CAT Registration 2026: Open from August 3; Check how to apply at IIMCAT.ac.in, Fees, Documents, Mistakes, Direct Link

CAT 2026 Registration Dates: Conducted by one of the top IIMs every year by rotation, Common Admission Test (CAT) is the largest MBA entrance exam for MBA admission in 22 IIMs and other top B-schools. CAT 2025 was conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 30, 2025. Around 2.58 lakh candidates appeared in the CAT 2025 exam out of 2.95 lakh registered candidates. Read past 20 year’s CAT examination registration trends later in this article. CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 29, 2026. CAT exam registration dates are from August 3 till September 15, 2026. CAT exam registration start date is August 3, and CAT exam form last date is September 15, 2026. Check important events and their dates in the CAT schedule 2026 table below: 

CAT 2026 registration direct link is available on CAT official website, www.iimcat.ac.in. You can also access the direct link below:

CAT Registration Direct Link 2026: https://cdn.digialm.com/EForms/configuredHtml/32842/101262/Registration.html 

CAT 2026 Registration Fees is increased from last year. CAT examination registration fees is Rs 2,700 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates. CAT registration form fees for SC/ST/PwD categories is Rs 1,350. For comparison, CAT 2025 registration fees was Rs 2,600 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates and Rs 1350 for SC/ST/PwD category candidates. Candidates should note that the CAT Registration Fees includes admission applications for all the 22 IIMs in India. No separate IIM application fees is charged. However, candidates have to pay separate application for applying to non-IIM B-schools. 

The official CAT 2026 notification was released on July 26, the last Sunday of July, by IIM Indore. CAT notification 2026 was published on the official CAT website and as advertisements in major newspapers. It contains all important details about CAT exam, such as eligibility criteria, exam dates, the application process, the syllabus, the exam pattern, and other important details.

Candidates should read the notification carefully to understand the registration process, CAT 2026 exam date, and required documents before the application window opens on August 3, 2026.

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before you begin the CAT 2026 registration process, it is essential to verify that you meet the eligibility criteria set by IIMs. The CAT 2026 eligibility criteria cover educational qualifications, category-wise minimum marks, and reservation policies. Importantly, there is no age limit and no restriction on the number of attempts.

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Key Requirements

CAT 2026 Reservation Policy is followed by IIMs which require reservation for SC, ST, NC-BC, EWS, and PwBD candidates. For complete category-wise eligibility requirements, supporting documents, and reservation rules, read CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 on MBAUniverse.com. 

CAT registration 2026 process has started from August 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM. How to fill CAT Application Form 2026? CAT registration 2026 process can be completed by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Register for User ID and Password 
The first step towards CAT exam registration is to visit the CAT official website iimcat.ac.in and register for getting your User ID and password.

Step 2: Login to CAT Website
After receiving your User ID and password, the next step towards CAT registration is to login to CAT website and enter the same to login to your account.

Step 3: Complete CAT Form Filling Process
How to fill CAT Exam Form? To complete the CAT 2026 registration process, CAT Application Form filling can be completed by filling these details: 

1. PERSONAL DETAILS
2. ACADEMICS
3. WORK EXPERIENCE
4. PROGRAMMES
5. TEST CITY
6. DECLARATION  

The first step towards completing CAT registration 2026 is to visit CAT 2026 registration website - iimcat.ac.in. Click the ‘Register’ button under New Candidate Registration header to create your user profile. The Registration form window will open in your browser. The registration form to create your User Profile appears as shown below. To complete the registration process, generate the OTP by clicking on “GENERATE OTP” button. You will be redirected to CAPTCHA to fill and submit the OTP received on your mobile for verification. Candidates should remember that entries on this form cannot be changed once submitted, hence, please ensure that you enter the required information correctly.

