The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has issued Notice No. 04 for NEET UG 2026, explaining exactly who can apply as an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) candidate for MBBS and BDS admissions in Maharashtra, and how they must register. This is not a new announcement of dates — it is a clarification of eligibility rules plus a step-by-step registration and fee process on the Foreign Candidate Registration (FCR) portal. It matters because NRI status is not automatic just because a candidate or parent lives abroad; the Cell has spelled out the exact legal definition and the documents that will be checked. Candidates who don't meet this definition, or who miss the fee payments, will not be considered for admission under NRI status at all.
To be treated as an NRI candidate for Maharashtra NEET UG 2026 admissions, you (or your parent, or the person you are a ward of) must hold an NRI certificate from an Indian Mission/Post abroad, and you must register and pay USD 50 + USD 1,150 on the FCR portal (fn.mahacet.org) before joining the regular CAP counselling process — there is no separate NRI quota, only Institute Quota seats filled by merit.
What This Notice Covers
This is Notice No. 04 dated 05 August 2026 from the Maharashtra State CET Cell. It applies to candidates who have appeared for NEET UG 2026 and want to apply for MBBS/BDS admission in Maharashtra as NRI candidates.
The notice does three things: it defines who legally counts as an NRI candidate under the NEET UG 2026 information brochure, it lists the documents needed to prove NRI status, and it explains the online registration and fee-payment process on the Foreign Candidate Registration (FCR) portal, which feeds into the regular CAP (Centralized Admission Process) counselling.
Who Actually Qualifies as an NRI Candidate
The brochure defines 'Non-Resident Indian (NRI)' using the meaning assigned under the Income Tax Act, 2025 — the person must have been issued an NRI certificate by an Indian Mission or Post abroad. This definition also covers a child or ward of an NRI, where 'ward' is defined strictly as per the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890.
Based on this, only these categories of candidates are eligible for NRI-status admission:
- The candidate is himself/herself an NRI (holds an NRI certificate).
- The candidate's parents are NRIs.
- The candidate is the ward of an NRI, where 'ward' has the specific legal meaning under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (not just any relative or sponsor).
- In every case above, the candidate must also meet all other eligibility conditions of the NEET UG 2026 information brochure (age, qualifying exam, NEET score/rank, etc.) — NRI status does not replace these requirements.
Documents You Must Have Ready
The notice lists exactly which documents will be checked to verify NRI status. Missing or mismatched documents at this stage can get an application rejected, so keep certified/true copies ready before you start registration.
- Certificate issued by an Indian Mission or Post abroad confirming the NRI status of the candidate, parents, or guardian (whichever category applies to you).
- Passport and Nationality certificate of the candidate and of the parents/guardian.
- If applying through a guardian: a certificate issued by the court that has the power to grant guardianship orders.
- True copy of a foreign bank account passbook, showing the main page with bank name and address and account holder's name and address, along with entries for the last 6 months immediately before admission — for the candidate, parents, or guardian.
- Foreign Candidate Registration (FCR) Portal receipt, generated from https://fn.mahacet.org/.
Registration and Fee Process — Step by Step
NRI candidates do not register directly on the regular CAP portal. They must first complete a separate process on the Foreign Candidate Registration (FCR) portal at https://fn.mahacet.org, and only then use their FCR application number to log in to the CAP portal.
- Step 1 — Online Registration: Register on the FCR portal, fill the application form, and upload all required documents listed above.
- Step 2 — Eligibility Fee: Pay a non-refundable eligibility fee of USD 50 while submitting the application. Your application is then checked for eligibility.
- Step 3 — Provisional Eligibility Certificate (PEC): If found eligible, a PEC is issued online in your applicant login, with notification sent to your registered email and mobile number. This PEC can be used to start your visa process.
- Step 4 — Processing Fee: After receiving the PEC, pay a one-time processing fee of USD 1,150 to continue.
- Step 5 — CAP Portal Login: Use your FCR application ID/number as credentials to log in to the CAP portal for preference filling and seat allotment — this is the same regular counselling process (merit list, preference filling, allotment) other candidates go through.
| Fee | Amount | When Paid | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility fee | USD 50 | At the time of submitting the FCR application | No — non-refundable |
| Processing fee | USD 1,150 | After the Provisional Eligibility Certificate (PEC) is issued | Not specified in notice |
Important Traps to Avoid
A few points in this notice are easy to misread and could cost a candidate their chance at an NRI-quota seat.
