Schedule Your Free Exam Readiness Analysis Session!
Our Top Course
Hi, Im TestprepKart.
Your Partner In Exam Preparation
Get JEE Prep HelpDownload JEE Prep E-Book for NRI
USA and Gulf NRI Admission Guide — 2027–28 Information
NRI, OCI, PIO and foreign-national students residing in the United States or Gulf countries can apply for admission to participating NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, SPAs and other listed technical institutions through DASA.
The standard DASA route is for eligible students globally, including families in the USA. CIWG is particularly relevant for eligible NRI students whose parent is working or has worked in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq or Iran under the applicable cycle rules.
Admission for the academic year 2027-28 is likely to be based on JEE Main 2027 ranks, category tags, programme preferences and seat availability. All cycle-specific dates, fees, centres and eligibility details on this page are clearly labelled expected, as the official DASA UG 2027 brochure has not yet been released.
| Student profile | Likely route | Main eligibility focus |
|---|---|---|
| NRI student studying in the USA | Usually DASA Non-CIWG | JEE Main rank, academic qualification and NRI documents, requirement of foreign study |
| Student in the USA with a parent working in an eligible Gulf country | May qualify for DASA-CIWG | NRI status plus qualifying parent Gulf-employment documents |
| NRI student studying in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait or Bahrain | DASA-CIWG or DASA Non-CIWG, depending on documents and selected tag | JEE Main rank, NRI status, study history and parent employment |
| Foreign National or OCI/PIO student in the USA or Gulf | DASA Non-CIWG unless the candidate separately satisfies CIWG conditions as an eligible NRI | Nationality, academic qualification, JEE Main rank and applicable DASA category |
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| NRI quota | A general or informal term used for seats available to NRI candidates under different college, state or national admission policies |
| DASA | Direct Admission of Students Abroad, the central scheme used for admission to participating technical institutes |
| DASA Non-CIWG | DASA seats available to eligible candidates who do not use the CIWG category |
| CIWG | Children of Indian Workers in Gulf, a reserved seat category within DASA for eligible NRI candidates |
| Admission examination | JEE Main 2027 |
| IIT admission | Not covered by DASA; IIT undergraduate admission follows JEE Advanced and JoSAA rules |
DASA seats are supernumerary and may be available up to 15% of the programme-wise intake. Within this 15% DASA pool, seats equivalent to 5% of the programme intake are reserved for CIWG. In other words, one-third of DASA seats are CIWG seats.
Get clarity on whether the student should plan for DASA Non-CIWG, DASA-CIWG, JEE Main rank preparation or document verification.
Related guide: complete DASA UG admission guide covers institutes, eligibility, fees, registration, cutoffs and refunds.
DASA stands for Direct Admission of Students Abroad.
It is a Ministry of Education scheme for eligible students seeking undergraduate admission to participating Indian technical institutions, including:
Participating institutions and programmes may vary from year to year. So students should go by the present DASA seat matrix and not rely on an old college list. IITs are not covered under DASA for undergraduate admission.
CIWG stands for Children of Indian Workers in Gulf.
There is no separate entrance examination or separate counselling . CIWG is a category of reserved seats in DASA admission process.
If the 2026 framework continues, a candidate seeking the DASA-CIWG category tag in 2027 is expected to satisfy the following:
The candidate must be an eligible NRI.
Either parent or both parents must be working, or must have worked, in an eligible Gulf country on any date during 2027.
The required parent passport, visa, work permit and employer certificate must be submitted.
The candidate must satisfy all other DASA eligibility rules.
The candidate is expected to need a valid JEE Main 2027 rank.
The official 2027 brochure is expected to assign the DASA-CIWG category tag to eligible NRIs whose parent or parents meet the published Gulf-employment requirement.
