JEE Main Admit Card 2027 and Exam Centre List: Dates and Download

The JEE Main admit card is released on jeemain.nta.nic.in about 3 to 4 days before your exam date, after a city intimation slip that comes roughly 10 days earlier. For JEE Main 2027 Session 1, scheduled for 22 to 30 January 2027, expect the city slip in the first half of January and admit cards from around 18 to 19 January 2027.

This guide covers the 2026 release dates as a reference, how to download your admit card, the full list of JEE Main exam cities, how cities are allotted, and what you must carry on exam day.

When will JEE Main admit card 2027 be released?

JEE Main 2027 admit cards are expected about 3 to 4 days before each exam date, as per NTA's usual practice. With Session 1 on 22, 23, 24, 28, 29 and 30 January 2027, the first batch is expected around 18 to 19 January 2027. The exact dates will come in NTA notices.

NTA does not release all admit cards at once. It releases them in batches for different exam dates. Here is what actually happened in 2026 and what you can expect in 2027.

Session 2 in April 2027 should follow the same pattern: city slip about 10 to 12 days before the exam and admit cards 3 to 4 days before. You can find the complete calendar in our JEE Main 2027 exam date and registration guide.

What is the difference between the city intimation slip and the admit card?

The city intimation slip only tells you the city where your exam centre will be, and usually your exam date, so you can plan travel early. The admit card gives the exact centre address, date, shift, reporting time and roll number. Only the admit card is allowed for entry.

NTA's 21 March 2026 notice said this clearly: the city slip "is NOT the Admit Card". Use the slip to book train or bus tickets and a place to stay if your city is far away. Do not carry it as your hall ticket.

Also readJEE Main 2027 Exam Date, Registration and Last Date: Full NTA Schedule

How do you download the JEE Main admit card?

Visit jeemain.nta.nic.in, click the admit card link for your session, log in with your application number and password or date of birth, enter the security code, and download the PDF. Print it clearly on A4 paper, preferably in colour, and fill in the self-declaration page.

1. Go to the official site jeemain.nta.nic.in.
2. Click the link such as "Download Admit Card for JEE (Main) Session 1".
3. Enter your application number and password (or date of birth, as asked) and the security pin.
4. Check your name, photo, signature, category, paper, exam date, shift and centre address.
5. Download the PDF. It usually has the admit card, a self-declaration (undertaking) and instructions.
6. Print all pages on A4. Paste a photo and sign where asked. Do not sign or fill the thumb impression box until the invigilator tells you.

If the site is slow, try at a different time. NTA's helpline is 011-40759000 and the email is jeemain@nta.ac.in. The admit card is never sent by post, and no duplicate admit card is issued at the centre.

Check your admit card the same day you download it. If your photo, signature or details are wrong, contact NTA right away. As per the bulletin, you should still appear with the downloaded admit card, and NTA will correct records later.

What details are printed on the JEE Main admit card?

The admit card shows your name, photo, signature, application number, roll number, date of birth, category, PwD status, paper, exam date, shift timing, reporting and gate closing time, and full exam centre address. It also carries the important instructions for exam day.

Read the instructions page fully. It includes the gate closing time, which is strict. NTA also warns that an admit card does not mean your eligibility has been accepted. Eligibility is checked again at counselling, so make sure you meet the rules explained in our JEE Main eligibility and 75% criteria guide.

Which cities are in the JEE Main exam centre list?

NTA's JEE Main 2026 bulletin listed 323 exam cities: 308 in India and 15 abroad. In practice, Session 1 was held in 326 cities and Session 2 in 319 cities, each including 15 cities outside India. The 2027 list will be published in the new bulletin and may change slightly.

Here is a state-wise summary of the cities in the 2026 bulletin. NTA holds the exam in a city only if enough candidates choose it.

