Courses
By rohit.pandey1
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Updated on 23 Apr 2026, 14:27 IST
Documents required for JoSAA 2026 counselling must be kept ready before the registration window opens, which is expected in the first week of June 2026 — a day after JEE Advanced 2026 results are announced. Missing even one document or uploading it in the wrong format can result in a query being raised against your login, and if that query is not resolved within the deadline, your allotted seat gets cancelled.
This article covers the complete document list for JoSAA 2026 — separately for NIT/IIIT/GFTI admission and IIT admission, category-specific certificate requirements, upload specifications, the document verification process, and what to do if your documents are rejected.
Also Check: JEE Main 2026 Rank and College Predictor
The JoSAA document verification for 2026 will be held online, and candidates will be required to upload documents under their JoSAA 2026 login at josaa.nic.in. There are two distinct document lists — one for candidates seeking admission to NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur, and GFTIs (the NIT+ system, via JEE Main rank), and another for candidates seeking admission to IITs (via JEE Advanced rank). Both lists share several common documents but have key differences.
At a high level, every candidate needs:
The complete breakdowns are below.
These documents will be needed at the time of JoSAA 2026 registration and online reporting for admission to the NIT+ System by candidates who have ranks in JEE Main 2026.
| # | Document | Purpose |
| 1 | Class X Marksheet / Certificate or Aadhaar Card or Birth Certificate | Date of Birth proof |
| 2 | Class XII Marksheet and Passing Certificate | Qualifying examination proof |
| 3 | JEE Main 2026 Scorecard | Rank and percentile verification |
| 4 | JEE Main 2026 Admit Card | Identity verification |
| 5 | Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/GEN-EWS) | If applicable — issued by competent authority in GoI format |
| 6 | PwD Certificate | If applicable — issued by competent authority, original |
| 7 | Certificate for <40% disability with writing difficulty | If applicable |
| 8 | Crossed bank cheque copy / Passbook image with account details | For fee refund processing |
| 9 | Passport-size photographs | Same as used in JEE Main 2026 application |
| 10 | JoSAA Provisional Seat Allotment Letter | Downloaded from josaa.nic.in after allotment |
| 11 | Gap Certificate (if applicable) | If more than one year gap after Class 12 |
Candidates allotted a seat in any of the 23 IITs through JoSAA 2026 need the following:
| # | Document | Purpose |
| 1 | Class X Marksheet / Certificate or Aadhaar Card or Birth Certificate | Date of Birth proof |
| 2 | Class XII Marksheet and Passing Certificate | Qualifying examination |
| 3 | JEE Main 2026 Scorecard | Eligibility verification |
| 4 | JEE Advanced 2026 Scorecard | Rank for IIT admission |
| 5 | JEE Advanced 2026 Admit Card | Identity |
| 6 | Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/GEN-EWS) | If applicable |
| 7 | PwD Certificate | If applicable |
| 8 | Certificate for <40% disability with writing difficulty | If applicable |
| 9 | Crossed bank cheque copy / Passbook image | Fee refund processing |
| 10 | Passport-size photographs | Same as JEE Advanced 2026 application |
| 11 | JoSAA Provisional Seat Allotment Letter | Downloaded after allotment |
| 12 | Gap Certificate | If applicable |
IIT-bound candidates need both the JEE Main and JEE Advanced scorecards, plus the JEE Advanced admit card. NIT+ system candidates only need the JEE Main scorecard and admit card.
This is where most candidates make errors. Each reserved category has a specific certificate format and issuing authority requirement. Using the wrong format or a certificate issued by the wrong authority will trigger a document query that could delay or cancel your admission.
JEE
NEET
Foundation JEE
Foundation NEET
CBSE
Critical note for OBC-NCL candidates: This is the single most common document rejection reason in JoSAA Cutoff. Check the issue date of your certificate. If it is dated before April 1, 2026, get a fresh one before counselling begins.
After online document verification, candidates must visit the allotted institute for final physical reporting and admission confirmation. Candidates will have to carry all their original documents along with two sets of Xerox copies. The officials in these reporting centres will verify the original documents and will retain the Xerox copies.
Carry the following at the time of physical reporting:
| Document | Copies Required |
| JoSAA Provisional Seat Allotment Letter | Original + 2 photocopies |
| Class X Marksheet / Certificate | Original + 2 photocopies |
| Class XII Marksheet and Certificate | Original + 2 photocopies |
| JEE Main Scorecard | Original + 2 photocopies |
| JEE Advanced Scorecard (IIT candidates) | Original + 2 photocopies |
| JEE Main / Advanced Admit Card | Original + 2 photocopies |
| Category Certificate (if applicable) | Original + 2 photocopies |
| PwD Certificate (if applicable) | Original + 2 photocopies |
| Passport-size photographs | Minimum 3 (same as JEE form) |
| Proof of bank account (cheque/passbook) | 1 copy |
| Gap Certificate (if applicable) | Original + 2 photocopies |
| Aadhaar Card / Photo ID | Original + 1 photocopy |
Do not laminate original documents. Many institutes will not accept laminated certificates for verification.