Enter following details to complete new registration for CAT 2026:

• Name of Candidate: This should be the same as it appears in 10th/SSC Certificate.
• Date of Birth: Use the calendar icon to select the correct date.
• Email Address: Should be valid and unique. You will receive your User ID on this email address only (Overseas candidates will receive both User ID & Password on this email address only).
• Mobile Number: Should be valid and unique. You will receive an OTP to verify your mobile number and your Password as an SMS on this number only.
  o    India based mobile number should have 10 digits.
  o    Mobiles from other countries should be prefixed with the respective country code. Special characters such as (0), +, - are not allowed.

OTP
To complete the registration process, generate the OTP by clicking on the Generate OTP button. You will be redirected to CAPTCHA to fill and submit. To verify the mobile number, enter the OTP received and click on “Validate the OTP” tab. After validation, you will be able to submit the registration form, and candidate will receive the User ID and Password on the registered email address and on the registered mobile number. Overseas candidates will receive both User ID and Password only on registered email address.

CAPTCHA
The CAPTCHA box (as displayed above) is a special set of characters displayed on the screen. You will have to retype the characters displayed in the box provided. If you have trouble reading the characters, click the ‘Get new image’ link to refresh the characters.

DECLARATION
By selecting the ‘I Agree’ checkbox in the Declaration section, you are committing to be honest and fair in all your actions and that the information provided in the CAT 2026 Registration Form is correct and true. Providing wrong information can lead to the cancellation of your right to appear in the examination or to be considered for the admission process as mandated by the appropriate authority. It is mandatory to agree to the contents in the Declaration to proceed to submit the form.

CONFIRMATION OF REGISTRATION
Within minutes of submitting the Registration Form, you will receive your Login Details on the registered email address from the administrator with the subject line Registration Successful for CAT 2026. Ensure that you check your mailbox immediately. If you do not receive the email within a reasonable period, please check your spam folder.

You will also receive the Login Details as an SMS on the registered mobile number from sender IIMCAT (not applicable for overseas candidates). Using these credentials, you may proceed to complete your application for CAT 2026 by clicking on the link given in the email. You may also log in from the CAT 2026 Website. This marks the completion of Step 1 of the Registration Process.

The second step towards completing CAT registration 2026 is to use the User ID and Password (received at the completion of Step 1 above) to login as a “Registered Candidate” on the website and fill the CAT Application Form 2026. After logging in, you will be redirected to the Applicant Details page. The Applicant’s personal details will be displayed on this page. Next to Personal Details, a link “GO TO APPLICATION” is available. Click this link to go to the application page. 

This is the main step for completing CAT registration 2026. CAT Application Form filling is categorized into the following six sections:  

1. PERSONAL DETAILS
2. ACADEMICS
3. WORK EXPERIENCE
4. PROGRAMMES
5. TEST CITY
6. DECLARATION   

Before you begin filling the information, read the instructions at the start of the form. After you complete the last section, i.e., Payment, your application for CAT 2026 will be considered complete and you will receive a confirmation mail. After this, changes to any information provided on the application form is not possible. You can only print or save the form. Details are available on the application submission page. 
 

A short overview of how you can fill CAT entrance form is given below. Read CAT 2026 Application Form Filling Guide for more details. 

Enter Personal Details 

The first step in CAT form filling is to enter and verify your personal details. Enter following information to complete your personal details required in this step:

• Candidate’s First Name, Middle Name, Last Name
• Father’s/Guardian’s Name and Mother’s Name/Guardian’s Name
• Spouse’s Name (if married)
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Nationality
• Category 

Candidates should select category details from the drop-down menu. If you are not selecting “General Category”, then you will be required to add supporting documents such as Caste/Tribe Certificate etc. Check list of category supporting documents required for CAT entrance form below.

Communication/Permanent Address: After adding personal details, candidates should add their Communication/Permanent Address. Enter your both present and permanent postal address details correctly, as it will be used for communication during the admission process. You need to provide an alternate Email Address and emergency Mobile Number while filling up the Application form. 

