NATA 2027 registration opens separately for Phase 1 (approximately January) and Phase 2 (approximately May) at nata.in, the official portal of the Council of Architecture. Both phases are conducted in the same academic year, but you may appear in only one. This page covers everything you need for a smooth application: expected dates, eligibility, required documents, photo specifications, the step-by-step registration process, fee details, and what to do after you register. Always verify the exact schedule at nata.in once it is published for your year.
NATA 2027 key dates (approximate guidance)
CoA publishes the exact schedule at nata.in each year. The dates below are approximate, based on historical patterns from 2022 to 2026. Treat these as planning benchmarks only; always confirm from the official NATA information bulletin before acting.
| Event | Phase 1 (approx.) | Phase 2 (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opens | January 2027 | May 2027 |
| Registration closes | March 2027 | June 2027 |
| Application correction window | March 2027 (2-3 days) | June 2027 (2-3 days) |
| Admit card download | April 2027 | July 2027 |
| Exam date | April or May 2027 | July or August 2027 |
| Result declaration | May or June 2027 | August or September 2027 |
Dates are indicative only. CoA revises schedules yearly. Always check nata.in for the officially released information bulletin before registering. The registration deadline is strictly non-extendable.
Eligibility recap
A brief checklist before you register. Detailed eligibility is covered in the NATA eligibility guide.
Class 12 status
You must have passed Class 12 or be currently appearing in Class 12 at the time of registration. Students appearing in their final Class 12 exams can register with their Class 12 roll number.
Mathematics mandatory
Mathematics must be a subject in your Class 12 curriculum, regardless of stream. PCM, PCB with Maths, Commerce with Maths, and Arts with Maths are all eligible. Students without Mathematics in Class 12 are not eligible.
Minimum 50% aggregate
Minimum 50% aggregate in Class 12 is required. This is verified during college counselling, not at the registration stage. You may still register and appear for NATA if you are borderline on aggregate.
No age limit
NATA has no upper age restriction. Gap-year students and those who completed Class 12 in earlier years are equally eligible.
One phase per year
You may appear in only Phase 1 or Phase 2 in a given year, not both. Choose based on preparation readiness and college counselling timelines.
SPA Delhi does not accept NATA
SPA Delhi (School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi) uses JEE Main Paper 2 for admissions, not NATA. If SPA Delhi is your target, you need to register for JEE Main, not NATA. Always verify your target college's specific entrance exam on their official website before registering.
Documents required for NATA registration
Prepare all documents in digital format before you begin the registration form. The portal may time out if you search for documents mid-way through filling the form.
Class 10 mark sheet
Proof of date of birth
Class 12 mark sheet or appearing certificate
For students appearing in Class 12; passing students upload their marksheet
Valid photo ID
Aadhaar preferred; passport or driving licence also accepted
Passport-size photograph
Recent, white background, clear face; JPG format, 10 KB to 200 KB
Digital signature
Signed on white paper in black ink, scanned or photographed; JPG, 4 KB to 30 KB
Category certificate
Required for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates; issued by competent authority
Photo and signature specifications
| Specification | Photograph | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Format | JPG or JPEG | JPG or JPEG |
| Background | White background only | White paper, black ink |
| Dimensions | 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm (passport size) | 3.5 cm x 1.5 cm |
| File size | 10 KB to 200 KB | 4 KB to 30 KB |
| Other requirements | Recent, clear face, no sunglasses, no caps, no heavy filters | Signed in black or blue-black ink; scan or photograph clearly |
Step-by-step registration process
Visit nata.in and click Apply Online
Open the official NATA portal at nata.in and locate the "Apply Online" link, which becomes active when the registration window opens. Bookmark the portal and check it regularly starting from January for Phase 1 registrations.
Create a new account with your name, email, and mobile number
Register as a new user using your full name (as on Class 10 certificate), email address, and mobile number. Verify your mobile via OTP. Save your login credentials immediately in a secure location.
