The KEAM eligibility criteria refers to the nationality or domicile requirements, age limit, and the educational qualifications required to be able to appear for the exam. Candidates applying for the KEAM exam 2025 must check the KCET eligibility criteria before the fill out the application form.
The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE) will conduct the KEAM 2025 exam from April 24 to 28. KEAM will be held in multiple shifts in CBT mode. Candidates must go through the details of KEAM eligibility criteria 2025. We have discussed below all the important requirements for KEAM eligibility. It should be noted that the KEAM exam is not conducted for undergraduate courses in medical, agriculture, forestry, veterinary, fisheries, architecture, and pharmacy. However, candidates seeking admission to these courses must participate in the KEAM counselling (CAP) process by submitting their respective national entrance exam scores through the KEAM application form 2025.
KEAM 2025 Eligibility - Nativity
Only Indian citizens are eligible for admission to Professional courses unless otherwise notified via the Kerala Engineering, Architecture and Medical Entrance Exam (KEAM). The Overseas Citizen of India Cardholder (including PIO cardholder) shall be eligible for admission only against any Non-Resident Indian seat or any supernumerary seat, provided that the OCI cardholder shall not be eligible for admission against any seat reserved exclusively for Indian citizens.
KEAM Eligibility 2025 - Domicile Requirements
Candidates seeking admission to Professional courses will be categorised as follows:
- Keralite: A candidate of Kerala origin will be categorised as a ‘Keralite’. Children of All India Service (AIS) officers (Non-Keralites) allotted to the Kerala cadre are deemed to be ‘Keralites’ as per G.O. (Rt) No. 822/08/H. Edn. dated 29/05/2008. But they will not be eligible for Communal/Special/Persons with Disabilities reservations or any fee concession.
- Non-Keralite Category I (NK I):A candidate who is not of Kerala origin but fulfils any of the following conditions will be categorised as 'Non-Keralite Category I' (NK I).
- A candidate who has undergone a qualifying course in Kerala and who is a son/daughter of non-Keralite parents belonging to the Government of India/Defence Service, posted to Kerala.
- A candidate who has undergone a qualifying course in Kerala and who is a son/daughter of non-Keralite parents who are serving/served the Government of Kerala for a minimum period of two years.
- A candidate who is not of Kerala Origin but has been a resident of Kerala State for 5 (five) years within 12 (twelve) years of his/her study. d. A candidate who is not of Kerala Origin but who has undergone his/her school studies in Kerala from standard VIII to XII.
Note: Non-Keralite Category I candidates will be considered against ‘State Merit’ seats for Engineering/Architecture/B. Pharm/Medical &Medical Allied courses. But they will not be eligible for Communal/ Special/Persons with Disabilities reservations or any fee concession.
- Non-Keralite Category II (NK II):Candidates who do not come under ‘Keralite’ or 'Non-Keralite Category I' will be categorised as ‘Non-Keralite Category II'.
Certificates to Prove Nativity in KEAM
The table below shows the certificates to be produced by the candidates to prove their nativity/domicile.
Nativity / Domicile | Certificates Needed |
Keralites | The relevant page of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate of the candidate showing the place of birth in Kerala. Or The relevant page of the Secondary School Leaving Certificate of either of the parents of the candidate showing the Place of Birth in Kerala with a corroborative certificate to establish the relationship between the parent and the candidate. Or The relevant page of the Passport of the candidate, issued by the Government of India, showing the Place of Birth in Kerala or of either of the parents of the candidate showing the Place of Birth in Kerala with the corroborative certificate to establish the relationship between the parent and the candidate. Or A certificate of birth from the authority competent to register the birth (Panchayat/Municipality /Corporation) showing the candidate’s or either of the parents (in which case a corroborative certificate to establish the relationship between the parent and the candidate is necessary) and place of birth in Kerala, to be issued by a competent registering authority. Or A certificate from the Village Officer/ Tahsildar to show that the candidate or his/her father/mother was born in Kerala. Or A certificate from the competent authority showing that the parent of the candidate is an All India Service officer allotted to the Kerala cadre. |
Non-Keralites Category I [NK I] | A Certificate in the prescribed format obtained from the Head of the organisation, where the candidate’s parent (employee) is serving/served, and the ‘Certificate showing School studies in Kerala for Standards XI & XII’ obtained from the Head of the Institution where the candidate underwent his/her qualifying course in Kerala to satisfy the Nativity condition. Or A certificate of residence from the Village Officer/ Tahsildar to the effect that the candidate has been a Resident of Kerala State for five years within twelve years of his/her study. Or A Certificate showing School Studies in Kerala from Std. VIII to XII obtained from the Head(s) of the educational institution(s) in Kerala in the case of candidates who have undergone school studies in Kerala to prove that the candidate has undergone his/her studies in the schools in Kerala from Std. VIII to XII. |
Non-Keralites Category II [NK II] | Certificate of Completion of Qualifying Examination prove their Nativity. Or Passport issued by the Government of India to prove Indian citizenship to the online application. |
KEAM Eligibility Criteria - Academic Requirements
Check below the course-wise academic requirements for KEAM 2025.
KEAM Eligibility for Engineering Courses
Candidates who have passed the Higher Secondary Examination, Kerala, or Examinations recognized as equivalent thereto, with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects and Chemistry as one of the optional subjects with at least 45% marks put together in the above subjects are eligible for admission.
In case, the candidate has not studied Chemistry, the marks obtained in Computer Science shall be considered. In case, the candidate has not studied Chemistry and Computer Science the marks obtained in Biotechnology shall be considered. In case, the candidate has not studied Chemistry, Computer Science and Biotechnology the marks obtained in Biology shall be considered. The marks as shown in the mark list of the Board of Examination obtained from the respective Higher Secondary Board shall be considered for academic eligibility.
KEAM Eligibility for Architecture Courses
Candidates who have passed the Higher Secondary Examination, Kerala or Examinations recognised equivalent thereto with at least 50 % aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics or passed the 10+3 Diploma Examination with Mathematics as a compulsory subject with at least 50 % marks in aggregate are eligible.
Only those candidates who score the minimum eligibility marks as per the Information Brochure of National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) 2025 will be considered for admission to the B. Arch course. There is no relaxation in the minimum passing score of NATA for any category of candidate.
KEAM Eligibility for Medical & Medical Allied Courses
Course | Eligibility |
For admission to MBBS, BDS Courses |
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For admission to BAMS/ BHMS courses |
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For admission to BSMS course |
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For admission to the BUMS course |
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For admission to B.Sc.(Hons.) Agri., B.Sc.(Hons) Forestry, B.Sc (Hons.) Cooperation & Banking, B.Tech Biotechnology (under (KAU), BFSc courses |
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For admission to B.Sc.(Hons) Climate Change & Environmental Science |
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For admission to BVSc. & AH Course |
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KEAM Eligibility for B. Pharm Courses
Candidates who have passed the 10+2 examination conducted by the Board of Higher Secondary Education, Kerala or Examinations equivalent thereto with English as one of the subjects and Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology as optional subjects individually are eligible.
KEAM Eligibility Criteria - Age
The age limit for various courses can be checked below.
- Applicants should have completed 17 years of age as of the 31st of December 2024. No relaxation in the minimum age will be allowed.
- There is no upper age limit for Engineering, Architecture B.Pharm, BAMS, BSMS, BHMS and BUMS Courses.
- For MBBS and BDS courses, the upper age limit will be as per the Information Bulletin of NEET (UG) - 2025.
- For other Medical Allied courses, the age limit prescribed by the respective Central Councils will be applicable.