CAT Registration 2026: Dates (Aug 1), Fees, Eligibility & How to Apply

CAT Exam 2026 Registration Date (Expected)

The following table lists the dates of CAT registration.

CAT 2026 Notification To be Released

The IIM Indore, expected to conduct the CAT 2026 exam, will release the CAT 2026 notification on the last Sunday of July 2026, or July 26, 2026, tentatively. Candidates will be able to check the CAT 2026 notification mentioned in the table below once released.

CAT 2026 Registration Eligibility Criteria

Before you apply for the CAT 2026 registration, you must ensure that you fulfil the required CAT 2026 eligibility criteria. Let us look at the following points.

• All candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks (or equivalent CGPA) from a recognised university. Students in their final year of graduation or those awaiting results can also apply for the exam.
• There is no upper age limit for taking the CAT 2026 exam. Moreover, professional degree holders like CA/CS/ICWA are eligible to apply.
• Having work experience is not mandatory for the CAT application; however, candidates having some work experience will be considered a plus point.
• There are no specific nationality restrictions mentioned in the CAT eligibility criteria.
• Lastly, 5% of seats are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwD) as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

CAT 2026 Reservation Criteria

How to Register for CAT 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Candidates are advised to follow the steps given below to complete, right from registering to making the payment, the entire application process in a hassle-free manner. CAT exam form fill-up procedure to follow:

Step 1: First, candidates have to go to the CAT official website, i.e., the IIMCAT Registration Tab.
Step 2: Next, click the “New Candidate Registration” button on the right side of the CAT 2026 official website.

Step 3: It will carry the applicant to the "CAT 2026 registration" page. From there, aspirants will have to enter the below essential details, such as,

• Name of the Candidate
• Date of Birth
• Email Address
• Country
• Mobile Number and

• Captcha

Step 4: After entering all the required details, click on the “Generate OTP” button. The OTP will be sent to the applicant's registered email address. By using the OTP, candidates will have to complete the CAT 2026 registration process.
Step 5: Then log in to the candidate's dashboard and fill out the CAT exam application form 2026 with the required details, like,

• Personal Details
• Other Personal Details
• Communication Address
• Emergency Contact Details

• Upload Documents (in a prescribed format and size)

Step 6: Fill in the academic and qualification details of SSC/Class 10, HSC/ Class 12, Bachelor’s Degree Details, Master’s Degree Details, and Other Professional Degree Details.
Step 7: Once the above process is done, the applicants will need to enter the work experience details, if any.
Step 8: Enter other personal details, communication details, and emergency contact details, and upload all the required documents in a prescribed format.

Step 9: Then select the work experience details (if any), IIM Programmes & Interview Cities. Choose any six preferred CAT 2026 test cities.

The only work experience considered relevant during your CAT exam registration will be undertaken after the completion of your graduation. Candidates should enter their total work experience in months.

Step 10: The final process of the CAT 2026 registration is to pay the CAT 2026 application fee, which needs to be paid online.

CAT Registration Fees 2026

While filling out the CAT application form, candidates have to pay the CAT exam fee as well. The following are the CAT 2026 registration fees that candidates need to pay at the time of filling out the CAT exam form 2026.

CAT 2026 Registration - Transaction Fees

Question: What is the last date for cat registration 2026?
Answer: The last date for CAT 2026 registration is expected to be around September 20, 2026. .

Question: What is the fee for CAT registration?
Answer: CAT registration fee is Rs. 2,600 for unreserved categories and Rs. 1,300 for reserved category students. All must note that the registration fee must be paid through debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI.

Know more about;

Documents Required for CAT Registration 2026

Candidates should have the following details ready before filling out the CAT online registration form. Candidates are advised to scan the documents prior to filling out the CAT form 2026. The following CAT exam registration documents are listed below.

• Email Address
• Mobile Number
• Passport Size Photograph
• Signature
• Personal Details
• Academic Details
• Work Experience Certificate (if any)
• Payment Details

Make sure the photo and signature that you submit are in the specified format (.jpg or jpeg) and are in the size (less than 80 KB). The passport-size photograph should not be more than six months old and should have a white background.

CAT Application Form Correction Window 2026

The CAT application form correction window will likely open from September 2026 onwards. The motive behind the opening of the CAT correction window is to rectify the mistakes made while filling out the CAT exam form. Mistakes in scanned images of photographs, signatures, or CAT exam centre preferences can be modified during this period of the CAT application form correction window. Also, applicants can make changes to the test city option. Aspirants must log in and adjust the images as needed.