Next, candidates have to Upload Required Documents, given below, to complete personal details: 

• CAT Photograph specifications: Recent passport-size photograph (not older than 6 months), white background, 1200×1200 pixels (or higher resolution at minimum 150px/inch), clear image. The same photograph will be required on the admit card on exam day — keep sufficient copies. Acceptable formats: .jpg or .jpeg.
• Signature: Upload the scanned image of your signature within the dimensions of 80mm X 35mm. The documents file format should be a .jpg or .jpeg and the file size should not be more than 80KB.
• Valid EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate: If applicable, upload this certificate. Scan as PDF document to upload it.
• Valid PwBD Certificate: If applicable. Scan as PDF document to upload here. 

Refer image of CAT 2026 application form below. After entering your personal details and uploading the required documents, click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.  

Enter Personal Details

Enter Academic Details  

In this section, you should enter following educational qualification details carefully: 

• SSC/10th/Equivalent Exam Details: Enter Name of the Board, Year/Month of completion, Maximum Marks, Total Marks Obtained, Aggregate Percentage. Enter similar details for following qualifications.
• HSC/12th/Equivalent/Diploma Exam Details
• First Bachelor’s Degree Details
• Master’s Degree Details
• Professional Degree Details

Refer image of CAT 2026 application form below. Click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.

Enter Work Experience 
If you are a candidate with work experience, enter your experience details as on July 31, 2026. Enter following details for each of your work experiences:

• Name of Organization
• Start Date
• End Date
• Break in Experience (In days)
• Experience (In days)

Remember, only Full-time experience after graduation must be entered. Do not enter Part-time/ Project/ Internship/ Article ship/ Pre-graduation work experience as it will not be counted as work experience by IIMs for MBA admission. Break in Experience if any, needs to be entered in days in the text box provided. If there is no break, please enter “0” and proceed.

Refer image of CAT 2026 application form below. Click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.



Select IIMs
Next step is to enter IIMs and their programs that you wish to apply to. Since there is no additional fees and effort in applying for all IIMs, you should select all programmes by clicking on the “Select All” checkbox. Also select your Interview City preference from the respective drop-down list. Refer image from CAT 2026 application form below. Click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.
 
Refer image of CAT 2026 application form below. Click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.

Enter IIM “PROGRAMMES” Details

Enter CAT Test City
Next, you should enter your preferred CAT Test City where you will like to take the CAT exam. Candidates have to fill 5 different Test Cities as per your preference from the drop-down menu. New in the CAT 2026 Form: Candidates have to also select the “State” matching each of the five test cities. After the last date of registration, one among the 5 preferred test cities will be allotted subject to availability. In rare cases, if an Applicant is not allotted to any of the preferred test cities, Applicant will be allotted to a nearby test city. Refer image of CAT 2026 application form below. Click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.  list of CAT Exam Centres 2026.

Enter CAT Test City


 

Pay Fees and Sign Declaration
The final step of CAT application form filling is to pay CAT exam fees and sign declaration form. CAT 2026 registration fees for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates is Rs. 2,700. CAT 2026 registration fees for SC/ST/PwD candidate is Rs. 1350. Before proceeding with the payment, carefully read the transaction charges as per the table displayed on form. Payment by UPI is the best option, as there are no extra charges. Payment by Net Banking has extra changes. Candidates must sign a declaration confirming that all details submitted in the application form are correct, and you will produce supporting certificates and documents when required. During this stage, it is important to preview the application form, using the ‘PREVIEW’ button to check for accuracy and completeness of your data.  
 
After successful fees payment, a ‘Payment Successful’ message will be displayed on the screen along with the Payment Transaction Number. Please keep it saved for future references. Next, you will receive a confirmation email stating the successful submission of your CAT 2026 Application. With this step, your CAT Online form filling process is completed. 

Pay Fees and Sign Declaration

Application Confirmation & Download Application Form

After completing above steps, you will also receive a confirmation email and SMS stating the successful submission of your CAT 2026 Application within a few minutes. The email may also contain communication on additional details such as Admit Card download window.

Application Summary will be available whenever you login to the CAT 2026 application form as a Registered User. This is a Read-only view of the details you have entered.

After submitting your application upon login to the CAT 2026 application form as a Registered User, you will see the Download Application tab from where you can download the application details provided by you. Download it, and save it in your CAT 2026 folder. 

