Updated on 19 Aug 2026
By Jiya Tyagi, Content Creator
Candidates should regularly check the official CAT website for the latest updates on registration, admit card, exam guidelines, and other important details.
CAT 2026 registration is now open. September 15, 2026 is the deadline for submission of CAT 2026 applications that has been set by the IIM Indore, which is the conducting body of CAT exam. Candidates who wish to gain admission in the management courses at IIMs need to fill CAT 2026 application form via iimcat.ac.in. CAT application fee is INR 2,700 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates and INR 1,350 for SC/ST/PwD candidates. Candidates who have completed their bachelor's degree course with 50% or above marks are eligible to apply. The minimum eligibility criteria for SC, ST & PwD candidates is 45%. To know more about CAT 2026 registration, go through the details provided below.
Students can complete the CAT 2026 application form online via CAT website iimcat.ac.in. The process includes creating an account, providing personal and educational details, uploading the necessary documents, making program and test city choices, and finally paying the application fees. Candidates eligible according to the CAT eligibility criteria can register for the exam. Check below the point to remember befor filling the CAT application form:
Check the IIM CAT 2026 registration process below:
Step 1: Register for CAT 2026

CAT registration page where candidates enter their basic information and generate an OTP for verification.
Step 2: IIM CAT Login and Begin Registration

Candidate dashboard where registered applicants can log in and access the CAT application form.
Step 3: Enter Personal Details and Upload Documents in the CAT Application Form
In this section, candidates need to provide their personal, category, disability, and address details. The information required includes:
Note:
Upload Photograph and Signature
After entering the details and uploading all the required documents, click on Save & Next.

Personal details and document upload section where candidates enter their personal and address details and upload their photograph, signature, and applicable certificates.
Step 4: Enter Academic Details in CAT Registration 2026
Candidates need to enter their Class 10, Class 12/Diploma, Bachelor's degree, and other applicable academic details in the CAT 2026 application form.
Class 10 Details
Class 12 or Diploma Details
Bachelor’s Degree Details
After entering all the academic details, click on Save & Next.

Academics section where candidates enter their marks, qualification details, and graduation details.
Step 5: Enter Work Experience
Candidates are required to state the number of days spent in working full-time after completing their education till 31st July, 2026.
Note: Working part-time, internship, articled, academic project and work experience gained prior to completion of studies are not eligible work experience.
Step 6: Select Programmes and Interview Cities
Candidates can choose the management programmes offered by the participating IIMs in the programme selection section.
Step 7: Select CAT Test Cities
Candidates are required to pick five test cities as per their preferences.
Note: Test City and Exam Slot will be allotted to candidates post completion of the registration process as per availability of the test centres. Details of the allotted test center and slot will be given in CAT admit card.
Step 8: Preview, Submit and Pay CAT Application Fee
Students are expected to make payment through a credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI, and wallet facility. After making the payment successfully, students are supposed to note the transaction number. Students will have to log in again and select the Download Application option to download the CAT application form.
CAT 2026 exam date include registration, last date of application, admit card release, exam date, answer key, and result. These important dates should be kept in mind by students in order to complete the entire process of admission in CAT 2026.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 25 Jul 2026 | CAT 2026 exam notification date |
| 03 Aug 2026 | CAT 2026 application start date |
| 15 Sep 2026 | Last date to apply for CAT 2026 |
| 04 Nov – 29 Nov 2026 | CAT 2026 admit card |
| 29 Nov 2026 | CAT 2026 exam date |
Candidates need to keep the required documents ready while filling out CAT 2026 application form. The photograph, signature, and applicable certificates must be uploaded in the prescribed format and size.
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Scanned Passport-Size Photograph | The photograph should be recent and not more than six months old. It should be 1200 × 1200 pixels and in .jpg or .jpeg format. The file size should not exceed 80 KB, with a resolution of at least 150 px/inch. |
| Scanned Signature | The signature should be 80 mm × 35 mm and in .jpg or .jpeg format. It should be clear and placed on a white background. The file size should not exceed 80 KB, with a resolution of at least 150 px/inch. |
| NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate | Candidates belonging to the NC-OBC, SC, or ST category need to download the prescribed certificate from the CAT website, enter the required details, self-attest it, and upload the scanned copy in PDF format. |
| PwD Certificate | Candidates applying under the PwD category need to download the prescribed PwD certificate from the CAT website, fill in the required details, self-attest it, and upload the scanned copy in PDF format. |
| Final Year Certificate | Candidates currently in the final year of their Bachelor’s degree need to upload the Final Year Certificate issued by the Principal, HoD, Registrar, or Director. The certificate should confirm that the candidate has obtained at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) or equivalent based on the latest available marks/grades. The prescribed format can be downloaded from the IIM CAT website. |
While applying for CAT 2026, one needs to make the choice of five preferred test cities from the list of provided options. But the actual test city will depend on the availability of seats in the test centers. The allotment of CAT test city and test center will be mentioned in the CAT admit card. The candidates might have the chance to change their preferred test city during CAT form correction period as prescribed by the exam conducting body.
CAT 2026 application fee has to be paid at the time of submission of the form. The candidate can fill the form along with the registration procedure, but the application will not be treated as complete until the fee is paid successfully. The latest CAT 2026 application fee is given below:
| Category | CAT Application Fee 2026 |
|---|---|
| General, EWS and NC-OBC | INR 2,700 |
| SC, ST and PwD | INR 1,350 |
While applying for the CAT 2026 examination through the application form, candidates should take into consideration the following points:
CAT Application Process: Errors to Avoid
CAT application process permits edits only to certain fields in the correction period. Hence, students are advised to complete the form with care from the beginning itself.
CAT 2026 form correction window will only let candidates correct themselves in the mentioned columns. They may upload an improved picture of the photograph and signature and change the preference of test city. The steps of CAT 2026 form correction are:
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