Fill in personal and academic details
Enter all personal details accurately: full name, date of birth, gender, category (General, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD), contact address, and academic information (Class 12 board, passing year, stream, aggregate percentage).
Upload photograph, signature, and required documents
Upload a recent passport-size photograph (JPG, white background, 10 KB to 200 KB), your scanned signature (JPG, black ink, white paper, 4 KB to 30 KB), and any category certificate if applicable. Verify all uploads display clearly before proceeding.
Select exam centre preference
Choose your preferred exam city from the available list. Select based on geographic convenience. Your first preference may not be guaranteed; have a realistic second preference ready.
Pay the registration fee
Pay the registration fee online via credit card, debit card, UPI, or net banking. General or OBC candidates pay approximately Rs 2,000; SC, ST, and PwD candidates pay a reduced fee. Verify the exact current fee at nata.in before payment.
Download and save your registration confirmation
After successful payment, download the registration confirmation PDF. Note your application number. Check your email for the confirmation message (including the spam folder). Save the confirmation PDF in multiple locations.
Registration fee
NATA registration fee is paid online and is non-refundable. The fee for 2027 has not yet been released. The figures below are approximate based on recent years. Always verify the exact fee at nata.in before payment.
| Category | Approximate fee (verify at nata.in) |
|---|---|
| General / OBC candidates | Approximately Rs 2,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD candidates | Approximately Rs 1,500 (reduced fee) |
| Payment methods accepted | Credit card, debit card, UPI, net banking |
| Refund policy | Non-refundable once payment is completed |
Important: Registration fee is subject to change each year. The figures above are indicative only. Always check the official NATA information bulletin at nata.in for the exact fee applicable to your registration year before making payment.
Application correction window
CoA typically provides a short correction window of 2 to 3 days after the registration deadline closes. During this window, you can edit certain fields in your submitted application. Not all fields are editable; the correction window is specifically for fixing errors, not for substantive changes. Once the correction window closes, no further changes are permitted.
Typically correctable
- Name spelling errors
- Date of birth discrepancies
- Photograph (if not compliant)
- Signature (if not compliant)
- Category certificate update
Typically not correctable
- Exam city after centre allotment
- Stream or board changes
- Change from one phase to another
- Application after deadline
Common mistakes to avoid
Mistake: Uploading an incorrect photograph
How to avoid: Use a recent JPG photograph with white background, clear face, no sunglasses. Incorrect photos are flagged during processing and may delay or invalidate your application.
Mistake: Not saving the registration confirmation
How to avoid: Download and save the confirmation PDF immediately after payment. Note your application number. You will need this to download your admit card and check results.
Mistake: Missing the application deadline
How to avoid: Set calendar reminders well in advance. The NATA registration deadline is strictly non-extendable. No late applications are accepted under any circumstances.
Mistake: Not checking the email spam folder
How to avoid: Confirmation emails from nata.in sometimes land in spam. Add the NATA email address to your contacts when you register so future communications are delivered to your inbox.
Mistake: Entering incorrect board or Class 12 details
How to avoid: Double-check your board name, roll number, and passing year before submitting. Errors in academic details can cause problems during counselling.
Mistake: Registering for the wrong phase
How to avoid: Confirm which phase (Phase 1 or Phase 2) you intend to appear for before registering. You cannot switch phases after registration closes.
After registration: what comes next
Downloading your admit card
The NATA admit card is released approximately 7 to 10 days before the exam date. Download it from nata.in using your application number and registered mobile or email. Check every detail on the admit card immediately: name spelling, date of birth, photograph, exam date, exam centre address.
If you notice any discrepancy on the admit card, contact the official NATA helpline at nata.in immediately. Do not wait until exam day.
Print at least two copies of the admit card and store them in separate locations. You must carry the admit card and a valid original photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving licence) to the exam centre on exam day. No entry is permitted without both documents.