Following documents will be required during the CAT 2026 form filling process. Candidates must keep them ready before starting application form filling. Check more details about academic qualifications in the following section:

• Class 10 marksheet
• Class 12 marksheet
• Graduation marksheets/certificate
• Date of Birth certificate
• Address proof
• Final year certificate from principal, HoD or Director (if applicable)
• Caste category certificate (if applicable)
• PwD category certificate (if applicable)
• Scribe certificate (if applicable)
• Credit/debit card or net banking credentials
• Work experience document

While filling CAT 2026 form candidates should fill following educational qualification in detail, as given below:

• SSC/10th/Equivalent Details
• HSC/12th/Equivalent/Diploma Course Details
• First Bachelor’s Degree Details
• Second Bachelor’s Degree Details
• Master’s Degree Details
• Professional Degree Details

Important Note regarding Percentage Calculations 
If any Board/Institute/University awards only letter grades without providing an equivalent percentage of marks on the grade sheet, the candidate should obtain a certificate from the Board/Institute/University specifying the equivalent marks or the conversion procedure, and the conversion to percentage of marks would be based on this procedure as certified by the respective board/University/Institution. If any board /University/Institution confirms that there is no scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence would be established by dividing the candidate's CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result with 100. The original equivalence certificate needs to be submitted at the time of interview, if shortlisted for the interview.

For computing percentages of marks obtained in SSC/10th/Equivalent examination and HSC/12th/Equivalent/Diploma examination, the total marks of all subjects that appear in the mark sheet/grade sheet would be considered irrespective of the Boards regulation. For graduates and postgraduates, the aggregate percentage of marks awarded by the Board/Institute/University will be treated as final. If the Institute/University does not award the aggregate percentage of marks, it will be calculated based on the marks obtained in all subjects listed in the mark sheet.

SSC/10th/Equivalent Details
For computing percentages of marks obtained in SSC/10th/Equivalent examination, the total marks of all subjects that appear in the mark sheet/grade sheet would be considered irrespective of the Board’s regulation. In Aggregate Percentage, you can specify your converted CGPA/percentage of marks obtained marks up to 2 decimals.

If you have completed your SSC/10th/Equivalent in the year 2020/2021 and haven’t received results or have been promoted/passed without marks, then you can mark the flag ‘Promotion/Pass without Marks’ to proceed further with the application form. *Only valid for candidates passing out in 2020/2021*

HSC/12th/Equivalent/Diploma Course Details
Select Course Type as 12th/Equivalent if you followed the HSC or school structure of two-year education post 10th standard, else select Diploma.
Enter all the relevant details. For computing percentages of marks obtained in 12th/Equivalent/ Diploma examination, the total marks of all subjects that appear in the mark sheet/grade sheet would be considered irrespective of the Board’s regulation.
In Aggregate Percentage, you can specify your converted CGPA/percentage of marks obtained marks up to 2 decimals.

If you have completed your HSC/12th/Equivalent/Diploma Course in the year 2020/2021 and haven’t received results or have been promoted/passed without marks, then you can mark the flag ‘Promotion/Pass without Marks’ to proceed further with the application form. *Only valid for candidates passing out in 2020/2021*

First Bachelor’s degree Details
When filling CAT form, please select the appropriate qualifying degree from the drop down. Enter the details based on whether you are currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree or have completed your Bachelor’s Degree.

• If you selected “Yes”, for Are you in the final year of Bachelor’s Degree? enter the current year and semester of education. Enter the aggregate percentage of marks obtained for the years/semesters of the degree course completed to date.
• If you hold a Bachelor’s Degree, compute the aggregate percentage of marks obtained as per the norms of the University/Institution. If no norms exist, enter the aggregate percentage of marks obtained for all years/semesters of the degree course.
• If you have completed your Bachelor’s Degree in the year 2020/2021 and have been promoted/passed without marks by your University/Institution, then you can mark the flag ‘Promotion/Pass without Marks’ to proceed further with the application form. *Only valid for candidates passing out in 2020/2021*
• If you have more than one bachelor’s degree then select the check box “Click here if you are currently in the final year of, or have already completed, another Bachelor’s Degree” and fill the details for both the bachelor’s degrees.

