The NIMCET application fee for 2026 was ₹2,500 for OPEN, OPEN-EWS and OBC candidates and ₹1,250 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. That is the first payment. If you get a rank and take part in counselling, two more follow.
Here's the full picture, so you can plan the money as well as the exam.
All NIMCET fees in one table
| Stage | Who pays | Amount (2026) | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | OPEN, OPEN-EWS, OBC | ₹2,500 | No |
| Application fee | SC, ST, PwD (any category) | ₹1,250 | No |
| Counselling registration | Everyone who joins counselling | ₹1,000 | No |
| Seat acceptance fee | Candidates allotted a seat | ₹10,000 | See the brochure's refund rules |
| Partial admission fee | Candidates who freeze a seat in later rounds | Set in the counselling rules | See the brochure |
The tuition fee at the institute is separate again; for most NITs it was ₹35,000 per semester in 2026, with higher figures at self-financing programmes and the IIITs.
Who gets the lower fee
The ₹1,250 fee applies to:
- SC candidates
- ST candidates
- PwD candidates of any category (so an OPEN-category PwD candidate also pays ₹1,250)
EWS and OBC-NCL candidates pay the full ₹2,500, even though seats are reserved for them at counselling.
How payment works
The fee is paid online, inside your logged-in application, after you have filled in your details and uploaded documents. A few practical tips:
- Do not pay on the last day. Portals slow down near deadlines, and a failed payment can leave you without a submitted form.
- Wait for confirmation. Do not close the window or press back during payment.
- Keep the transaction reference in case the payment status does not update.
- Pay only through the official portal. Nobody else can collect the fee on NIMCET's behalf.
If money left your account but the form shows unpaid, contact the help desk in that year's brochure with the transaction details before the deadline.
The exam-city choice is part of the same form
The form that takes your fee also takes your three exam-city preferences. The fee does not change with the city, but a poor choice can cost you travel money and a day. Low-demand centres can be cancelled, in which case you are moved to your next choice.
Budgeting for the whole process
A typical OPEN-category candidate who gets a seat in Round 1 pays roughly:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | ₹2,500 |
| Counselling registration | ₹1,000 |
| Seat acceptance | ₹10,000 |
| Total before tuition | ₹13,500 |
Add travel to the exam centre and, later, to the institute for physical reporting.
For the step-by-step form, see how to fill the NIMCET application form. If you made a mistake after paying, read about the correction window.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NIMCET application fee?
₹2,500 for OPEN, OPEN-EWS and OBC candidates, and ₹1,250 for SC, ST and PwD candidates, based on 2026.
Is the NIMCET fee refundable?
The application fee and counselling registration fee are non-refundable.
Do EWS candidates pay a lower fee?
No. EWS candidates pay ₹2,500, the same as OPEN and OBC.
How much is the NIMCET counselling fee?
The counselling registration fee was ₹1,000 in 2026, with a ₹10,000 seat acceptance fee after allotment.