The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has announced that registration for NEET PG Round 1 counselling will open on October 12, 2026. This is a critical window for all MBBS graduates who have cleared the NEET-PG exam and are preparing to secure a postgraduate seat in MD, MS, PG Diploma, or DNB programmes across India. Alongside regular Indian candidates, the MCC has also detailed the specific eligibility criteria and document requirements for candidates applying under the NRI (Non-Resident Indian) quota. Understanding these requirements now will help you prepare your application smoothly and avoid delays during the counselling process.
NEET PG Round 1 registration opens October 12, 2026; NRI candidates must submit category-specific documents during registration, with a document verification process and correction window built into the timeline.
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Unlock My College ListNEET PG Counselling 2026 Round 1: Complete Timeline and Key Dates
The MCC has released the full schedule for NEET PG Round 1 counselling, which will run from October 12 to November 2, 2026. Registration and fee payment will occur from October 12 to 21, while choice filling and locking will run concurrently from October 13 to 22. This overlap means you can begin selecting your preferred colleges and specialities even as the registration window remains open, giving you flexibility to refine your choices as you gather information.
The allotment process will take place on October 22 and 23, with results announced on October 24. Candidates who receive a seat allocation will then have until November 2 to report to their allotted college. This compressed timeline underscores the importance of having all documents ready before October 12, as delays in verification could cost you the opportunity to lock in your choices during the choice-filling window.
- Registration and fee payment: October 12–21, 2026
- Choice filling and locking: October 13–22, 2026
- Allotment process: October 22–23, 2026
- Seat allotment result: October 24, 2026
- Reporting to colleges: October 26 – November 2, 2026
Who Is Eligible for NRI Quota Admissions in NEET PG?
The NRI quota in NEET PG is open to candidates who meet specific residency and relationship criteria. If either of your parents is an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) and residing abroad, you qualify for NRI quota admission. Similarly, if a first-degree relative—defined as a real brother or sister, or a parent—is an NRI and residing abroad, you are eligible. This definition is important because it clarifies that only blood relations count; in-laws or extended family do not qualify.
Additionally, candidates who initially registered as Indian during the NEET-PG exam but now wish to apply under the NRI category are permitted to do so during counselling registration. This flexibility is valuable for candidates whose family circumstances may have changed or who did not initially realize they were eligible for the NRI quota. However, such category conversion requires submission of additional documentation and verification by the MCC's Document Verification Committee (DVC).
- One or both parents are NRI and residing abroad
- Real brother or sister is NRI and residing abroad
- Candidates can convert from Indian to NRI category during counselling registration
NRI Category I: Standard NRI, Parent, Sibling, or Relative Applicants
Category I is the most common NRI quota pathway and applies to candidates whose parent, real brother, or real sister is an NRI. To apply under this category, you must submit a comprehensive set of documents that establish your educational history, medical qualifications, and the NRI status of your sponsor. The documents begin with your Date of Birth Certificate and extend through your 10th and 12th mark sheets, along with equivalence certificates from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) if your schooling was outside India.
Your MBBS examination mark sheets from all three professional years are mandatory. If you completed your MBBS outside India, you must also provide your FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) scorecard. Your NEET-PG scorecard issued by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) is essential, as is a valid passport. Critically, you must obtain an NRI Certificate from the competent authority—either the Indian Embassy or an Indian Consulate in the country where your sponsor resides. This certificate is the official proof of NRI status and cannot be substituted.
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Finally, you must submit a notarised affidavit on Rs 100 stamp paper from your NRI sponsor (parent, brother, or sister) confirming their commitment to fund your entire course fees and living expenses during your postgraduate studies. This affidavit must be supported by bank account documentation—specifically, an NRE (Non-Resident External) or NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) Bank Account Passbook showing the sponsor's financial capacity. A revenue authority officer (Tehsildar, Patwari, or Government Officer in the Revenue Department) must also verify your relationship to the sponsor.
- Date of Birth Certificate
- 10th and 12th mark sheets with AIU equivalence certificate (if applicable)
- MBBS 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Professional Examination mark sheets
- FMGE scorecard (if MBBS completed outside India)
- NEET-PG scorecard from NBE
- Valid passport
- NRI Certificate from Embassy or Indian Consulate
- Notarised affidavit (Rs 100 stamp paper) from NRI sponsor confirming financial support
- NRE/NRO Bank Account Passbook of sponsor
- Relationship verification by revenue authority officer
NRI Category II: OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) Applicants
Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) form a distinct category within the NRI quota. OCI status is granted to foreign nationals of Indian origin or their descendants who wish to maintain a connection with India. If you hold an OCI card, you can apply for NEET PG postgraduate seats under this category. The document requirements for OCI applicants are similar to Category I in most respects but differ in one critical way: instead of an NRI Certificate and a sponsorship affidavit, you must submit your valid OCI Card.
