NEET 2025 Eligibility Criteria - Age Limit, No. of Attempts, Qualification & Nationality

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the NEET 2025 eligibility criteria in the information bulletin at neet.ntaonline.in. For aspiring candidates, it is imperative to make themselves aware of the NEET eligibility criteria 2025 to ensure compliance with the essential requirements to appear for the entrance examination.

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Only the eligible candidates will be granted admission to the several courses under NEET. The eligibility criteria for NEET 2025 outline essential educational qualifications, age limits, nationality requirements and other crucial factors. Before filling the NEET application form 2025, candidates are strongly advised to thoroughly review the eligibility criteria. It is imperative to emphasise that aspirants who do not meet the specified eligibility criteria will not be permitted to fill out the application form of NEET 2025.

For admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and BSc nursing seats in various medical institutes in the country, NEET is the single largest medical entrance exam conducted by the NTA. Aspirants preparing for the medical entrance exam must read this article on NEET 2025 eligibility criteria to gain insights into admission requirements, qualification codes, the age limit for NEET and other essential details.

NEET 2025 eligibility criteria

Candidates who meet the outlined eligibility criteria for NEET 2025 and complete the application process within the specified timeframe will qualify to participate in the undergraduate medical entrance test. This requirement now extends to candidates aspiring to study medicine abroad and return to practice in India. The eligibility criteria for NEET UG 2025 are mentioned below.

• Candidates who are citizens of India, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), Foreign Nationals and non-resident Indians are eligible to apply for the examination.

• Minimum age limit: Aspiring candidates must be either 17 years old at the time of admission or will attain that age on or before December 31 of the year when admitted to the first year of undergraduate medical course.

• Maximum age limit: There is no upper age limit for the examination.

• Qualifying examination details: Candidates must have passed class 10+2 or equivalent from a recognized board with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Biotechnology and English as core subjects. Candidates appearing for the class 10+2 examination are also eligible. Candidates studying Biology as an additional subject after passing class 12 are also eligible.

Additionally, candidates must have scored an aggregate of 50% marks (for General category), 45% marks (for SC/ST/OBC category) and 40% marks (for PwD category) in Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology subjects.

NEET eligibility criteria 2025 for NRI/ OCI/ Foreign Nationals

Aspiring candidates who have pursued their education outside the country must meet the NEET eligibility criteria. The final examination that NRI/ Foreign students have passed should be equivalent to a class 12 qualification in their respective country. Candidates must have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects and completed both the theory and practical tests in each of these subjects along with English. A detailed NEET eligibility criteria 2025 for NRI, OCI and Foreign Nationals is mentioned below.

• Non-resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) and Foreign Nationals can seek admission to medical and dental colleges following the guidelines established by the respective State Governments, Institutions and the Government of India.

• NRI and OCI candidates must submit a certificate from the relevant Indian Diplomatic Mission in their country of residence, affirming their status as an NRI/OCI candidate. This documentation should be uploaded along with their online NEET 2025 application form.

• Foreign applicants intending to take NEET 2025 must upload Documentary Proof, such as relevant pages from a valid passport or a Certificate from the Competent Authority in their country of nationality, confirming their citizenship status. This documentation should be submitted alongside the online NEET application form.

NEET eligibility criteria 2025 for J&K and Ladakh candidates

Candidates from the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh are entitled to a 15% All India Quota. Candidates from these respective Union Territories can engage in the application process on par with candidates from other states.

NEET 2025 eligibility criteria: Qualifying examination codes

When completing the application form, candidates must choose the NEET 2025 qualification codes corresponding to their qualifying examination. Aspirants should familiarize themselves with the NEET qualification codes by referring to the details provided below.

Code 01

Candidates who will be appearing for the class 12 board exam in 2025 and anticipating their board results must select this code. However, these candidates must meet the specified criteria and successfully pass their class 12 examination by the time of admission. Failure to do so will render them ineligible.

Code 02

• Candidates who have completed 12 years of study under the Higher/Secondary examination or the Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE), equivalent to class 10+2, can choose Code 2.
• The last two years of study must include English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology or Mathematics, or any other elective as a major subject as prescribed by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT).
• Aspirants who have completed their 10+2 from the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) or a state open school and those who appeared as private candidates from state boards, with Biology/Biotechnology as an additional subject, can apply under NEET qualification Code 2.
• The qualifying examination code for NEET 2025 for droppers remains the same. For example, if a candidate passed the qualifying examination from CBSE/ICSE or any state board in the year 2019 but intends to appear for NEET 2025, they can apply for the exam with Code 2.

Code 03

Candidates aspiring for medical studies who have completed their Intermediate/Pre-Examination degree in the Science stream from a recognized Indian University/Board or another relevant body, with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as mandatory subjects, are required to select Code 3. Additionally, the qualifying examination must incorporate a practical test in the specified subjects.

Code 04

Candidates are eligible to select this code upon finishing the pre-professional/pre-medical examination, featuring Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English, after passing either the Higher Secondary examination or Pre-university or an equivalent examination. The pre-professional or pre-medical examination qualification must mandatorily involve practical tests in all subjects.

Code 05

Candidates who have completed the first year of a bachelor's degree from a recognized university, encompassing Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, along with practical tests, should choose Code 5. It is essential to confirm that the first-year examination is at the university level and that the candidates have also passed the Class 12 qualifying examination with the mentioned subjects, meeting a standard not less than a core course.

Code 06

Candidates who have completed a BSc examination with a minimum of two subjects, including Biology/Biotechnology, Physics, and Chemistry, have the option to select Code 6 as their eligibility code for NEET 2025. Additionally, these candidates must have passed the Class 10+2 qualifying examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.

Code 07

Aspirants who have completed any examination deemed equivalent to the intermediate science examination conducted by any university/board are eligible to choose Code 7 as their NEET code for 2025. It is important to note that these students must have completed two years of study in Physics, Biology/Biotechnology, Chemistry, and English, and have also passed the associated practical tests.

The NEET qualifying code for foreign candidates is designated as Code 7. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) will ascertain the equivalence of a specific course with Class 12 boards. In cases where the qualifying examination is graded, the AIU will determine the corresponding marks.