CAT 2026 Registration: Elements that cannot be edited in the application form

• Once the CAT 2026 form is submitted, candidates can not make a change in the personal details such as:
  • Candidate Name
  • Date of Birth (DOB)
  • Email Address
  • Mobile Number
• If they make a mistake in these details, they will have to register again with a new email ID.
• Details entered in the latest CAT exam registration 2026 will be considered in such a case. CAT admit card 2026 will be issued for that.
• Failure to re-register in such circumstances may result in the cancellation of the candidature.

How to Edit CAT Application Form 2026?

CAT application form correction is a one-time process. During the CAT correction window, candidates can upload a better photograph and image of their signature in the submitted CAT form or change their test city preference. Rest, no other section can be editable. Check out the process of how you can edit the CAT application form 2026.

• Log on to the IIM CAT 2026 official website: iimcat.ac.in.
• Click on the "Login" tab
• Enter the required credentials, such as User ID and Password
• Click on the Application Form tab
• Click on the relevant section (Photo, Signature, Test City) and make changes
• Enter the required CAPTCHA code and click on continue to complete the process

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• Top B-schools in India - Know the Seats and Fees

CAT Exam Form 2026: Size/Format of CAT Registration Required Documents

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Preview CAT Registration form 2026

Preview the filled CAT 2026 form before the payment of the CAT registration fee, as no changes are allowed once the fee is paid. So candidates are advised to check all the details entered before submission of the application form.

Confirmation email after successful CAT registration 2026

Candidates will receive a confirmation mail and also be sent to the registered mobile no. once the CAT registration fee is paid. This should be kept safe as it is proof of payment for the CAT 2026 registration.

Forgot CAT Login ID?

Candidates might forget their CAT login ID; do not panic. Follow the information below to retrieve a user ID.

• Click the "Forgot User ID/ Password" button and enter the registered email ID and CAPTCHA to get the CAT user ID in the registered email ID.

Forgot CAT Login Password?

Candidates should follow the same procedure we discussed for retrieving the CAT login ID.

Click the "Forgot User ID/ Password" tab on the CAT 2026 official website and enter the registered email ID and CAPTCHA. The new password will be sent to the candidate's registered email address. If multiple passwords are used, candidates should use the password contained in the most recent SMS received from IIM.

NOTE: Regenerated CAT login passwords will not be sent as SMS.

CAT Registration 2026 Last Date

The CAT registration last date is expected to be in the third week of September 2026. Going by past year trends, IIMs usually extend the CAT registration window for 4 to 5 days, but candidates are advised to fill out the CAT registration form as per the dates specified in the CAT notification.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During CAT Registration

Some of the common mistakes that one must avoid during CAT registration include providing inaccurate personal or academic information, using an inactive email or phone number, choosing unsuitable test cities, forgetting to save the payment receipt, and waiting until the last day to register.

Additionally, candidates must also ensure that they have the correct documents with the correct specifications.

Important Guidelines for CAT Registration 2026

The following are some of the essential instructions for a smooth and error-free CAT 2026 registration process.

Use Valid Contact Information

Make sure you enter a working email ID and mobile number, which will be used for all official communication (login credentials, admit card alerts, result updates). You must avoid using someone else’s email ID or a temporary email service.

Accurate Personal Details

Ensure that your name, date of birth, and academic details match your official documents (Class 10, 12, and Graduation mark sheets). Any incorrect data will lead to the cancellation of candidature at a later stage.

Document Upload Requirements

Make sure you upload your passport-size photographs and signature as per the specified size and format. If you are submitting category or disability certificates, they should be self-attested and in PDF format.

Choose Exam Cities Wisely

At the time of filling out the CAT application form, you can only fill in up to 6 test cities for the CAT exam. However, the allotment will depend on availability, so it is suggested that candidates register early to increase their chances of getting their top choice.

Work Experience (if any)

If you have professional experience, you must enter the accurate months that you worked, the organisation name, and the industry types. Keep in mind that this information will be verified at the time of the WAT/PI rounds of IIMs.

Final Review before Submission

Before hitting the ‘Submit’ button, make sure you review the entire application form for errors. However, CAT does provide a limited correction window

Secure Payment

At the time of making a payment, make sure you have a secure internet connection. Once the payment is made, you must save the transaction receipt and final application confirmation for your records.

No Multiple Registrations

All candidates must note that ONLY ONE registration will be accepted per candidate and that they should refrain from multiple registrations.

Browser Compatibility

Lastly, candidates must ensure that they are using an updated version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox for a smoother experience. You can disable auto-fill plugins to avoid accidental overwriting of fields.

CAT Registration Year-Wise Trends

As per the last 18 years of CAT registration trends, the number of registrations has been very high. Take a look at the CAT registration trends over the last eighteen years. However, last year, the CAT registration number was reduced from 3.29 lakh in 2024 to 2.95 lakh in 2025.