Today, medical education in India is at par with international standards. To study in prestigious government and private institutes, national and international students appear for the NEET examination as they face stiff competition from a sea of applicants. One of the significant participants of this race each year is non-residential Indians (NRIs). Before applying under this scheme, applicants need to understand what is NRI quota in NEET. Owing to the significant number of candidates who apply to medical colleges in India each year, the Medical Council of India has reserved 15% of seats for NRI NEET applicants. However, all public and private medical colleges in India are not compelled to offer these seats as they are already bound by the 15% All India Quota (AIQ) and 85% state quota. There are only countable colleges in the country that accept the NEET NRI quota. If you too are an NRI applicant who is appearing for the NEET examination then this blog can help you understand the important points as well as the process that you have to follow to secure a seat in medical colleges in India. Persons of Indian origin (POI) and overseas citizens of India (OCI) qualify to apply under the NRI category.

Eligibilities for Medical Colleges in India under the NRI quota

An NRI who is sitting for the NEET examination has to pass the eligibility criteria prescribed for them. While some of the requirements are similar to the ones established for Indian applicants, there are some extra formalities in terms of documents and visas. Some of them are-

  • The applicant should have strong Indian ties. They must hold the citizenship of a foreign country. Aspirants whose parents are Indians are also eligible for the NEET NRI quota.
  • A student who is below 17 years of age cannot appear for the NEET examination. NRIs who are above the age of 25, cannot not qualify for NRI quota eligibility
  • A valid passport from the applicant’s country of origin to prove their current nationality is important.
  • Applicant should be a medical student who has studied subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, and English in their recent academic years. 
  • Applicants should have scored at least 60% of marks in examinations that are equivalent to class 12 board examinations.
  • Applicants should have sufficient documents which can prove that they are a genuine NRI candidate and their sole intent of applying under the NEET NRI quota is to secure a seat in medical college in India. Any speculation or record of any unlawful activity can debar an NRI candidate. 
  • Like all Indian nationals, the NRIs are also supposed to clear the NEET examination with qualifying marks as declared by the cut-off of that year. 
  • If the NRIs education is being supported by someone then it is required that the applicant shares a blood relation with their sponsor (family members). 
  • Usually, applicants should possess a certificate from the Indian Embassy situated in their country of residence. 

Important documents for applicants for the NEET NRI quota

  • A passport that shows the applicant’s current nationality and has sufficient validity. 
  • A study permit visa by the Indian officials.
  • Admit Card of NEET UG examination.
  • Result sheet of NEET UG examination.
  • All documents pertaining to formal academic qualifications. 
  • Birth Certificate if the Applicant. You might be required to show your parent’s identity proof as well.
  • If relevant and asked for, submit caste, PwD, or gap certificate.
  • Photographs of recommended size (at least 8).
  • A certificate proving your medical fitness.
  • Transfer and migration certificate.
  • Affidavit of sponsorship and affidavit of relationship. 

How to apply for NRI quota in NEET (ADMISSION PROCESS)

  • The initial step towards applying for a medical college in India is to map out a strategy plan which you will follow. Keep a tab on timelines and dates concerning the release of registration forms, admit cards, exam dates, etc.
  • Regularly check the NTA website for updated information about the NRI quota in NEET (UG) for the current year.
  • Check details of NRI quota in NEET eligibility and prepare yourself accordingly.
  • Collect all your documents timely and get a certificate issued from the Indian Diplomatic Mission as soon as possible. 
  • Register for the NEET examination 2024 at https://neet.nta.nic.in/.
  • After the declaration of the NEET exam result, check the qualifying quota for the NEET NRI quota. 
  • 50 percentile marks are compulsory for qualifying for the NEET examination. 
  • Applicants who have qualified for the exam can register themselves for the counseling procedure organized by the MCC.
  • Once your college is finalized, reach the premises with all your documents especially the proof of your NRI status, visa, and passport.

How NEET counselors can help NRI residentials in the admission process

The entire process of admission into medical colleges in India is elaborate and layered. There are certain steps, and formalities that have to be met before and after the NEET exam, and authentic NEET consultants in India can help you understand the entire admission structure. A. NRI who is having trouble understanding the Indian Education system can benefit profusely from Medical education consultants. They can offer you services such as:

– Help you choose the right courts based on your student profile and interest. 

– Suggest favorable states and universities based on your final/expected NEET exam score.

-Inform and list the names of institutes that offer seats in the NEET NRI quota.

– Make you aware of extra documents you may need as a student applying under the NEET NRI quota.

-NEET UG 2024 counseling and guidance/ one-on-one NEET UG counseling

-Inform about admission updates regularly through e-mails and messages. 

-Tracking your entire journey until you have secured admission into medical college in India.

– Give you clear advice about the kind of approach you shall maintain while applying for medical colleges in India.

States that reserved seats for NRI quota

Both government as well as private colleges have reserved 15% of the total seats for NRI candidates. NRI applicants must note that they cannot claim admission to the seats that are reserved for Indian nationals. This makes them ineligible to apply under the general, OBC, ST, SC, or PwD category even if they belong to one. There is a separate application form issued by the NTA for candidates from the NEET NRI quota. The Indian states that reserve NRI quota seats in government colleges are-

 -Himachal Pradesh             – Haryana

 -Goa                                    -Rajasthan

 -Punjab                                -Chandigarh 

 -Pondicherry

The Indian states that reserve NRI quota seats in private colleges are-

-Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

-Karnataka

-Tamil Nadu 

-Kerala

Some Medical Colleges in India that offer NRI quota are-

S. No.  Name of the College No. of seats offered
1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi 7
Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Wardha 30
3 Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore 23
4 Vinayaka Missions Medical College and Hospital, Karaikal 41
5 Shri Padmavathi Medical College (W)Tirupati 23
6 Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education, Puducherry 5
7 Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum 30
8 Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi 15
9 Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Pune 38
10 Bharathi Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College, Pune 23
11 Armed Forces Medical College, Pune 5
12 Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati 23
13 Sree Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur 19
14 Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Science and Research, Mullana 22
15 BVDU Medical College, Sangli 23

Fee Differentiation

The registration fees as well as the medical college fees of students from the NRI quota in NEET change every year. In 2024, the application fee for NRI candidates for the NEET exam is INR 1700. It is similar to the ones charged to the unreserved category of Indian nationals. However, the NRI quota fees for a medical course in India is elevated in comparison to what the Indian nationals are charged. It is not an uncommon practice as an abroad education obviously has extra levied costs. Added charges can be in the form of increased tuition fees, accommodation expenses, mess charges, travel fares, etc. The fee structure of government as well as private medical colleges in India can differ based on the facilities they provide, infrastructure, level of clinical exposure, reputation, etc. For NRI applicants, a medical course in India can start from US $ 20,000 and can go up to US $ 201, 500. 

Conclusion

Admission to the NRI quota in NEET is easier for residents from outside of India because of low competition. A candidate who meets all the NRI quota eligibility and clears the NEET exam 2024 has good enough chance of being accepted into Indian colleges that has reserved NRI quota seats. Sure, the entire admission process that stretches over a period of 2-3 months can be tiresome. In fact, students who are currently situated outside of India can even speculate if they are getting all the accurate information from online platforms or not. If you too are a student who wants professional assistance with the entire NEET UG admission process or NRI quota in NEET for MBBS then you can contact medical admission consultant to get proper guidance. We, at Mediplor have been guiding students and providing NEET UG and PG counselling to the students for the past 20 years. So, we connect with us and book a slot to talk to our MBBS admission consultants.