Before selecting DASA Non-CIWG or DASA-CIWG, students should understand eligibility, fee difference, document planning, JEE Main rank use and counselling steps. This free JEE eBook helps NRI families prepare with a clearer admission roadmap.
| Criteria | DASA Non-CIWG | DASA-CIWG |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Direct Admission of Students Abroad, Non-CIWG category | Children of Indian Workers in Gulf |
| Who can apply? | Eligible foreign nationals, OCI/PIO candidates and NRIs | Eligible NRIs whose parent meets the Gulf-employment condition |
| Geographical coverage | Worldwide, subject to DASA rules | Eight specified Gulf countries |
| Admission basis | JEE Main 2027 CRL rank | JEE Main 2027 CRL rank |
| Seat category | Non-CIWG supernumerary DASA seats | Reserved seats within the DASA pool |
| Seat share | Remaining DASA seats after the CIWG share | One-third of DASA seats |
| Standard first-semester tuition | USD 4,000 for DASA Non-SAARC | ₹62,500 |
| Registration fee | USD 300 | USD 300 |
| Extra documents | DASA identity, academic and residential documents | All DASA documents plus parent Gulf-employment documents |
| Best suited for | Eligible NRIs from the USA, Canada, UK, Singapore and other countries | Eligible Gulf-linked NRI students |
| Counselling portal | DASA and CSAB Special portal | Same portal |
Admission in either category is determined by the candidate’s JEE Main Common Rank List position, order of choices, applicable category tag and seat availability.
Before shortlisting colleges, review the DASA and CIWG seat matrix so choices are planned with realistic institute and branch expectations.
The main Gulf targets in this guide are UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. Depending on the official 2027 brochure, the anticipated CIWG list might feature Iraq and Iran.
The official list of countries for 2027 is yet to be published. The DASA 2026 brochure lists the following eight countries that are expected to remain under CIWG:
| No. | Eligible country |
|---|---|
| 1 | United Arab Emirates |
| 2 | Bahrain |
| 3 | Iraq |
| 4 | Iran |
| 5 | Kuwait |
| 6 | Oman |
| 7 | Qatar |
| 8 | Saudi Arabia |
The official 2027 country list may add, remove or redefine eligible countries. Students should not rely on the expected list for final category selection.
This list is broader than the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries because DASA also includes Iraq and Iran for CIWG purposes.
Not necessarily.
For DASA 2027, the parent-employment rule is expected to require that one parent is, or was, employed in an eligible Gulf country on a qualifying date in 2027. Period and validity dates to be confirmed from official 2027 brochure. Qualifying employment will be established by the parent passport, visa, work permit and employer documents.
Related guide: NIT admission guide for NRI students explains NRI admission routes for NITs.
An NRI student based in the USA or Gulf can apply through DASA when the nationality, academic, JEE Main and residential conditions are satisfied.
Whether the student can use CIWG depends mainly on the parent’s qualifying Gulf employment and the candidate’s NRI status—not only on the student’s present country of residence.
A student completing high school in the USA whose parents have not worked in one of the eight eligible Gulf countries during 2027 would normally apply under DASA Non-CIWG.
If the parent’s UAE employment and documents fulfill the official requirements, the student may be eligible for DASA-CIWG.
A student currently studying in the USA may still qualify for CIWG if either parent worked in Qatar on any date during 2027 and can submit the required valid documents.
Therefore, a USA address or a Gulf address alone is not a factor in CIWG eligibility. Eligibility is based on the NRI status of the candidate, his study history and the qualifying Gulf employment of the parent.
DASA and CIWG admission is expected to depend on the JEE Main 2027 Common Rank List. The TestPrepKart JEE app helps NRI students practise topics, revise chapters, take mock tests and track performance while studying from the USA or Gulf countries.
Related guide: JEE guide for NRI students helps students prepare for the JEE Main rank required for DASA.
These eligibility requirements are tentative predictions based on the 2026 rules. CSAB may alter nationality, age, academic, residential, result-deadline or document requirements for 2027.
Candidates must satisfy all applicable nationality, age, academic, residential and examination requirements.
