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TOEFL Registration 2026

Follow the ETS registration process, from creating your account and choosing a test format to selecting a date, adding score recipients, uploading passport details and completing payment.

TOEFL Registration 2026: Complete Guide for Indian Students Applying to the UAE

To study in universities in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, Indian students need to show their English language command. TOEFL iBT is accepted in UAE schools along with IELTS.

If you want to do a bachelor's degree at the United Arab Emirates University or a master's programme at the American University of Sharjah, here is how you can register for TOEFL in India. This is what it costs in 2026. You can plan your exam around UAE application deadlines.

Registration Is Centralized Through ETS

TOEFL is owned and administered directly by ETS (Educational Testing Service). Every candidate globally, whether testing from India or already in the UAE, registers through the same official ETS portal. There's no separate regional booking agency to navigate and no distinction between an "India process" and a "UAE process".

Which TOEFL Test Should You Register For?

  • TOEFL iBT (Test Centre):The standard, computer-based test taken at an authorised centre. This is the format most UAE universities reference directly when listing a TOEFL requirement.
  • TOEFL iBT Home Edition:It is the same test as the regular one. You pay the same fee and your score is valid for the same amount of time. The difference is that you take it from home with online surveillance. Most universities accept it. But always check with the university you want to go to, because some universities might be exceptions. For example, UAEU does not accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition for its programmes. So you need to check this before you sign up.
  • TOEFL Essentials and TOEFL ITP:Avoid registering if you want to get a degree unless the university you are applying to specifically asks for one of these tests. Acceptance is inconsistent across UAE institutions and generally limited to foundational or institutional placement programmes.

Step-by-Step: How to Register for TOEFL Online in India

1

Create Your ETS Account

Go to the official ETS website and create an account. This ETS account is like a dashboard for you. You will use this ETS account for lots of things, like registration and score reports. Rescheduling your ETS test.

2

Enter Accurate Personal Details

When you are making your ETS account, you have to enter some details. This includes your name and your date of birth. Make sure you enter these exactly as they are on your passport. Your ETS account needs to have the name and date of birth as on your passport.

3

Select Your Testing Method

You need to decide how to take the TOEFL iBT test. For which you have two options:

  • Take it at a test centre.
  • Take the TOEFL iBT Home Edition.
4

Choose Your Test Date and Location

To see which test centres are available near you, first you need to choose a test date. Then select a time that works for you. Next, pick a test centre near you for the TOEFL iBT test.

5

Add Your Score Recipients

You get to choose up to 4 institutions to receive your TOEFL iBT test scores for free. It is ideal to choose these institutions before you take the TOEFL iBT test to avoid extra fees later. You can change your recipients until 10 pm local test centre time the day before your test.

6

Pay the Registration Fee

The ETS takes Visa, Mastercard, American Express, RuPay, UPI and Bharat QR payments for people from India.

7

Run the Equipment Check

If you are taking the home edition, you need to install the ETS Secure Browser and run the equipment check before the test day. You must do this step early so you do not have problems on the test day.

8

Receive Confirmation

You will get an email that says your registration is confirmed. This email will have your appointment number, the date of the test and the details of the test centre or the home edition. It's better to save this email, as it might come in use for the appointment number if you want to make changes over the phone.

TOEFL Exam Fees in India (2026)

ETS's published base fees carry an 18% GST in India. Below is the final, checkout-ready pricing for the 2026 testing cycle.

Service 2026 Fee in India (INR, GST-inclusive)
TOEFL iBT Registration (Test Centre or Home Edition)₹18,000
Late/Express Registration₹3,900
Test Rescheduling₹5,900
Reinstatement of Cancelled Scores₹1,950
Additional Score Reports (per institution)₹2,714
Speaking or Writing Score Review₹7,900
Payment Return (declined/bounced payment)₹3,422

Note: You'll see the base figure of ₹15,254 quoted on some sites. That's the pre-tax ETS fee; ₹18,000 is what you'll actually pay at checkout once 18% GST is applied. Always confirm the exact amount shown at payment before completing your registration.

Registration Deadlines and Retake Rules

  • Regular Registration:Closes 7 full days before your test date.
  • Express Registration:Closes 2 days before the test date and adds the ₹3,900 late fee.
  • Exam Calendar:TOEFL dates are available on a rolling basis throughout the year, so there's no fixed national calendar the way there is for some paper-based exams.
  • Retake Policy:There's no limit on how many times you can take TOEFL, but you cannot sit for it again within 3 days of a previous attempt, even if you cancelled your earlier scores.

Ideal Testing Timeline for UAE Intakes

UAE Academic Intake Recommended Exam Window Latest Safe Exam Date
September Intake (Fall) March – May June–July
January Intake (Spring) July – September October–November

You should take the TOEFL test at least three to four months before the deadline for your first university application. This way, you have time to get your TOEFL score. Send it to the university. If your TOEFL score is not good enough for the university you want to go to, you can take the test again.

Rescheduling and Cancelling Your TOEFL Test

You have to make any changes to your TOEFL test through your account on the ETS website. You cannot do this by calling them, sending an email or going to the test centre.

  • Deadline:The deadline to change your test date or cancel it is at least 4 full days before the day of your TOEFL test. If your TOEFL test is on a Saturday, you must take it by Tuesday.
  • Reschedule fee:₹5,900.
  • Cancellation refund:Cancel by the 4-day deadline and you automatically receive a 50% refund of your original test fee, credited to your original payment method. Cash refunds aren't available. Miss the window, and there's no refund at all.

Documents Required for TOEFL Registration

  • A valid passport is the only accepted primary ID for test centre entry or home edition check-in in India. National IDs such as Aadhaar, PAN, or a driving licence are not accepted, with no exceptions.
  • An active email address and phone number for your ETS account.
  • You can pay using a credit card or a debit card. You can use UPI or Bharat QR.
  • For people taking the Home Edition test, you will also need a working webcam, a stable internet connection and a room that is good for ETS testing. And meets the ETS requirements for the testing environment. Check these well in advance, since failing the equipment check close to your test date can force a costly reschedule.

How to Send TOEFL Scores to UAE Universities

When you register, you'll be asked to add score recipients using each institution's ETS-designated institution (DI) code. It is the system used to send scores to schools all over the world. You can add up to four schools for free before you take your test. After that, you have to pay ₹2,714 for each score report. Your university's admissions page will have its DI code listed. So you should check with each school directly to confirm the code. Don't rely on a list from someone

Recommended TOEFL Scores for UAE Universities

These scores are a guide. Requirements differ for each university and programme. Always verify current minimums on your target university's official admissions page before you register.

University TOEFL iBT (Undergraduate) Notes
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) 70 Home Edition is not accepted; check current programme pages for postgraduate minimums
Abu Dhabi University 61 (or 51 for a lower conditional band) The exact band depends on the programme
American University of Sharjah 80 The same minimum applies whether IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or EmSAT is submitted

Alternative English Proficiency Exams Accepted in the UAE

TOEFL iBT is not the choice. Many universities in the UAE are accepting IELTS Academic. Some universities, for example, UAEU, ADU and AUS, accept EmSAT English as an alternative; confirm with your target university's admissions page for the full list of accepted tests before committing to one.

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