JEE Main 2026: Photo Certificate Deadline Extended to Jan 15

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has made important changes for students taking the JEE Main 2026 exam. The deadline to upload the photo verification certificate has been extended. Students now have until January 15, 2026 , to upload this document. This is a change from the earlier deadline of January 7. NTA has also made it easier to get the certificate signed, allowing more types of officers to approve it. This update aims to help students who had difficulty getting the required signatures before.

New Rules for Photo Verification Certificate

Initially, NTA asked candidates to get their photo verification certificate signed only by their school or college principal. However, many students told NTA that they were finding it hard to reach these officials. To solve this problem, NTA has now allowed more people to sign the certificate. Students can now get the certificate attested by a Class-I Gazetted Officer . This includes senior government officials such as a Tehsildar, a Revenue Officer, a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), or a District Magistrate (DM). For Indian students living abroad (NRI candidates), a Class-I Gazetted Officer at the Indian Embassy in their country can sign the certificate.

Who Needs This Certificate?

Not all candidates need this certificate. Only those students who received a specific email from NTA regarding photo verification must upload it. This requirement mostly applies to candidates who registered for the JEE Main 2026 exam using an identity proof document other than the Aadhaar Card. NTA found some cases where the live photograph taken by the candidate during the application process did not match the photograph linked to their Aadhaar (UIDAI) records. If you fall into this group and received the NTA email, you must complete this photo verification process by the new deadline.

How to Get and Upload the Certificate

The photo verification certificate form is available online. Candidates need to visit the official JEE Main website: jeemain.nta.nic.in . You will need to log in to your account using your JEE Main 2026 application number and your password . After logging in, you can download the certificate. Once you have downloaded it, get it signed by one of the approved officers mentioned above. After it is signed, you must upload the completed certificate back onto the website by January 15, 2026 .

Important Action for Exam Day

It is very important for all candidates who need this certificate to also carry a printed copy of the *signed* photo verification certificate to their JEE Main exam center. This printed certificate will be checked by the exam staff on the day of your examination. Make sure you have it ready to avoid any issues at the center.

Key Dates

Here are the important dates related to the photo verification certificate:

Step-by-Step Guide

If you received an email from NTA about the photo verification certificate, follow these steps carefully:

• Step 1: Go to the official JEE Main website: jeemain.nta.nic.in .
• Step 2: Log in to your candidate portal using your unique JEE Main 2026 application number and your password .
• Step 3: Find and download the photo verification certificate form from your dashboard.
• Step 4: Get this downloaded certificate signed by an approved authority. You can approach your School/College Principal/Headmaster. Alternatively, you can get it signed by a Class-I Gazetted Officer such as a Tehsildar, Revenue Officer, SDM, or DM. For NRI candidates, a Class-I Gazetted Officer from the Indian Embassy abroad can attest it.
• Step 5: After getting the certificate signed, upload the scanned copy of the complete document back on the jeemain.nta.nic.in website. Remember, the last date for this is January 15, 2026 .
• Step 6: Print a clear copy of the *signed* and *uploaded* photo verification certificate. You must bring this physical printout with you to your JEE Main exam center on the day of the examination for checking.