JoSAA Withdrawal Last Date 2026, Process & Refund Rules

The withdrawal deadline for IIT and IISc seats is today itself at 5:00 PM IST. This is the last point at which a candidate holding an IIT or IISc allotment can exit JoSAA 2026 voluntarily. Once Round 5 allotment begins on July 16, no withdrawal from IIT or IISc seats is possible under any circumstance. For candidates with NIT, IIIT, or GFTI allotments, a separate withdrawal window opens during Round 5 reporting from July 16 to 20. This guide covers both, along with the step-by-step process, who is eligible, and the exact refund amounts and timelines.

Note: Today, July 14, 2026, is the last day to withdraw from an IIT or IISc seat. The deadline is 5:00 PM IST. If you have an IIT or IISc allotment and want to exit JoSAA, act before this deadline. After Round 5 begins, the option disappears permanently.

JoSAA Withdrawal Last Date 2026

JoSAA 2026 does not have a single universal withdrawal deadline. The withdrawal window is different for each round and for different institute types. The table below presents the complete round-wise withdrawal schedule for 2026 with current status.

The distinction that matters most right now: IIT and IISc candidates are in a categorically different position from NIT+ candidates. For IIT and IISc allottees, today (July 14) is the final opportunity to exit JoSAA. NIT, IIIT, and GFTI allottees will have another window during Round 5 (July 16 to 20). This asymmetry exists because Round 5 is the final round for IIT and IISc seat allocation, but NIT+ system candidates continue into CSAB special rounds after Round 5 if they choose.

Also Read: JoSAA Counselling 2026, Registrations, Eligibility & Cutoff

JoSAA Withdrawal Process 2026

Withdrawal from JoSAA is initiated and completed entirely online through josaa.nic.in. There is no offline process, no requirement to visit the institute, and no paper form. The portal automatically calculates the refund amount and shows it to the candidate before they confirm the request. The step-by-step process is below.

One thing the portal will not tell you: withdrawal is permanent within the cycle. The confirmation screen makes this clear in text, but the practical implication is worth stating explicitly. A candidate who withdraws from JoSAA 2026 cannot be considered for any seat in Round 5 or any future JoSAA 2026 round, even if new seats become available in institutes they originally ranked highly. The decision cannot be reversed.

Also Read: JoSAA Refund 2026, Rules, Process & Deduction Charges

Who Can Apply for JoSAA Seat Withdrawal?

Not every candidate in the JoSAA system can withdraw at every point. The eligibility depends on which round allotted the seat, which institute type was allotted, and whether the applicable withdrawal window is currently open. The table below clarifies eligibility by candidate type.

The distinction between Freeze and withdrawal is frequently confused. Freezing means accepting the current allotment and opting out of further upgrade rounds while remaining committed to that institute. Withdrawal means leaving JoSAA counselling entirely and forfeiting the allotted seat. These are different actions with different consequences: a Frozen candidate still joins their allotted institute; a withdrawn candidate does not join any JoSAA institute in that cycle.

If you are unsure whether to withdraw or Float, the answer is almost always Float. Floating keeps your current seat as a fallback and keeps you eligible for a possible upgrade in the next round. Withdrawal closes every door. Float costs nothing; withdrawal costs Rs. 7,000 in processing charges and every remaining upgrade opportunity.

Also Read: JoSAA Schedule 2026, Seat Allotment & Required Documents

How to Withdraw from JoSAA Counselling 2026

The withdrawal process takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes if completed in one sitting. The most common reason candidates fail to complete it in time is portal slowness, not the process itself. A few practical points before you begin.

• Check that you are within the active withdrawal window for your round and institute type before attempting; the withdrawal link does not appear outside the designated window
• Have your login credentials ready: JEE Main application number and password, or JEE Advanced registration number and password, depending on which exam your allotment is based on
• Do not attempt withdrawal on a slow or mobile connection; the portal requires stable internet to process the confirmation
• Screenshot or print the confirmation page immediately after submission; this is your only proof of withdrawal if any dispute arises later
• The withdrawal cannot be undone after the portal processes your confirmation; do not click confirm unless you are certain

After withdrawing, the refund is not instantaneous. JoSAA processes refunds in batches, and the amount is credited to the original payment source (credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI) within 5 to 7 working days in standard cases. Delays beyond 10 working days should be reported through the JoSAA helpdesk available on josaa.nic.in.

JoSAA Withdrawal Refund Rules and Processing Time

The refund structure for JoSAA 2026 is straightforward but non-negotiable: a fixed processing charge of Rs. 7,000 is deducted from the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) regardless of when in the cycle the withdrawal happens. The remaining SAF is refunded to the original payment source. The breakdown by category is below.

What the Rs. 7,000 covers: The non-refundable processing charge is retained by JoSAA as an administrative fee and is not passed to any institute. It applies uniformly whether a candidate withdraws in Round 1 or Round 4, and whether they are from a General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, or PwD category. There is no additional penalty for withdrawing late versus early in the cycle.

The refund amount does not include any hostel deposit, mess advance, or any other fee paid directly to an institute during physical reporting, if the candidate had already reported physically. JoSAA's refund covers only the SAF paid on the josaa.nic.in portal. Any institute-level fees paid separately fall under that institute's own refund policy.

Refund timeline: Standard processing takes 5 to 7 working days from the date the withdrawal is confirmed on the portal. Weekends and bank holidays add to this. If a refund has not appeared within 10 working days, candidates should contact the JoSAA helpdesk at josaa.nic.in with their application number and withdrawal confirmation details. UPI refunds tend to process faster than credit card refunds due to bank processing cycles.

JoSAA Withdrawal Last Date 2026: Conclusion

The JoSAA withdrawal last date 2026 varies according to the allotted institute and counselling round. Candidates holding an IIT or IISc seat must complete the withdrawal process before the final deadline, as withdrawal will not be permitted once Round 5 begins. NIT, IIIT and GFTI candidates have a separate withdrawal window during Round 5 reporting. Candidates should verify their institute type, deadline and seat status before submitting a request.

The JoSAA seat withdrawal process is completed online through the official portal and becomes irreversible after confirmation. A processing charge of Rs. 7,000 is deducted from the Seat Acceptance Fee, while the remaining amount is generally refunded within five to seven working days. Candidates who are uncertain about leaving the counselling process should carefully compare withdrawal with the Float option before making a final decision.