The following candidate groups may participate in DASA:
OCI and PIO candidates should check their applicable OCI/PIO classification carefully because their treatment may depend on the date of obtaining the card and the option selected under the relevant admission rules.
Expected age rule for DASA 2027: If the annual one-year progression continues, candidates born on or after October 1, 2002 may be eligible. The official date of birth cut-off must be confirmed from the DASA UG 2027 brochure.
The date recorded on the Class 10, equivalent board, university or government-issued certificate is used as proof of birth.
A valid JEE Main 2027 scorecard and Common Rank List rank are expected to be compulsory.
| Programme | Required paper |
|---|---|
| B.E. or B.Tech | JEE Main Paper 1 |
| B.Arch | JEE Main Paper 2A |
| B.Planning | JEE Main Paper 2B |
Seat allocation is expected to remain based on the JEE Main 2027 Common Rank List, not SAT scores or a separate DASA entrance examination.
The student must have completed Class 12 or an equivalent qualification with:
The qualification must be recognised by the Association of Indian Universities.
The candidate must have passed:
The candidate must also obtain at least 75% aggregate marks or 7.5 CGPA out of 10 in the prescribed subjects.
The candidate must have passed a 10+2 examination with Mathematics and must satisfy the 75% or 7.5-CGPA aggregate requirement.
Foreign nationals studying in any country, including India, may be eligible when they satisfy the prescribed requirements.
Indian nationals and OCI/PIO candidates treated at par with Indian nationals must generally complete at least two years of education abroad, including Class 11 and Class 12 or equivalent, during the previous eight years. They must also pass the qualifying examination from abroad.
Expected result rule: Students appearing for Class 12 or equivalent during the 2026–27 academic year may be allowed to apply when their final result is available by September 30, 2027. This deadline is projected from the 2026 framework and must be verified after the 2027 brochure is released.
Students whose results are pending must submit the required undertaking during the document-upload process.
The DASA 2026 brochure listed a 12-year high school diploma from an accredited US school among the recognised qualifications. The same treatment is expected for DASA 2027, but students must confirm the wording in the official 2027 brochure.
Students in the Gulf may study under CBSE, ISC, IB, Cambridge, American or other international curricula. They should verify subject combinations, aggregate marks, school recognition and AIU equivalence requirements for the 2027 cycle.
The school must have accreditation from the relevant state education authority or from a recognised regional accrediting agency. The 2026 brochure also stated that AIU does not accept a high school diploma completed through the online or distance mode under this provision. Families should check if the same restriction is still in place in 2027.
If the qualification is not in the recognised list or confirmation of equivalence is needed the student will have to obtain an AIU equivalence certificate.
DASA seats are supernumerary, meaning they are created in addition to the regular seat intake.
The number of DASA seats can be up to 15% of the regular intake on a programme-wise basis. Within this DASA award:
One-third of DASA seats are CIWG seats.
The remaining two-thirds are Non-CIWG seats.
Vacant CIWG seats are converted into Non-CIWG seats during Round II.
The phrase “5% CIWG reservation” means 5% of the programme intake within the overall 15% DASA supernumerary allocation. It should not be interpreted as 5% of the DASA seats.
The official DASA 2027 fee structure has not yet been released. The amounts below are indicative projections carried forward from the DASA 2026 fee structure and may change.
The DASA Enrolment Fee is expected to continue consisting of a non-refundable registration fee and the first-semester tuition fee.
| Candidate tag | Expected registration fee | Expected first-semester tuition | Expected initial amount payable |
|---|---|---|---|
| DASA-CIWG | USD 300 | ₹62,500 | USD 300 plus ₹62,500 |
| DASA Non-SAARC | USD 300 | USD 4,000 | USD 4,300 |
| DASA SAARC | USD 300 | USD 2,000 | USD 2,300 |
| CIWG and Non-CIWG double tag | USD 300 | USD 4,000 | USD 4,300 |
The SAARC fee is expected to apply to qualifying foreign nationals from SAARC countries other than India who meet the prescribed educational condition, subject to the 2027 brochure.