- ⚠️ Total payment required is USD 1,200 (USD 50 + USD 1,150). If both amounts are not paid, the notice explicitly states the candidate will NOT be considered for the subsequent admission process — there is no partial-payment fallback.
- ⚠️ 'Ward' has a strict legal meaning under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 — simply being sponsored by an NRI relative, or living with an NRI family member informally, does not automatically make you a 'ward' for this purpose. A court-issued guardianship certificate is required.
- ⚠️ The NRI certificate must come from an Indian Mission or Post abroad specifically — not any other authority.
- ⚠️ The foreign bank passbook copy must show entries for the 6 months immediately preceding admission, not just any old statement.
- ✅ There is NO separate NRI quota in Maharashtra. NRI candidates compete only for Institute Quota seats, purely on merit — so an NRI candidate's NEET UG score/rank still decides the outcome.
- ✅ All other NEET UG 2026 brochure eligibility conditions (age, subjects, qualifying marks etc.) still apply fully to NRI candidates — NRI status only changes the quota you compete under, not the basic eligibility bar.
How This Fits Into the Overall CAP Counselling
The notice includes a flow chart showing that NRI candidates take a separate entry route into the same counselling machinery as state candidates. After completing FCR registration and both fee payments, the candidate's FCR application number becomes their key to the CAP portal.
From there, the process is identical to other candidates: appearing in the merit list, filling and modifying preferences (which can be done until the last date announced in the admission schedule), and receiving seat allotment. The notice stresses that the specific dates for registration and subsequent rounds will be published separately as a notice on the CAP portal — this notice only explains the rules and process, not the calendar.
2 minute · Free preview
Which MBBS colleges can your NEET rank actually get?
See the real colleges your rank can reach — every state and All India Quota — with official closing ranks and the exact fee for each seat.
See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Is there a separate NRI quota in Maharashtra MBBS/BDS colleges?
No. The notice clearly states NRI candidates are eligible only for Institute Quota seats, allotted as per merit. There is no dedicated NRI quota.
Can I apply as an NRI candidate just because my uncle or a distant relative abroad is sponsoring my fees?
Not automatically. You qualify only if you yourself are an NRI, your parents are NRIs, or you are a 'ward' of an NRI as strictly defined under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 — which requires a court-issued guardianship certificate. A sponsor who is not your legal guardian under this Act does not make you eligible.
What is the total fee I need to pay to apply as an NRI candidate?
USD 50 as a non-refundable eligibility fee at the time of application submission, plus USD 1,150 as a one-time processing fee after you receive the Provisional Eligibility Certificate (PEC) — a total of USD 1,200.
What happens if I don't pay the USD 1,150 processing fee?
The notice states that if the full payment (USD 50 + USD 1,150) is not received, the candidate will not be considered for the subsequent admission process.
What is the Provisional Eligibility Certificate (PEC) used for?
Once your FCR application is found eligible after paying the USD 50 fee, a PEC is issued online in your login and notified via email/SMS. You can use this PEC to start your visa process.
Where do I register as an NRI candidate — the same CAP portal as other students?
No. You must first register on the separate Foreign Candidate Registration (FCR) portal at https://fn.mahacet.org. After completing registration and both fee payments, you use your FCR application number/ID to log in to the regular CAP portal for preference filling and allotment.
What documents do I need to prove NRI status?
An NRI certificate from an Indian Mission/Post abroad, passport and nationality certificate of the candidate and parents/guardian, a court guardianship certificate (if applying via a guardian), a true copy of a foreign bank passbook showing 6 months of recent entries, and the FCR portal registration receipt.
Do NRI candidates still need to meet regular NEET UG 2026 eligibility rules?
Yes. The notice states explicitly that NRI candidates must fulfil all other eligibility conditions in the NEET UG 2026 information brochure — NRI status only affects the quota category, not the basic eligibility criteria.
If you believe you qualify as an NRI candidate under this definition, gather your NRI certificate, passport, nationality certificate, guardianship order (if applicable), and 6-month bank passbook copies now, and register on the FCR portal at fn.mahacet.org. Watch the CAP portal for the actual registration and round-wise dates, since this notice only explains the rules — the schedule will come separately.
Plan your admission with free AI tools
Turn your NEET score into a rank, then into the exact colleges you can get.