NEET Nationality Criteria 2026 for Indian Nationals & NRI, OCI, PIO
NEET Nationality Criteria 2026: To secure a seat in India’s top medical colleges, understanding the NEET nationality eligibility is the first step for any aspirant. For the 2026 session, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has maintained an inclusive policy, allowing a wide range of candidates from local students to international residents to compete in the entrance exam.
This article provides a comprehensive breakdown of who can apply for NEET UG, the specific citizenship requirement for NEET, and the latest updates for OCI/NRI candidates.
NEET Eligibility 2026 for Indian Nationals
The largest group of applicants consists of Indian citizens residing within the country. For these candidates, NEET eligibility for Indian nationals is straightforward:
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Citizenship: Must hold a valid Indian citizenship.
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ID Proof: Registration requires a valid Aadhaar Card, Passport, or any government-issued photo ID.
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Scope: Eligible for all seats, including the 15% All India Quota (AIQ), 85% State Quota seats, Central Universities, and Deemed Universities.
NEET Eligibility 2026 for NRI, OCI, and PIO Candidates
The NTA has established specific guidelines for NEET eligibility for NRI OCI PIO categories.
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Non-Resident Indians (NRI): Indian citizens living abroad for more than 183 days in a financial year. They must provide an NRI certificate from the Indian Embassy in their country of residence.
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI): Foreign citizens of Indian origin holding an OCI card. Per the latest judicial guidelines, OCI candidates are now eligible for a broader range of seats, though specific restrictions may apply to certain government-reserved seats depending on the state. -
Persons of Indian Origin (PIO): The PIO category has effectively been merged with the OCI category for the purpose of NEET admissions.
NEET Foreign National Eligibility
Candidates who do not have Indian roots but wish to study medicine in India fall under the NEET foreign national eligibility criteria.
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Who can apply: Citizens of any foreign country are eligible to appear for NEET UG 2026.
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Documentation: They must upload a scanned copy of their valid Passport or a Citizenship Certificate issued by the competent authority of their home country.
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Seat Allocation: Foreign nationals are typically eligible for seats under the NRI/Foreign quota in private and deemed universities, subject to the rules of the respective state governments and institutions.
Mandatory Documents for Nationality Verification
During the registration process, confirming your citizenship requirement for NEET involves uploading specific documents in PDF format (50 KB to 300 KB):
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Mandatory Documents for Nationality Verification |
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Candidate Category |
Required Proof of Nationality |
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Indian Nationals |
Aadhaar Card / Class 10 Certificate |
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NRI Candidates |
Passport & Embassy Certificate |
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OCI Candidates |
OCI Card & Passport copy |
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Foreign Nationals |
Valid Foreign Passport / Citizenship Certificate |
Citizenship Requirement for NEET
The citizenship requirement for NEET 2026 is highly inclusive, allowing Indian Nationals, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), and Foreign Nationals to apply. While all categories can compete for the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and seats in Deemed/Private Universities, only Indian citizens and certain OCI candidates are typically eligible for the 85% State Quota seats. To verify status, NTA mandates the submission of a valid Passport, Citizenship Certificate, or Embassy Certificate for non-resident and foreign applicants during the registration process.