Candidates should note that if you have a dual degree with both a Bachelor's and a Master's (BTech + MTech or BTech + MSc) enter the appropriate details in both the bachelor’s and master’s degree sections.

Master’s Degree Details
If you choose to enter your master’s degree details, then select if you are currently pursuing it or have completed it and enter the relevant details as mentioned in the form.

Professional Degree Details
Please select the professional degrees that you have obtained from the list of professional degrees such as FIAI, CA, ICWA (CMA), CS etc.

However, enter aggregate percentage only for the degree to which you have scored the maximum.

Candidates should note that if you have not undergone any bachelor’s degree, then completion of any one of the above professional degrees is mandatory.

Candidates should also note that originals of all mark sheets will be required at the time of interview.

CAT Application Form Correction Window 2026 is expected to open in the fourth week of September 2026 (tentatively Sept 24–27). It typically remains active for only 72 to 96 hours, allowing candidates to correct specific errors before the final admit cards are generated. Unlike other entrance exams, IIMs are extremely strict. You cannot change your personal details, academic marks, or work experience. The correction window is exclusively for:

1. Photograph: If your original upload was blurry or had a non-white background.
2. Signature: If the signature was illegible or cropped incorrectly.
3. Test City Preferences: You can re-prioritize your choice of 5 preferred exam cities.

To make changes in your CAT Admission Form, candidates have to log in to their account on CAT official Website. Read how to edit CAT form below:

• Visit CAT exam website iimcat.ac.in
• Click on ‘login’ tab
• Enter User ID and password
• Login to go to dashboard
• Click on ‘Application Form’ option
• Go to relevant section (photo, signature, test city) and edit it
• Enter CAPTCHA code and click on ‘continue’ to complete the process

Note that there is no fee for CAT form correction. 

While filling CAT registration form you should be careful to avoid errors. Here are the most common CAT 2026 registration mistakes you must avoid:

• Wrong Name Entry: Enter your name exactly as it appears on your Class 10 / SSC certificate. Any mismatch can cause issues at the admit card and exam centre stage.
• Invalid or Shared Email ID: Use a valid, unique, and personally accessible email address. A shared or incorrect email will mean you miss critical login credentials and communication from IIM.
• Incorrect Category Selection: Select your category — General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, or PwD — with extreme care. No change in category is permitted after CAT registration under any circumstances.
• Not Uploading Category Certificate: SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates must upload their certificate at the time of registration itself. Failure to upload will result in rejection of CAT registration.
• Blurry or Incorrect Photograph: Upload a recent passport-size photograph with a white background. A blurry or incorrectly formatted photo is one of the most common reasons candidates need to use the correction window.
• Entering Part-Time Work Experience: Only full-time post-graduation work experience must be entered. Internships, projects, articleship, and pre-graduation experience are not counted by IIMs and must not be entered.
• Selecting Wrong Test Cities: Choose your 5 preferred test cities carefully. Once the registration window closes, city preferences can only be changed during the short correction window. After that, no change is permitted.
• Rushing Through the Form: Once submitted, CAT application data cannot be changed. Review every section carefully using the PREVIEW button before making the fee payment.
• Waiting Till the Last Day: Heavy server traffic near the deadline can cause technical difficulties. The CAT Convener specifically urges candidates to register well in advance to avoid last-minute issues.

In the event you do not receive a Confirmation email after completion of the application process or for queries regarding CAT Registration, Application and Payment Processing, Document uploading, you can raise a ticket on the Grievance Portal. Grievance Portal is available for all registered candidates through the Registered Candidate Login (available as a separate Tab inside the application login).

Check image of CAT 2026 Grievance Portal below. Click on “+” button on the right-hand corner to initiate a ticket. Select applicable options from the dropdown and provide clear description of your query. Candidates can also upload up to 3 supporting documents for the query. Kindly wait for at least 2 working days to receive a response on your ticket.

