confuse IIIT admission with IIT admission.
Participating IIITs may offer seats through DASA using JEE Main.
IIT undergraduate admission is not conducted through DASA and generally follows the JEE Advanced and JoSAA framework.
The official JEE Advanced portal separately provides direct-registration provisions for eligible Foreign National and OCI/PIO(F) candidates.
Therefore:
Participating IIIT → JEE Main + DASA may apply
IIT → JEE Advanced route
Treating OCI, PIO and Foreign National as identical categories.
Assuming every IIIT participates in DASA.
Applying the Indian NRI residential rule automatically to every OCI student.
Assuming an OCI student studying in India is automatically eligible or ineligible.
Using old SAT-based information for central DASA admission.
Comparing JoSAA cutoffs with DASA cutoffs.
Converting foreign GPA using an unofficial calculator.
Assuming the initial DASA payment is the complete IIIT fee.
Selecting OCI status without uploading a valid OCI document.
Confusing central DASA with an institute-specific international application.
Assuming Gulf residence automatically provides CIWG eligibility.
Filling only a few highly competitive CSE choices.
Yes. Eligible OCI candidates can apply to participating IIITs through DASA, subject to the OCI classification and other admission requirements.
Yes. Eligible PIO candidates may apply subject to recognised status, academic eligibility, JEE Main and applicable DASA conditions.
Yes. Eligible Foreign Nationals can apply to participating IIITs through DASA.
No. Only institutes and programmes appearing in the current official DASA seat matrix should be treated as central DASA participants.
JEE Main is required for B.Tech admission through the central DASA UG route.
Yes. U.S. citizen who qualifies as a Foreign National, or falls under the appropriate OCI category, may apply.
Possibly. Eligibility depends on the candidate’s applicable OCI classification and current DASA residential conditions.
Not every OCI candidate should automatically be given the Indian NRI overseas-study rule. The applicable OCI classification must be checked.
Potentially yes, subject to the Foreign National category rules, academic requirements, JEE Main and documentation.
No. Central DASA UG admission currently uses JEE Main. Some independent IIIT international routes may separately use SAT.
The DASA 2026 requirement is 75% aggregate marks or 7.5 CGPA out of 10 in five subjects, along with the prescribed subject combination.
Under the current DASA framework, Mathematics and Physics are mandatory and one of the subjects from Chemistry, Biotechnology, Computer Science or Biology is required.
Under the 2026 Non-SAARC structure, the first payment is US$4,300 (including US$300 registration fee and US$4,000 first semester tuition). Separate / Additional Fees: Individual IIITs may charge additional / balance fees.
No. Hostel, mess and institute-specific charges are generally separate.
CIWG should not be assumed merely because the person is an OCI or a Foreign National. Candidates must independently demonstrate the applicable CIWG definition and document conditions.
Yes. Eligible candidates can include programmes from participating NITs, IIITs and other DASA institutions in their choice list.
No. Final admission depends on JEE Main rank, category, choice order, programme eligibility and seat availability.
Get help with OCI/PIO/Foreign National classification, JEE Main, DASA eligibility, fees, documents and choice filling.
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