Like Category I applicants, you must provide your Date of Birth Certificate, 10th and 12th mark sheets (with AIU equivalence certificates if applicable), MBBS examination mark sheets from all three years, FMGE scorecard (if your MBBS was outside India), NEET-PG scorecard, and a valid passport. The OCI Card itself serves as proof of your eligibility and status, eliminating the need for an Embassy certificate or sponsorship documentation. This streamlined requirement reflects the fact that OCI status is already a recognized legal status granted by the Government of India.
- Date of Birth Certificate
- 10th and 12th mark sheets with AIU equivalence certificate (if applicable)
- MBBS 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Professional Examination mark sheets
- FMGE scorecard (if MBBS completed outside India)
- NEET-PG scorecard from NBE
- Valid passport
- Valid Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card
NRI Category III: Foreign National Applicants
Foreign nationals who have completed their MBBS in India or abroad and have qualified in NEET-PG can also apply for NRI quota seats. This category is designed for candidates who hold citizenship of a country other than India and do not hold OCI status. The document requirements are largely identical to those for OCI applicants, with one key difference: instead of an OCI Card, you must submit your citizenship certificate along with your foreign passport.
All other documentation—Date of Birth Certificate, 10th and 12th mark sheets, MBBS examination mark sheets, FMGE scorecard if applicable, and NEET-PG scorecard—remains the same. The citizenship certificate serves as proof of your nationality and is typically issued by the government of your country of citizenship. This category ensures that international medical graduates who have qualified through NEET-PG have a clear pathway to postgraduate medical education in India.
- Date of Birth Certificate
- 10th and 12th mark sheets with AIU equivalence certificate (if applicable)
- MBBS 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Professional Examination mark sheets
- FMGE scorecard (if MBBS completed outside India)
- NEET-PG scorecard from NBE
- Valid foreign passport
- Citizenship certificate
NRI Category IV: Indian Candidates Converting to NRI Status During Counselling
Some candidates register for NEET-PG as Indian citizens but later discover they are eligible for the NRI quota—for example, if a parent recently obtained NRI status or if they were unaware of their eligibility at the time of exam registration. The MCC permits such candidates to convert their category from Indian to NRI during the counselling registration phase. This conversion requires submission of all standard educational and examination documents, plus proof of NRI status and sponsorship.
In addition to the documents required for Category I applicants, candidates converting from Indian to NRI must provide evidence of guardianship if they claim sponsorship by a legal guardian rather than a parent or sibling. This evidence might include school or college fee receipts showing payment by the claimed guardian, educational records reflecting the guardian's involvement, bank or payment records evidencing financial support, or other relevant documentation establishing that the person has genuinely cared for and supported the candidate for the required period. A notarised affidavit from the guardian is also mandatory, confirming their commitment to sponsor the entire course and living expenses, supported by NRE/NRO Bank Account documentation.
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- Date of Birth Certificate
- 10th and 12th mark sheets with AIU equivalence certificate (if applicable)
- MBBS 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Professional Examination mark sheets
- FMGE scorecard (if MBBS completed outside India)
- NEET-PG scorecard from NBE
- Valid passport
- NRI Certificate from Embassy or Indian Consulate
- Notarised affidavit from NRI sponsor or legal guardian (Rs 100 stamp paper)
- NRE/NRO Bank Account Passbook of sponsor
- Documentary evidence of guardianship (fee receipts, educational records, bank statements, etc.)
- Relationship verification by revenue authority officer
Step-by-Step Process for NRI Document Submission and Category Verification
The MCC has established a structured 10-step process to ensure transparent and fair verification of NRI documents. The process begins when you select the NRI quota during registration on the MCC portal on October 12. If you initially registered as Indian during the NEET-PG exam but now wish to apply as NRI, you must still select the NRI option at this stage. Next, you will select your specific NRI subcategory (Category I, II, III, or IV) based on your eligibility.
You will then upload all supporting documents as scanned copies through the MCC portal during registration. The MCC's Document Verification Committee will scrutinise these documents online. If discrepancies or deficiencies are found—such as missing pages, unclear scans, or incomplete information—the committee will raise a document discrepancy query. You will be notified of any issues via SMS and email, and a correction window will be provided to resolve the query within a stipulated timeframe. During this window, you can edit, modify, or resubmit corrected documents online.
Once all documents are found to be in order, your category will be converted from Indian to NRI (if applicable), and you will become eligible to access the NRI category seat list and select NRI quota seats during choice filling. Importantly, if you are unable to produce required documents within the correction window during Round 1, you can still participate in Round 2 counselling, giving you a second opportunity to submit and verify your documents.
- Step 1: Select NRI quota during registration on MCC portal
- Step 2: Select your NRI subcategory (I, II, III, or IV)
- Step 3: Upload all supporting documents as scanned copies
- Step 4: MCC Document Verification Committee reviews documents online
- Step 5: Committee raises discrepancy query if issues are found
- Step 6: Candidate notified via SMS and email of discrepancies
- Step 7: Correction window provided to resolve issues and resubmit documents
- Step 8: Category converted to NRI once all documents are verified
- Step 9: Candidate becomes eligible to access NRI seat list and select choices
- Step 10: Candidates unable to complete verification in Round 1 can participate in Round 2
Practical Checklist: What NRI Candidates Must Do Before October 12
To ensure a smooth registration and verification process, begin preparing your documents immediately. Gather all original certificates and mark sheets, and arrange for certified scans or digital copies. If any of your educational documents are from outside India, obtain equivalence certificates from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) well in advance, as this process can take time. If your MBBS was completed outside India, ensure you have your FMGE scorecard. Verify that your passport is valid and will remain valid throughout your postgraduate course.