Document upload happens after seat allotment under your JoSAA login. Follow these steps:
Step 1 – Log in to josaa.nic.in using your JEE Main application number and password.
Step 2 – Navigate to the Document Upload section — it will be visible in your dashboard after a seat is allotted to you.
Step 3 – Scan each document at a minimum resolution of 300 DPI. Poor-quality scans are a common cause of document queries.
Step 4 – Convert to PDF and compress to under 1 MB per file. Documents required are your Class 10th and 12th marksheets, JEE Main scorecard, category certificate (where applicable), and PwD certificate (where applicable). Scan each document at at least 300 DPI and compress into PDF files less than 1 MB.
Step 5 – Upload photographs and signature — accepted in JPEG/JPG format, not more than 100 KB each.
Step 6 – Submit and monitor your login for any queries raised by the document verification officer.
| Document Type | Accepted Format | Max Size |
| Marksheets, certificates, scorecards | 1 MB | |
| Passport-size photograph | JPEG / JPG | 100 KB |
| Signature | JPEG / JPG | 100 KB |
Use free tools to compress PDF files. Keep the resolution high enough for the text to be clearly readable after compression — if the document officer cannot read your name or certificate details, a query will be raised.
The document verification process in JoSAA 2026 is conducted online through a Virtual Reporting Centre (VRC). Here is exactly how it works:
To avoid rejection:
A gap certificate is required if you have a gap of more than one year between passing Class 12 and the year of JoSAA counselling. For JoSAA 2026, this applies to candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024 or earlier and are now appearing for counselling in 2026.
What the gap certificate should contain:
Who can issue it:
Documents must be uploaded alongside payment of the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) to confirm your allotted seat. The seat acceptance fee for JoSAA Counselling 2026 is ₹35,000 for General/OBC-NCL/EWS candidates and ₹15,000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. This fee is adjusted against the admission fee when you join the allotted institute. If you do not get admission or withdraw before the last round, the fee is refunded after deducting a processing fee of ₹3,000.
Payment can be made via net banking, debit card, credit card, UPI, or SBI e-Challan.
Use this before you begin the JoSAA 2026 registration and document upload:
Common for all candidates:
Additionally for IIT candidates:
Category-specific (if applicable):
Situation-specific:
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The core documents are: Class X certificate or Aadhaar (for DOB), Class XII marksheet, JEE Main scorecard and admit card, passport-size photographs, and bank account details. Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS) and PwD certificate are additionally required if applicable. IIT-bound candidates also need JEE Advanced scorecard and admit card.
Aadhaar is accepted as one option for Date of Birth proof, but it is not the only option. You can alternatively submit your Class X certificate or birth certificate. However, carrying Aadhaar is strongly recommended as it also serves as a photo ID during physical reporting.
The online verification phase on josaa.nic.in requires scanned PDF uploads only. Original documents are needed at the time of physical reporting at the allotted institute.
Each document file must be in PDF format and not exceed 1 MB. Photographs and signatures must be in JPEG/JPG format and not exceed 100 KB each. Scan at 300 DPI minimum for clarity.
JoSAA requires category certificates in the Government of India format, which is available for download on josaa.nic.in. A certificate in a state-specific format may be rejected and a query raised against your login.
Likely not. OBC-NCL certificates are typically accepted only if issued in the current financial year. For JoSAA 2026 counselling in June–July 2026, your certificate should be issued in FY 2025–26 (on or after April 1, 2026). Get a fresh certificate before counselling begins.
If you do not resolve a document query within the specified deadline, you will be marked as "Not Reported" and your allotted seat will be cancelled. You will not be able to participate in further JoSAA rounds, though CSAB counselling may still be accessible depending on eligibility.
As per the timeline of JEE Main 2026 exam dates, JoSAA counselling is expected to start on June 2, 2026. The exact schedule will be published on josaa.nic.in after JEE Advanced 2026 results are announced.
The document verification of candidates who participated in JoSAA will not be conducted again for CSAB, as the documents are verified during JoSAA.
A gap certificate is a document that explains a gap between the year of passing Class 12 and the year of seeking admission. It is needed if you passed Class 12 in 2024 or earlier and are appearing in JoSAA 2026 counselling. It must state the duration, reason for the gap, and confirm you were not enrolled in any other course during that period.
Candidates need three passport-size photographs, the same as those used in the JEE Main 2026 form. Carry additional copies when reporting to the institute physically, as individual departments may ask for more.