Hostel, mess, admission, security and other institute charges may be additional and may vary by institution. Candidates should verify the allotted institute’s fee structure before accepting admission.
Understand the expected fee difference between DASA Non-SAARC, DASA SAARC and CIWG before locking choices or making payment plans.
Yes.
An eligible CIWG candidate may choose to be considered for both CIWG and DASA Non-CIWG seats. This creates a double tag.
If the 2026 fee structure continues, the candidate may need to initially pay USD 4,300. Both CIWG and Non-CIWG options will then appear separately during choice filling. When the final admission is under CIWG, the balance tuition amount is refunded according to the applicable rules.
The process below is an expected 2027 sequence based on DASA 2026. The portal workflow, willingness options, verification stages and number of rounds may change.
DASA 2027 is expected to use the same login credentials created for JEE Main 2027.
The admission process includes:
Log in to the DASA and CSAB Special portal using the JEE Main 2027 application number and password.
Candidates must answer questions relating to nationality, OCI/PIO status, NRI status and CIWG eligibility.
Pay the applicable DEF in one online transaction.
The registration fee of USD 300 is non-refundable.
Upload the passport, academic, residential, medical and category documents.
CIWG candidates must also upload the required parent-employment documents.
A verification officer may raise a query through the candidate portal.
Candidates must check the portal regularly and respond before the deadline. Failure to resolve a query can remove the candidate from the DASA process.
After successful verification, candidates can select participating institutes and programmes in preference order.
At least one choice must be saved. The final saved choices are automatically locked at the deadline when the candidate does not lock them manually.
The Round I result is published online.
Candidates receiving a seat can exercise an applicable willingness option such as Freeze, Float, Slide, Surrender or Withdraw.
Round II is expected to be the final DASA allocation round for 2027 if the 2026 two-round structure continues. Vacant CIWG seats may be converted to Non-CIWG seats in this round, subject to the official 2027 rules.
Candidates must report to the allotted institution, produce original documents and pay the applicable balance institute fee.
Failure to report or produce valid original documents can lead to cancellation of the seat without a tuition-fee refund in applicable cases.
The official DASA UG 2027 schedule has not yet been published. The dates below are expected projections created by shifting the 2026 schedule forward by one year. They are planning estimates only and may change substantially.
| Activity | Expected date and time (tentative) |
|---|---|
| Registration, fee payment and document upload begin | Expected: July 28, 2027, 10:00 a.m. IST |
| Mock seat allocation | Expected: July 31, 2027, 10:00 a.m. IST |
| Registration, DEF payment and document upload close | Expected: August 3, 2027, 10:00 a.m. IST |
| Last date to respond to DASA verification queries | Expected: August 4, 2027, 9:00 p.m. IST |
| Last date to pay balance DEF | Expected: August 4, 2027, 9:00 p.m. IST |
| Choice filling and locking close | Expected: August 5, 2027, 2:00 p.m. IST |
| Round I seat-allotment result | Expected: August 6, 2027, 5:00 p.m. IST |
| Round II seat-allotment result | Expected: August 12, 2027, 5:00 p.m. IST |
| Tentative physical reporting period | Expected: August 13–18, 2027 |
Candidates should treat every projected date as tentative and check the CSAB portal and the allotted institute website for the official 2027 schedule, amendments, physical-reporting dates and commencement-of-classes information.
The following documents are expected to be required for DASA 2027 based on the 2026 brochure:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Candidate’s passport | Identity and nationality verification |
| Class 10 or government certificate | Date-of-birth proof |
| Class 10, 11 and 12 marksheets | Academic verification |
| School study certificate | Proof of completion of Classes 11 and 12 |
| Percentage or CGPA equivalence | Required when the board uses another scale or awards grades |
| Foreign-study proof | Required for applicable NRI candidates |
| Medical certificate | Must use the prescribed format |
| OCI certificate or PIO card | Required when applicable |
| Pending-result undertaking | Required when the final result is not available |
| Translated documents | Required when original records are not in English or Hindi |
The candidate’s name should be consistent across the passport, qualifying examination documents and JEE Main result.