If you are applying under Category I, contact the Indian Embassy or Consulate in your sponsor's country of residence to obtain the NRI Certificate. This is a critical document and should not be delayed. Prepare the notarised affidavit from your NRI sponsor on Rs 100 stamp paper, and gather the NRE/NRO Bank Account Passbook pages showing the sponsor's financial capacity. If you are converting from Indian to NRI status, collect all guardianship evidence (fee receipts, educational records, bank statements) and arrange for relationship verification by a revenue authority officer. Finally, ensure all documents are scanned clearly in PDF or JPG format, as poor-quality scans may be rejected during verification.
- Gather and certify all educational mark sheets and certificates
- Obtain AIU equivalence certificates for education completed outside India
- Secure FMGE scorecard if MBBS was outside India
- Verify passport validity
- Obtain NRI Certificate from Embassy/Consulate (Category I applicants)
- Prepare notarised affidavit from NRI sponsor on Rs 100 stamp paper
- Collect NRE/NRO Bank Account Passbook pages
- Gather guardianship evidence if converting from Indian to NRI
- Arrange relationship verification by revenue authority officer
- Scan all documents clearly in PDF or JPG format
Why This Matters for Your NEET PG Admission Journey
The NRI quota represents a significant pathway for eligible candidates to secure postgraduate medical seats in India. For MBBS graduates with NRI family connections, this quota often offers competitive advantages in terms of seat availability and choice options. However, the document verification process is rigorous, and incomplete or incorrect submissions can delay your category conversion and limit your ability to select from the full range of available seats during choice filling.
Understanding the specific requirements for your NRI category now—before registration opens—allows you to prepare methodically and avoid last-minute scrambling. The MCC's structured verification process, while thorough, includes a correction window, but relying on this window means you may miss the opportunity to lock in your preferred choices during the main choice-filling period. By submitting complete, accurate documents on the first attempt, you maximise your chances of swift verification and full participation in the counselling process.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
When does NEET PG Round 1 counselling registration open in 2026?
NEET PG Round 1 counselling registration opens on October 12, 2026, and remains open until October 21, 2026. You must complete registration and pay the counselling fee during this window to participate in Round 1.
What is the difference between NRI Category I and Category IV?
Category I applies to candidates whose parent, real brother, or real sister is an NRI and residing abroad. Category IV applies to candidates who initially registered as Indian during the NEET-PG exam but now wish to convert to NRI status during counselling. Both require similar documents, but Category IV requires additional guardianship evidence if the sponsor is a legal guardian rather than a blood relative.
Do OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) card holders need an NRI Certificate from the Embassy?
No. OCI card holders (Category II) do not need an NRI Certificate or a sponsorship affidavit. They must submit their valid OCI Card instead, which serves as proof of their eligibility and status. This streamlines the document requirement for OCI applicants.
What happens if I find discrepancies in my NRI documents after submitting them?
If the MCC's Document Verification Committee finds discrepancies or deficiencies in your documents, they will notify you via SMS and email. A correction window will be provided during which you can edit, modify, or resubmit corrected documents online. If you cannot resolve the discrepancies within the Round 1 correction window, you can still participate in Round 2 counselling.
Is the NRI Certificate from the Embassy mandatory for Category I applicants?
Yes. The NRI Certificate issued by the Indian Embassy or Indian Consulate in the country where your sponsor resides is a mandatory document for Category I applicants. This certificate is the official proof of NRI status and cannot be substituted with any other document.
What is an NRE Bank Account Passbook, and why is it required?
An NRE (Non-Resident External) Bank Account is a bank account held by an NRI in India. The NRE Bank Account Passbook is required to demonstrate that your NRI sponsor has the financial capacity to fund your entire postgraduate course fees and living expenses. The passbook pages must be submitted along with the notarised affidavit from your sponsor.
Can I change my category from Indian to NRI during counselling registration?
Yes. If you initially registered as Indian during the NEET-PG exam but are now eligible for the NRI quota, you can convert your category during counselling registration on October 12. However, you must submit all required NRI documents and undergo the MCC's document verification process. Category conversion is not automatic and requires approval from the Document Verification Committee.
What is the timeline for choice filling after registration closes?
Choice filling and locking runs from October 13 to October 22, 2026. This overlaps with the registration window, meaning you can begin selecting your preferred colleges and specialities even as registration is still open. You must lock your choices by October 22 to participate in the allotment process.
Begin gathering your NRI documents immediately—especially the NRI Certificate from the Embassy, notarised affidavit, and bank account documentation—as these often take the longest to obtain. Register on the MCC portal on October 12 with complete, clearly scanned documents to ensure swift verification and full access to NRI quota seats during choice filling.
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