NRI quota for MBBS and BDS in Karnataka

Who is eligible for NRI quota

There are two routes, and the rules differ between KEA and MCC.

• Through MCC (deemed universities): the student's parent, or real brother or sister, must be a Non-Resident Indian ordinarily living abroad, and sponsor the student. OCI cardholders are treated on par with Indian citizens for NRI seats.
• Through KEA (Karnataka private colleges): KEA has an NRI category and an "NRI ward" category, where a blood relative living abroad can sponsor the student, with the relationship proved. The exact definition can change each year, so we check it against the current KEA notice.

Eligibility is checked at document verification, and NRI claims need an in-person visit to the KEA office in Malleswaram. We check your documents against the current rules before you register.

Documents for NRI quota

• The sponsor's valid passport and visa or residence permit
• An NRI certificate from the Indian Embassy or Consulate in the sponsor's country
• A notarised sponsorship affidavit from the sponsor
• Proof of the relationship between student and sponsor; for KEA NRI-ward claims, a family tree certified by the Tahsildar
• The student's Class 10 and 12 marks cards, NEET-UG scorecard and birth certificate

The exact list follows the current KEA NRI notice; we check yours against it. See the documents checklist

NRI quota fees

In KEA's 2026–27 list, NRI tuition equals the management (Q) fee at almost every college: about ₹25 lakh to ₹45 lakh a year, in rupees. Two colleges charge a little more for NRI seats: Oxford Medical College (₹36,11,950, against ₹34,11,950 for management) and Srinivas (₹29,75,000, against ₹29,61,950). Fourteen government medical colleges also have NRI seats, at ₹25,09,350 a year. Hostel is extra. Deemed universities set their own NRI fees, and some quote them in US dollars for foreign nationals: Yenepoya, for example, lists $175,000 for the full course for foreign and NRI students in 2026–27.

Sources: KEA provisional fee structure 2026–27 (MBBS), Yenepoya fee structure 2026–27. See MBBS fees in Karnataka

How NRI allotment works

1. Qualify NEET-UG, from India or from a NEET centre abroad.
2. Register with KEA, MCC or both, choosing the NRI category.
3. Verify documents, in person at KEA for NRI claims.
4. Enter options, including NRI seats at the colleges you want.
5. Allotment in rounds, by NEET rank among NRI candidates.
6. Pay the fee: for KEA NRI-ward seats, from the sponsor's own account directly to KEA.
7. Report to the college with originals.

Mistakes that cost families an NRI seat

• The embassy certificate arrives late. Start it as soon as NEET results are out.
• The sponsor pays from the wrong account. For KEA NRI-ward seats, the fee must come from the sponsor's own account.
• The relationship is not documented in the form KEA or MCC asks for.
• The in-person verification slot is missed.

How EduKraft helps families abroad

• Calls and WhatsApp in your time zone, including evenings and weekends in admission season.
• Documents checked before you apply for the embassy certificate, not after.
• KEA and MCC NRI seats planned together.
• Every fee in writing, including what is due, to whom and when.

Questions about NRI quota