JEE Main exam cities outside India

The 2026 bulletin listed 15 overseas cities: Manama, Doha, Dubai, Kathmandu, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, Singapore, Kuwait City, Kuala Lumpur, Lagos, West Java, Washington, Munich and Abu Dhabi. The Session 2 list in NTA's result press release included Dammam and did not include Dubai, and NTA issued a special advisory for candidates registered from Kuwait, Dubai and Bahrain because of the situation in the Middle East. Fees for overseas centres are much higher than for Indian centres.

Also readJEE Main Result 2026: How to Check, NTA Score and Percentile vs Rank

How are JEE Main exam cities allotted?

While filling the form, you can choose up to four exam cities in order of preference, but only within the states of your present address and permanent address. NTA tries to allot one of your choices, but can give a different city for administrative reasons. Once allotted, the city cannot be changed.

Some key rules from the 2026 bulletin:

• Choose close cities: NTA advises picking your own city or a nearby one in your state of residence or permanent address.
• Cities can be merged: If very few candidates choose a city, NTA can merge it with another city.
• Language matters: If too few candidates choose a regional language in a city, you may be moved to another city.
• No human intervention: NTA says allotment is automated and its decision is final.

NTA does sometimes make changes on its own. In April 2026 it revised centres for candidates in the Middle East, rescheduled some candidates who asked for a change because of Easter on 5 April, and used CBSE data to avoid clashes with Class 12 board exams.

What should you carry to the JEE Main exam centre?

Carry a clear printout of your admit card with the self-declaration filled in, one passport size photograph (same as uploaded), an original valid photo ID, your PwD certificate if applicable, and a simple transparent ball point pen. Without these, you will not be allowed to sit for the exam.

• Admit card: Printed on A4, preferably in colour, with the undertaking filled in.
• Photographs: NTA's April 2026 advisory asked candidates to carry at least two passport photos. One is pasted on the attendance sheet.
• Photo ID (original): Aadhaar or e-Aadhaar with photo, PAN card, voter ID, passport, school ID, Class 12 board admit card with photo, or bank passbook with photo. Photocopies or photos on your phone are not accepted.
• Extra certificate: If your live photo did not match Aadhaar during the application, or you used a non-Aadhaar ID, NTA asked for an attested certificate in its prescribed format in 2026.
• PwD candidates: PwD/PwBD certificate or UDID card, and scribe documents if applicable.

What is not allowed?

You cannot carry a geometry box, pencil box, bag, purse, any paper or printed material, food, water, mobile phone, earphones, calculator, camera, smart or electronic watch, or any metallic item. Rough sheets are given at the centre and must be returned. Sikh candidates may wear kara and kirpan as per the bulletin.

What is the JEE Main reporting time on exam day?

NTA asks you to reach the centre two hours before the exam. In 2026, entry, frisking, biometric registration and document checks ran from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM for the 9:00 AM shift and from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM for the 3:00 PM shift. After the gate closes, no one is let in.

If you did not register through Aadhaar, NTA asked you to report at least one hour before the gate closing time for biometrics. Visit your centre a day earlier if you can, so you know the route and travel time.

NTA does not hold a re-test for anyone who misses their shift for any reason, including traffic or train delays. Leave early, and keep a buffer of at least an hour.

Final word: your admit card and exam-day checklist

Your JEE Main admit card is the one document that gets you into the exam hall, so handle it with care. With Session 1 of JEE Main 2027 set for 22 to 30 January 2027, here is what to do:

• Choose four practical exam cities when you fill the application form.
• Download the city intimation slip as soon as it is out and book travel.
• Download the admit card the day it is released and check every detail.
• Print it on A4 in colour, fill the self-declaration and paste the photo.
• Keep two passport photos and your original photo ID ready the night before.
• Visit the centre in advance and reach at least two hours before your shift.
• After the exam, track the answer key and result. Our JEE Main result and percentile vs rank guide explains what your score means.

Once you have your score, start planning admissions early. Our guide on colleges for low JEE Main rank shows realistic NIT, IIIT, state and private options for every rank band, and the JoSAA counselling 2027 guide explains the seat allotment process.