JoSAA 2026 PAF Deadline: Everything You Need to Know Before Payment
Key Takeaway
If you have been provisionally allotted a seat in the NIT+ System (NITs, IIITs, IIEST, and GFTIs) after the final JoSAA rounds, paying the Partial Admission Fee (PAF) is a mandatory step to retain your seat. Missing the PAF deadline can lead to the cancellation of your allotted seat, making you ineligible to continue with that admission. Candidates should complete the payment within the timeline announced by JoSAA/CSAB.
What Is the Partial Admission Fee ?
The Partial Admission Fee (PAF) is an additional fee that candidates allotted seats in the NIT+ System must pay after the completion of JoSAA counselling. It is different from the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) paid during earlier counselling rounds. The PAF confirms that you wish to retain your allotted seat and continue with the admission process. The amount paid is adjusted against your institute admission fee, subject to the applicable rules.
Who Needs to Pay PAF?
| Candidate Type | PAF Required? |
| NIT Candidates | Yes |
| IIIT Candidates | Yes |
| IIEST Shibpur Candidates | Yes |
| GFTI Candidates | Yes |
| IIT Candidates | No |
OGcollege Insight: Only candidates holding a valid NIT+ System seat at the end of JoSAA are required to pay the Partial Admission Fee.
JoSAA 2026 PAF Amount
| Category | Partial Admission Fee |
| GEN / GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹45,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD Categories | ₹20,000 |
OGcollege Insight: The fee is adjusted against the institute admission fee after admission formalities are completed.
Many candidates mistakenly believe that paying the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) is sufficient. However, if you're allotted an NIT+, IIIT, IIEST, or GFTI seat, failing to pay the PAF before the deadline can result in losing your allotted seat. If you're still considering better options through CSAB Special Rounds, the OGcollege CSAB College Predictor helps estimate colleges available at your JEE Main rank, while the OGcollege CSAB Choice Filling Tool prepares an optimized preference list based on previous CSAB trends. Through the OGcollege Talk to Seniors feature, you can also speak with students from NITs and IIITs before deciding whether to retain your current seat or participate in CSAB.
How to Pay the JoSAA PAF?
| Step | Action |
| 1 | Log in to the official JoSAA/CSAB portal. |
| 2 | Open the Partial Admission Fee (PAF) section. |
| 3 | Verify your allotted institute and seat details. |
| 4 | Choose a payment mode (UPI, Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or SBI e-Challan). |
| 5 | Complete the transaction. |
| 6 | Download and save the payment receipt. |
OGcollege Insight: Always verify that the payment status is updated successfully before logging out. If you do not pay the Partial Admission Fee within the prescribed deadline, your provisionally allotted NIT+ System seat will be treated as rejected under the counselling rules.
Can You Participate in CSAB After Paying PAF?
Yes. Candidates holding an eligible NIT+ System seat can participate in CSAB Special Rounds while retaining their JoSAA-allotted seat, provided they satisfy the applicable CSAB rules and complete the required registration. Paying the PAF is an important requirement for such candidates.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many students lose their seats because they assume the PAF is optional, wait until the last few hours to make the payment, fail to check whether the transaction was successful, or forget to download the payment receipt. Completing the payment a day or two before the deadline can help avoid last-minute technical issues.
If you're preparing for the next stage of counselling, you may also find Can You Participate in CSAB 2026 After Accepting a JoSAA Seat? useful for understanding your options. You can also read CSAB 2026: How to Lock Your Choices Step by Step to avoid common mistakes during the Special Rounds.
Talk to Seniors Before Finalizing Your Decision
Not sure whether to keep your current seat or try for an upgrade through CSAB? Through the OGcollege Talk to Seniors feature, you can connect with students from NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs to understand placements, academics, hostel facilities, internships, and campus life before making your final counselling decision.
Conclusion
The JoSAA Partial Admission Fee (PAF) is one of the most important steps for candidates admitted to the NIT+ System. Paying it on time secures your allotted seat and keeps your admission process on track. Complete the payment well before the deadline, keep your payment receipt safely, and continue monitoring official JoSAA and CSAB announcements for the next admission steps.
Verified Sources
JoSAA PAF Notification & Guidelines
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