CIWG applications depend heavily on parent Gulf-employment documents. Start checking passport, visa, work permit and employer certificate requirements early.
Every CIWG candidate is expected to submit:
A certificate from the employer confirming that the parent is working or worked in the eligible Gulf country during 2027
The employer certificate must follow the format prescribed in the DASA brochure and should be issued on the company or organisation letterhead.
The JEE Main 2027 information bulletin has not yet been released. Based on the JEE Main 2026 foreign-city list, the following cities may remain available for USA and Gulf students in 2027, subject to NTA confirmation:
| Country | City | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain | Manama | ZZ01 |
| Qatar | Doha | ZZ03 |
| UAE | Dubai | ZZ04 |
| Oman | Muscat | ZZ06 |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | ZZ07 |
| UAE | Sharjah | ZZ08 |
| Kuwait | Kuwait City | ZZ10 |
| USA | Washington | ZZ15 |
| UAE | Abu Dhabi | ZZ17 |
These are expected possibilities based on 2026 and are not confirmed JEE Main 2027 examination cities.
The 2026 bulletin also listed foreign centres in Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Nigeria, Indonesia and Germany. The 2027 city list, availability and final allotment will remain subject to NTA rules and operational conditions.
Iran and Iraq were CIWG-eligible in 2026 but were not included in the JEE Main 2026 foreign-city list. If this pattern continues in 2027, students living there may need to choose another international city or a centre in India. This is only a planning inference until the JEE Main 2027 bulletin is published.
There is no single fixed JEE Main score that guarantees admission under DASA or CIWG.
Opening and closing ranks depend on:
Students should use previous-year closing ranks only as planning references. A previous-year rank does not guarantee the same programme in 2027.
DASA and CIWG choices should be filled with rank range, seat matrix, category tag and previous allotment movement in mind.
Internally link this section to:
Related guide: NRI quota in IITs clarifies why IIT admission is separate from DASA.
CIWG is part of DASA. Both categories use the same DASA and CSAB Special seat-allocation portal.
The expected 2027 list, based on the 2026 brochure, includes the UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
CIWG is assigned to eligible NRI candidates and requires qualifying parent-employment documents.
A USA-based student may qualify when the parent meets the Gulf-employment requirement and the student satisfies the remaining DASA rules.
A CIWG candidate who wants consideration for Non-CIWG seats must use the double-tag option and initially pay USD 4,300.
DASA UG 2027 seat allocation is expected to be based on JEE Main rank.
IIT undergraduate seats are not allocated through DASA.
The DASA UG 2027 process is expected to contain two seat-allotment rounds if the 2026 structure continues.
Verification queries appear on the candidate portal and must be answered within the specified deadline.
DASA and CIWG can provide valuable engineering-admission opportunities for students living outside India, but eligibility must be checked carefully.
Students should confirm:
A category or document error can affect seat eligibility even when the student has a strong JEE Main rank.
Prepare early for JEE Main, USA or Gulf school-document verification, CIWG eligibility, choice filling and NIT admission planning.
Book Free JEE Trial Session Download JEE E-Book Speak With an Expert
The TestPrepKart JEE Academic Team supports NRI, OCI, PIO and foreign-national students with JEE Main preparation, DASA planning and engineering-admission guidance.
Last reviewed: July 30, 2026
Disclaimer: The DASA UG 2027 brochure has not yet been released. All 2027–28 dates, fees, centres and cycle-specific conditions on this page are expected projections and may change.
Copyright © 2024 CounselKart Educational Services Pvt. Ltd.. All Rights Reserved
Post a Comment