CAT registration opens early August every year and closes mid-September. The window is short, the form is technical, and a single field error means rejection. This guide is the step-by-step walkthrough — what to prepare, what to upload, what to verify, and the common mistakes that disqualify thousands of applicants annually.
If you're applying for CAT 2026, bookmark this page and revisit when the form opens. Tentative dates: registration opens 1 August 2026, closes 13 September 2026. Confirmation via official iimcat.ac.in notification in late July.
CAT 2026 Important Dates (Tentative)
| Event | Tentative Date |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 notification release | End of July 2026 |
| Online registration opens | 1 August 2026 |
| Registration deadline | 13 September 2026 |
| Form correction window | Mid–Late September 2026 |
| Admit card release | 5 November 2026 |
| CAT 2026 exam date | 30 November 2026 (Sunday) |
| Result declaration | 2nd week of January 2027 |
Confirm dates from the official notification once released. IIMs rotate the convening institute every year (CAT 2024 was IIM Calcutta; CAT 2025 was IIM Lucknow).
CAT 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Fee (approx, finalize via official notice) |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / NC-OBC | ₹2,400 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,200 |
Payment modes: net banking, debit/credit card, UPI. Once paid, fees are non-refundable regardless of whether you appear or not. No partial refund for incorrect form. Fee confirmation receipt = application confirmation.
Step-by-Step Registration Walkthrough
- Visit iimcat.ac.in — the only official portal. Avoid third-party sites claiming to "help" with registration.
- Click "New Candidate Registration" on the homepage.
- Fill basic details: Name (exactly as on Class 10 certificate), email, mobile, date of birth, nationality.
- Set password and security questions. Save credentials securely — you'll need them for admit card download and result.
- Verify email and mobile via OTP. A user ID is generated.
- Login and complete the application form in 6 sections:
- Personal Details
- Academic Qualifications (10th, 12th, Bachelor's)
- Work Experience (optional)
- Programs & Test City Preferences
- Documents Upload
- Payment
- Upload documents (specifications below).
- Pay the application fee. Save the receipt.
- Submit and download confirmation page. Print 2 copies — one for your records, one for exam-day backup.
Document Upload Specifications
| Document | Format | Size | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | JPEG / JPG | 10 KB – 80 KB | 4 cm × 5 cm (recent, white background) |
| Signature | JPEG / JPG | 10 KB – 80 KB | 2 cm × 6 cm (black ink, white paper) |
| Caste / EWS / PwD certificate | Max 200 KB | — |
Photo and signature must be clearly visible. Blurry uploads = rejection during verification.
Decision Tree: Test City Selection Strategy
How to choose your CAT test cities (you select up to 6 in priority order):
- Live in metro (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad)?
- Pick 4 zones in your city + 2 nearest tier-2 cities. Metro centers fill fast. Backup matters.
- Live in tier-2 city?
- Pick your city as #1, 2 nearest metros as #2-3, 2 more tier-2 backups as #4-6.
- Live in tier-3 / smaller town?
- Pick your nearest tier-2 city as #1. Fill remaining slots with metros. Plan travel + accommodation in advance.
- Working professional with travel constraints?
- Pick the city where your office can grant exam-day leave.
- DON'T pick "exotic" backup cities — the slot may be allotted.
The 7 Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
- Name mismatch with Class 10 certificate. Even a middle-name difference rejects application during verification. Match exactly.
- Wrong category claim. Claiming NC-OBC without a valid (current-year) caste certificate = automatic rejection.
- Photo doesn't meet specs. Old photo, side angle, dark background, glasses with reflection = rejected at verification.
- Wrong "year of degree completion." Final-year students must select "Pursuing" not "Completed." Wrong choice = ineligible.
- Incorrect bachelor's percentage. Use your university's official conversion. Don't multiply CGPA by 9.5 unless your university endorses it.
- Skipping work experience field. Even if you don't have it, mark "0 months." Empty field = form error.
- Submitting before final review. Once submitted, only the correction window allows changes. Review every section twice before paying.
After Registration — What Comes Next
- September: Form correction window opens for ~3 days. If you spotted any error, fix it here.
- October: Admit card downloads start ~25 days before exam.
- Last week of October: Mock test interface practice on iimcat.ac.in. Compulsory — get familiar with the interface.
- 5 November 2026: Admit card released. Download and print 2 copies (color preferred).
- 30 November 2026: CAT 2026 exam day.
- 2nd week of January 2027: Result declared.
Tools to Use Once Registered
- Free CAT Readiness Assessment — calibrate your starting point
- CAT 2026 Preparation Roadmap
- Daily Study Planner
- Practice Lab
- Test Series — 30 full-length CAT mocks
- Percentile Predictor
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CAT 2026 registration fee?
₹2,400 for General / EWS / NC-OBC and ₹1,200 for SC / ST / PwD candidates (tentative — confirm via official notification). Payment is non-refundable. The fee covers application processing, registration, and exam-day infrastructure.
Can I register for CAT after the deadline?
No. CAT registration deadlines are strict — late submissions are not accepted under any circumstance. The form correction window in late September allows fixes to existing applications but does not allow new registrations.
How many test cities can I select for CAT?
You can select up to 6 test cities in order of preference. The IIM allots one city based on availability, prioritizing your top choices. Final allotment is reflected on the admit card. Once allotted, the city cannot be changed.
Can I edit my CAT application after submission?
Yes, during the form correction window (typically late September, ~3 days). You can edit limited fields like academic details, category, photograph, signature. You cannot edit name, date of birth, or fee category once paid.
Do I need to register for each IIM separately?
No. Single CAT registration covers all 21 IIMs and 100+ partner institutes. You'll select your "program preferences" within the application — choose all IIMs you want to be considered for.
Pranshul Verma is the founder of Percentilers, an ex-General Manager at Career Launcher, and a 7x CAT 100 percentiler. This guide is updated based on CAT 2025 registration patterns and IIM-Lucknow's CAT 2025 notification structure. Confirm CAT 2026 specifics from the official iimcat.ac.in notification.