GRE Exam Fee: Find How Much does GRE Cost for Indian Students?

What is the GRE Exam Fee in India for 2026?

The GRE exam fee in India is around ₹25,522. This is approximately $249 USD and is set by the ETS or the Educational Testing Service (ETS) who is responsible for conducting the GRE exam. The GRE Subject Test costs around ₹19,025. But both of these are the basic fees and you might have to pay extra if you want to reschedule your exam, register late, or ask for extra score reports.

 Your base/ registration fee is not just for sitting in the exam. It also covers:

• The test itself (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Analytical Writing)
• Score reports sent to up to four graduate programs. As long as you select them on test day.

The GRE At-Home Test Fee is the same whether you take the GRE at a test centre or from home — INR 25,522. So do not worry about paying the GRE exam fee India if you want to take the At-Home test.

What Are the Additional GRE Fees?

Beyond the Basic GRE exam registration fee, you might have to pay several optional or situational charges. These include:

Note: If you cancel your registration at least four days before your test date then you will be refunded half the GRE exam application fee. If you cancel later than that then you will not receive any refund.

What are the 4 Free GRE Score Reports and When Does It Cost Extra?

When you register for the GRE exam, ETS will let you send your GRE score required for top US universities to four graduate schools or fellowship programs at no extra cost. This is also called the “Score Select” free reporting option. Here is how this works and where you might need to pay extra costs.

How the 4 Free Score Reports Work

• You choose your four free score recipients before you sit for the exam. This mainly happens during the registration process.
• You need to select these recipients within a specific window. This is usually before your test appointment or immediately on test day, depending on how ETS structures it that testing cycle. The free option will be gone once this window closes.
• The scores that will be sent through this free option are completely based on ETS’s Score Select policy. This means that you can typically choose to send scores from your most recent test, scores from specific test GRE exam dates India 2026-27 or all your scores.

When You Have to Pay Extra?

ETS is going to charge you an additional GRE exam fee in India of ₹4,150 per score report if:

• You add more schools: Any recipient except your four original ones is going to cost you extra. It does not matter whether you add it on test day or afterwards.
• You wait too long to decide: If you for some reason do not select your four free schools during the eligible window then you will lose the free option completely and will have to pay for every report.
• You want to send an additional score report after your test date: For example if you want to apply to new programs after months then you will have to send a paid à la carte report.
• You need to resend scores: Let’s say your school does not receive your GRE exam test scores correctly then you might need to pay extra.

How to Pay the GRE Exam Fee in India 2026?

You can easily pay your GRE exam fee India online through your ETS account at the time of registration. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

• Start by creating or logging into your ETS account at ets.org or the EYS India portal.
• Select your test type (GRE General Test or GRE Subject Test) and choose your preferred test date and centre or the At Home option.
• Move to checkout when you will see the total GRE entrance exam fee that needs to be paid.
• You can then choose your payment method and complete the transaction securely through ETS’s payment gateway.
• Lastly, you need to save your confirmation. You will get an email receipt and an admission ticket once your payment clears.

Accepted Payment Methods in India for GRE Exam

You can pay the GRE exam fee by using the following payment methods:

• Credit/debit cards: Visa, MasterCard, RuPay, Maestro, American Express.
• UPI and digital wallets: Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, PayZapp, MobiKwik, JioMoney, Ola Money, Amazon Pay, and Bharat QR.
• PayPal

Quick Tip: Make sure to register at least 2 to 3 months ahead of your target test date. This is because payment and slot confirmation are instant and seats fill up fast during peak application season (September-November).

GRE Fee Waiver for Indian Students

The official GRE Fee Reduction program of the ETS is not available for Indian students who are living in India. This fee waiver for the GRE exam fee cuts the fee of the General Test to $100 and the Subject Test fee by 50% is actually mainly reserved for those who are dealing with financial hardship. This is mainly tied to U.S-based eligibility criteria.

Who Actually Qualifies for the ETS Waiver

The official GRE exam application fee waiver program is only limited to applicants who meet the following criteria:

• Being U.S. citizens or resident aliens
• Students already receiving FAFSA financial aid
• Unemployed individuals living in the U.S.

And because these are very US-specific requirements, many Indian students living in India do not meet the eligibility bar. If you’re wondering how to get into Germany public universities, it’s important to understand that the eligibility criteria and application process are different. Applications submitted from India are often rejected even when they are sent through the official form. 

What Indian Students Should Do Instead

Since getting a direct ETS GRE exam fee waiver is not available for Indian students, there are other practical routes that you can take to reduce your GRE costs:

1. Check with scholarship and fellowship bodies: There are some funded PhD programs or scholarship organisations that occasionally cover or reimburse test fees for selected candidates.
2. Contact your target university’s admissions office: There are also some international departments that offer discretionary fee support for GRE exam registration fee for high-need applicants. But this varies hugely by school.
3. Look into the Fulbright program: The Fulbright scholarship offers grants for international educational exchange. This can sometimes help in offsetting any test-related costs for scholars and students who are eligible.
4. Watch for seasonal ETS promo codes: On occasion, you can find discount codes which can appear on the official ETS website or through partner institutions. Even though these are not guaranteed, they are worth checking before you register.
5. Avoid unnecessary extra costs: Because getting a discount is not very likely. It is important that you focus on controlling costs at other places. For example, register early to avoid rescheduling fees, use 4 free score reports wisely, and prepare thoroughly to avoid a costly retake.

Total GRE Preparation Cost in India 2026

Most students focus on the GRE exam fee India alone. But that is only one piece of the puzzle and you have to bear the costs of coaching, study materials, and more. Here is a realistic breakdown of what preparing for and taking the GRE actually costs in India in 2026:

Full GRE Exam Cost Breakdown

Sample Total Cost Scenarios

Conclusion

Between the General Test GRE exam fee, optional coaching, extra score reports beyond your Free 4, and potential rescheduling charges, the GRE cost in India can range from a lean ₹24,000 to well over ₹90,000 depending on how you prepare. But do you know that the biggest lever is not the GRE exam fee in India. It is whether you need coaching and how many programs you are sending scores to.

And this is where Gradding can help you. Our expert counsellors can help you decide upfront whether self-study to cover GRE Syllabus 2026 or guided coaching fits your target score and timeline. So you are not overspending on programs you do not need. Plus, we also help you shortlist universities early, keeping your score reports within the free 4 wherever possible.

FAQs

1. What is the GRE Exam Fee in India for 2026-27?

In India, the GRE General Test fee is around $249 or 25,522 INR and the GRE Subject Test fee is ₹17,818.

2. Can I Get a Refund if I Cancel My GRE Exam?

You can get a refund when you cancel your GRE exam but only about 50% and that is if you cancel it four full days before your scheduled test date.

3. Are There Any Additional GRE Fees Apart from The Registration Fee?

There are multiple additional GRE costs beyond the base registration fee. This includes rescheduling fee, test centre change fee, additional score reports, score review fee, and score reinstatement fee.

4. How Much Does It Cost to Send Additional GRE Score Reports to Universities?

To send additional GRE score reports to universities it can cost you around $40 USD or ₹4,150 per recipient.

5. Is the GRE Exam Fee the Same for all Countries in 2026-27?

The GRE exam fee is not the same for all countries in 2026-27. Most of the areas around the world charge around $249, with china cost around $231.30.