Jeli Polytechnic began operations on 1 April 2007 at the Kota Bharu Polytechnic Library building, Kelantan. A total of four officers, namely Mr. Mohd Sopian Bin Bahauddin, AMP (Director), Mr. Hj. Ibrahim Bin Abdullah (Head of Electrical Engineering Department), Pn. Siti Noor Bt Abdullah (Student Affairs Officer) and En. Shafwan Bin Ismail (Development Officer) was a key pillar in the beginning of the establishment of this Polytechnic. For a start, a total of 34 students have been offered to follow the Certificate in Electrical Engineering (SKE) course for the July 2007 session and they are pioneering students.
On 14 February 2013, the Jeli Polytechnic Permanent Campus Project Submission Ceremony was held at the Jeli Polytechnic Permanent Campus by JKR to the Department of Polytechnic Studies. Starting from 1 March 2013, Kelantan Jeli Polytechnic has been OFFICIALLY operating at the Jeli Permanent Campus. The FIRST intake of students is done in the semester of June 2013. The first program implemented at Jeli Polytechnic is the Diploma in Agrotechnology & Aquaculture.