What to carry on exam day
- Printed admit card (colour printout preferred; black and white accepted)
- Original valid photo ID (Aadhaar card, passport, or driving licence; PAN card not accepted at some centres)
- Geometry set, colour pencils, markers, and pencils for Part A drawing (check the permitted materials list in the information bulletin)
- No electronic devices including mobile phones and smartwatches
- No food or water inside the exam hall (check the exam centre's specific rules)
Counselling after NATA
Once your NATA result is declared, individual colleges and state-level counselling bodies conduct their own admissions processes. NATA itself does not conduct centralised counselling. Each college sets its own cutoff based on NATA scores, Class 12 marks, and sometimes an additional sketching round or interview. Check the specific admission process on each college's official website.
The Council of Architecture publishes a list of all CoA-approved B.Arch colleges at coa.gov.in. Use this list to verify your target colleges' approval status and contact their admissions offices for their specific NATA score requirements.
Frequently asked questions
+ Can I register for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of NATA in the same year?
No. NATA allows you to appear in only one phase per year. If you register for Phase 1 (April-May), you cannot register for Phase 2 (July-August) of the same year. You may, however, appear in Phase 1 of one year and Phase 2 of the following year. Choose your phase carefully based on your preparation readiness and your target college counselling timelines. Most students prefer Phase 1 to leave more time for college admissions processes.
+ What happens if I miss the NATA registration deadline?
NATA registration deadlines are strictly non-extendable. The Council of Architecture does not accept late applications or provide individual extensions. If you miss Phase 1 registration, you have two options: wait for Phase 2 registration of the same year (if you are eligible to appear in Phase 2), or wait until the following year. Always set calendar reminders for registration opening and closing dates as listed on nata.in well in advance.
+ How do I choose the right exam centre for NATA?
During NATA registration, you select your preferred exam city. CoA allots a centre within that city based on availability. Choose a city that is geographically convenient and where you can arrange accommodation if the exam centre is in a different part of the city. If you live near a metro city (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune), select that as your first preference; exam centres in larger cities are more numerous and therefore more accessible.
+ Can I change my exam centre after registration?
Exam city preference changes are generally not permitted after the registration window closes. During the correction window (typically 2 to 3 days after registration closes), you may be able to update your preferred city before CoA allots centres. Once the centre is allotted and reflected on your admit card, it cannot be changed. Contact the official NATA helpline at nata.in if you face a genuine difficulty.
+ What if my photo does not meet the NATA specifications?
If you upload a photo that does not meet NATA specifications (wrong format, size, background, or clarity), your application may be flagged during processing. Some cases are correctable during the correction window; others may lead to application rejection. To avoid this: use a recent JPG photograph with a white background, clear face visibility, no spectacles, no caps, and 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm dimensions at 10 KB to 200 KB file size. Have this photo prepared before you begin the registration process.
+ Is there any age limit for NATA registration?
No. NATA does not impose any age restriction. You can register and appear regardless of your age, as long as you meet the academic eligibility criteria: Class 12 passed or appearing, with Mathematics as a subject, and minimum 50% aggregate in Class 12. This applies equally to gap-year students and those appearing many years after Class 12.
+ Can Class 11 students register for NATA?
No. NATA requires you to have either passed Class 12 or be currently appearing in Class 12 at the time of registration. Class 11 students are not eligible. You must wait until you are in your Class 12 year (or have completed it) before registering for NATA. This makes NATA a Class 12 or post-Class 12 exam.
+ What is the correction window in NATA?
The NATA correction window is a short 2 to 3 day period after the registration deadline closes, during which you can make limited corrections to your submitted application. Corrections typically permitted include: updating personal details (spelling of name, date of birth verification), replacing photograph or signature if they were incorrect, and in some cycles, updating category details. Exam city preference changes may or may not be permitted depending on the year. Always check the official CoA circular at nata.in for the specific correction window dates and permitted changes for your exam cycle.