CAT 2026 Registration: Apply Before September 15 and Check Fees

CAT 2026 registration is open on the official website, iimcat.ac.in. IIM Indore, the exam authority, will close the application window on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM IST. Candidates who want to join postgraduate management programmes at the Indian Institutes of Management must complete the form, upload the required files and pay the fee before the deadline.

Do not wait for the last afternoon to submit the form. Websites and payment gateways tend to become busy at the worst possible time. The CAT form is not the place for a last-minute adventure.

CAT 2026 registration fee

General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates: INR 2,700
SC, ST and PwBD candidates: INR 1,350

The fee is paid once and covers all selected IIM programmes. Payment is online through BillDesk using UPI, credit card, debit card, net banking or a wallet. The fee is non-refundable.

Who can apply for CAT 2026?

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with at least 50% marks. The minimum is 45% for SC, ST and PwD candidates. Students in the final year of their bachelor’s degree can also apply on a provisional basis.

Final-year candidates must provide a certificate from their university confirming that they have completed all degree requirements by the date set by IIM Indore. Candidates with professional qualifications such as CA, CS, CMA or Fellowship of the Institute of Actuaries may also apply under the stated eligibility rules.

There is no upper age limit for CAT 2026.

Documents required for CAT registration

Keep these details and files ready before you begin:

Class 10 mark sheet
Class 12 or diploma mark sheet
Bachelor’s degree mark sheets or the latest marks statement
University certificate for final-year candidates
Work experience details, if applicable
Recent passport-size photograph
Scanned signature
Valid category certificate for SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS or PwBD candidates
Valid email address and mobile number
Online payment details

The photograph and signature must follow the size, format and file limits shown on the CAT portal. The photograph should have a plain white background and should not be more than six months old. Keep the same photograph for the admit card and exam day.

How to fill the CAT 2026 application form

Visit iimcat.ac.in and select New Candidate Registration.
Enter your name, date of birth, email address, mobile number and country.
Complete OTP verification and note the User ID and password sent to you.
Log in and select Go To Application.
Fill in personal details, emergency contact details and communication address.
Enter Class 10, Class 12 or diploma and bachelor’s degree details.
Add eligible full-time work experience completed up to July 31, 2026.
Select the IIM programmes you want to apply for and choose an interview city for each selected programme.
Choose five different test cities in order of preference.
Upload the photograph, signature and category or disability certificates, where required.
Use the Preview option to check every entry.
Accept the declaration, pay the fee and submit the form.
Save the transaction number and download the confirmation page.

Candidates can save the form and return to it later using the Save & Next option. You do not need to finish every section in one sitting.

Important rules for test city selection

Applicants must select five distinct test cities from the available list. The same city cannot be entered more than once. IIM Indore will allot a test centre based on the order of preference and seat availability. Choose cities that you can reach without turning exam day into a long-distance road trip.

Common mistakes to avoid

Entering a name or date of birth that does not match the Class 10 certificate
Choosing the wrong category or uploading an outdated certificate
Entering incorrect aggregate marks or using the wrong CGPA conversion method
Adding internships, part-time work or pre-graduation work as valid experience
Uploading a blurred photograph or signature
Selecting the same test city more than once
Paying the fee without checking the preview
Waiting until the final hours of September 15

After payment, most personal and academic details are locked. A later correction window is expected in the first week of October, but it may allow changes only to the photograph, signature and test city preferences. Do not depend on the correction window to fix a basic form error.

CAT 2026 registration links

Official website: iimcat.ac.in
Registration link: CAT 2026 Registration
Candidate login: CAT 2026 Login

For help with registration, document uploads or payment issues, use the helpdesk details listed on the official CAT website. Always check the web address before entering personal or payment information.