Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Option Registration Open Till August 22
The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) Kerala officially opened the Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 option registration on August 13, 2026, at cee.kerala.gov.in. Eligible candidates seeking admission to MBBS, BDS, and allied health courses can now fill their college and course preferences till August 22, 2026. The last date for candidates to join their allotted seats in this round is August 28, 2026.
This crucial phase allows candidates to determine which medical seats they may receive based on their NEET UG 2026 scores and preferences. The option registration process is vital for all eligible aspirants, as choices once locked cannot be altered later. Further, NRI quota allotment will not commence until Round 2 of the counselling process. Round 2 counselling is scheduled to begin on August 31, 2026, and conclude on September 8, 2026, with the last date to join a Round 2 allotted seat being September 14, 2026, and document verification on September 15, 2026.
Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1: Key Dates and Deadlines
The CEE Kerala has released a detailed schedule for the NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1, emphasizing several critical deadlines for candidates.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 option registration opens | August 13, 2026 |
| NRI quota document upload window | August 14 to August 19, 2026 |
| Round 1 option registration closes | August 22, 2026 |
| Provisional Allotment Published | August 21, 2026 |
| Final Allotment Published | August 22, 2026 |
| Fee Payment & College Joining | August 23–28, 2026 (except Aug 26), until 4:00 PM |
| College Verification Deadline | August 28, 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Last date to join allotted seat | August 28, 2026 |
| Document verification deadline at CEE Kerala | August 29, 2026 |
| Round 2 counselling begins | August 31, 2026 |
| Round 2 counselling ends | September 8, 2026 |
| Last date to join Round 2 seat | September 14, 2026 |
| Round 2 document verification | September 15, 2026 |
Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026: Eligibility
Only candidates who successfully cleared NEET UG 2026 and have registered for KEAM medical and allied counselling are eligible to participate in the option registration. Furthermore, their names must appear in the Kerala state medical merit list to be considered for seat allotment. Aspirants are required to use their KEAM application number, password, and access code to log in to the official portal and submit their preferences.
Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026: Option Registration Fee
Candidates registering options for Kerala NEET UG 2026 MBBS/BDS allotment must pay the applicable option registration fee based on their category.
| Candidate Category | Option Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| General/Other Candidates | ₹5,000 |
| SC/ST/OEC and eligible specified categories | ₹500 |
The ₹5,000 fee is adjusted against tuition fees for candidates allotted seats in government colleges, while applicable refund/forfeiture rules depend on allotment and admission status.
How to Register Options for Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1
Candidates must follow a specific procedure to successfully register their college and course options for Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1. The process involves logging into the official CEE Kerala portal and carefully selecting preferences before the deadline.
- Go to the official website of the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) Kerala: cee.kerala.gov.in.
- Locate and click on the link for ‘Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026 Round 1 Option Registration’.
- Log in using your KEAM application number, password, and access code.
- Fill in your preferred colleges and courses for MBBS, BDS, and allied health seats.
- Review the selected options carefully, as choices once locked cannot be changed.
- Pay the applicable option registration fee: ₹5,000 for General Candidates or ₹500 for SC/ST/OEC (eligible) candidates.
- Submit and lock your options before the deadline of August 22, 2026.
Kerala NEET UG Counselling 2026: Important Documents for NRI Quota
Aspirants applying under the NRI quota must ensure they upload specific documents within the designated window from August 14 to August 19, 2026. These documents are crucial for verifying their eligibility under this category.
- Sponsorship certificate
- Proof of relationship with the sponsor
- Copies of the sponsor’s passport and visa
The CEE Kerala has reiterated that the NRI quota allotment will only begin from Round 2 of the counselling process, providing clarity for these specific candidates.