You can also call on 1-800-210-0175 (Toll Free), Monday to Saturday 9:00AM to 6:00PM (excluding National holidays). Please have your User ID and/or Payment Transaction Number details handy for reference.

For Academic queries like eligibility, category and PwBD certificate, please contact CAT Centre office by email ([email protected]) or call +91 7312439402. CAT Centre should NOT be contacted for any issue related to CAT registration, application, or payment processing.

After completing your CAT 2026 registration, the next step is to begin focused preparation. Whether you are starting from scratch or already deep into your CAT preparation, MBAUniverse.com offers a complete suite of free resources to help you go from registration to a 99+ percentile. Use the links below to access all the essential CAT 2026 preparation tools.

• CAT Exam Pattern 2026 — Complete section-wise breakup of CAT 2026 with 68 questions across VARC, DILR, and QA, marking scheme (+3/–1), sectional time limits, and last 5 years' pattern evolution.
• CAT Syllabus 2026 — Detailed section-wise topics for VARC, DILR, and QA along with 5-year topic-wise weightage analysis (Arithmetic 38%, Algebra 34%, RC 67% of VARC) based on CAT 2021–2025 papers.
• CAT Preparation 2026 — Complete 6-month preparation roadmap (May to November 2026), section-wise strategy, best books (Arun Sharma, Nishit K. Sinha), and topper tips from IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Kozhikode students.
• CAT Mock Tests 2026 — Take 20+ free full-length CAT mock tests based on the last 10 years of actual CAT papers. Each mock simulates the actual CAT 2026 interface with sectional time locks and detailed performance analysis.
• CAT Previous Year Question Papers — Free downloadable CAT papers from 2017 to 2025 with detailed solutions for all three sections. The most authentic source to understand real CAT difficulty level.
• CAT Sample Paper 2026 — Free CAT 2026 sample papers designed on the latest exam pattern. Ideal for early-stage aspirants getting familiar with CAT-style questions.

Read these common CAT registration 2026 myths for a hassle-free application form filling experience.  

Myth 1: Early Registration Improves Your IIM Chances
Reality: CAT slot or registration sequence has no impact on your percentile or IIM shortlisting. All slots are Normalized.

Myth 2: Later Slots Are Disadvantaged in Normalization
Reality: CAT uses robust statistical normalization across all slots. No slot is harder or easier by design.

Myth 3: You Must Complete the Form in One Go
Reality: You can save and resume your application. It’s better to review, gather documents, and fill accurately than to rush.

Myth 4: Registering Early Gets You a Better Test City
Reality: This is partly true. Test city allotment is based on availability. So earlier registrants have a better chance of getting their preferred center.

CAT Registration Numbers: CAT 2025 was conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 30, 2025. According to MBAUniverse.com analysis CAT registration trends, total number of CAT registrations have grown significantly over the last 20 years -- from 1,70,000 in CAT 2005 to a peak of 3,29,000 in CAT 2024. However, in last five years, the number of CAT exam registrations has seen a fluctuating trend. CAT 2025 registrations fell to 2,95,000 from a peak of 3,29,000 in CAT 2024 — a decline of approximately 34,000 candidates or nearly 10%. The number of candidates who actually appeared for CAT 2025 also dropped to 2,58,000 compared to 2,93,000 in CAT 2024. Check CAT exam registration trends for last 20 years in the table below. 

IIM CAT 2026 Registration: CAT examination registration 2026 has started on August 3, 2026 from 10:00 AM. CAT exam 2026 registration start date is August 3, 2026. CAT registration last date is September 15, 2026. Going by previous year’s trends, CAT Application Form Correction Window dates are September 24 – 27, 2026. CAT Application Form fees is Rs 2700 for the general, OBC and EWS category students and Rs 1350 for the SC/ST and PwD category. CAT registration 2026 must be completed on CAT 2026 official website iimcat.ac.in. Read step by step guide on how to fill CAT 2026 Registration Form, documents required for registration, CAT 2026 registration link, how to fill CAT 2026 form and more in the article below