JEE Main 2026 Jan Session: Essential Documents & Items to Carry to the Exam Centre

Arrange Required Documents and Items Before the Examination

Millions of students preparing for JEE Main 2026 are currently eagerly awaiting the Exam City Intimation Slip. This slip informs students about the city where their exam Centre will be located, allowing them to make travel and other arrangements in advance.

According to current updates, the JEE Main Exam City Intimation Slip is likely to be released between January 8th and 10th. It was initially believed that the last date for uploading the photo verification certificate would be January 7th, but this has now been extended to January 15th.

Therefore, it is anticipated that the Exam City Intimation Slip will also be released around the same time.

What is the Difference Between Exam City Intimation Slip and Admit Card?

Many students are confused about the difference between the Exam City Intimation Slip and the Admit Card. Let’s understand this in simple terms:

Exam City Intimation Slip: This only contains information about the exam city.
Admit Card: This contains all the necessary information such as the exam date, shift, complete address of the Centre, and roll number.

Note:- that the Admit Card is usually released approximately 3 days before the exam.

What Things Should you Prepare Before the Exam?

It is very important to prepare some essential documents and materials in advance, even before the Exam City Slip is released, to avoid any last-minute problems. These documents include-

Passport Size Photograph

The same photograph that was uploaded in the JEE Main application form is required.

Keep at least 2 to 3 extra photographs with you.

Important things on the Admit Card

The Admit Card consists of 4 pages.

On the first page:

- A passport-size photograph needs to be affixed.
- A Left Hand Thumb Impression is required.

Original ID Proof

Photocopies are not accepted.

Carry the same ID Proof that you used to fill out the form:

- Aadhaar Card
- PAN Card
- Passport

If you filled the form with an ID other than Aadhaar, then:

A Photo Verification Certificate (attested by the school principal or a gazetted officer) is mandatory.

Essential Items to Carry to the Exam Centre

Only the prescribed items are allowed inside the examination Centre:

Admit Card (printed)
Original ID Proof
2 extra passport-size photographs
Transparent water bottle
Transparent ballpoint pens (keep 4-5 with you)

No other documents or items are required besides these.

When to arrive at the Exam Centre?

Students are advised to reach the examination centre at least 1 hour before the start of the exam. This allows sufficient time for biometric verification and other formalities.

Even a small oversight can lead to major problems in a large exam like JEE Main. Therefore, while waiting for the Exam City Intimation Slip and Admit Card, prepare all the necessary documents and materials in advance. This will ensure you are completely stress-free on the day of the exam and can focus entirely on your performance.

We wish all the candidates the very best for JEE Main 2026.

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Aabshar Hassan Quazi

Aabshar H. Quazi is a seasoned education writer associated with ALLEN Career Institute, where he crafts insightful blogs on competitive exam trends, student journeys, and academic guidance. With a background in journalism, Aabshar has worked as Principal Correspondent for Hindustan Times, honing his skills in storytelling, analysis, and impactful reporting. His writing blends credibility with clarity, making complex topics accessible for students and parents alike.