How to fill CAT 2026 Form: Last Date, Eligibility & Documents

How to fill CAT 2026 Application Form

CAT 2026 registration will open on August 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM and close on September 15, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The examination will be conducted on November 29, 2026. Candidates should complete the form before the final day because upload, payment or internet issues can leave an otherwise eligible applicant without a valid application.

CAT 2026 Registration Dates

The official dates above are from the CAT 2026 website and advertisement.

CAT 2026 Eligibility Requirements

Following are the eligibility requirements to be eligible for CAT 2026 exam:

• A candidate must hold a recognised bachelor’s degree with at least 50 percent marks or an equivalent CGPA. The minimum is 45 percent for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates fall under the 50 percent requirement.
• Final-year students and candidates who have completed their degree requirements but are awaiting results may also apply. Candidates with recognised professional qualifications such as CA, CS or ICWA can apply if they meet the applicable marks requirement.
• The university’s certified method should be used to convert CGPA into a percentage. When no conversion method exists, candidates must follow the equivalence rule given in the CAT eligibility document.

Meeting the minimum eligibility criteria only allows a candidate to take CAT. It does not guarantee an IIM interview call because every IIM applies its own academic, percentile, sectional and profile-based shortlisting rules.

Also Read: IIM Admission Criteria 2026: Complete Eligibility Guide

Documents Required to Apply for CAT 2026

Keep the following information and files ready before starting:

The official CAT website provides certificate proformas for final-year, NC-OBC, EWS, SC or ST and PwBD candidates. Applicants claiming reservation should use the current CAT format and check that the certificate is valid for central educational institutions.

A state OBC certificate does not by itself confirm NC-OBC eligibility. Candidates should verify that their community is included in the applicable Central List and that the certificate meets CAT requirements.

Also Read: Documents Required for CAT 2026 Registration, Check Now

How to Fill the CAT 2026 Application Form Step by Step

1. Visit the official CAT website (https://iimcat.ac.in) and choose New Candidate Registration.
2. Enter your name, Date of birth, Email Address, Mobile Number and requested registration details.
3. Complete OTP verification and use the generated credentials to log in.
4. Fill in personal details, category, nationality and communication address.
5. Enter academic information from Class 10 onward using official marksheets.
6. Select the correct bachelor’s degree status: completed, final year or awaiting result.
7. Enter eligible full-time work experience, where applicable.
8. Select IIM programmes and arrange five test-city preferences.
9. Upload the photograph, signature and applicable certificates.
10. Review every section, accept the declaration, pay the fee and submit.
11. Download the completed application PDF and payment receipt.

Complete the form in two passes. First, enter and save the information. Then compare every field with the relevant document before paying. This catches common errors such as reversed marks, an incorrect graduation status, the wrong category and missed IIM programmes.

Use the same name and date of birth shown in your supporting records. Avoid abbreviations or spelling variations unless they are also present in the official documents you will use during verification.

How to Upload Photo, Signature and Category Certificates

The CAT 2026 Notification confirms the certificate requirements but states that detailed application instructions will be provided through the registration guide. Therefore, candidates should follow the dimensions, format and file-size limits displayed on the live CAT portal rather than relying on specifications copied from previous years.

Prepare uploads using these quality checks:

Avoid blurred images, screenshots with phone borders, stretched photographs, incomplete certificates and PDFs with unreadable seals. The information on the certificate must match the name and category entered in the CAT form.

Also Read: IIM Reservation Policy 2026: Category-wise Admission Criteria 

How to Select IIM Programmes and CAT Exam Cities

The CAT fee is paid once regardless of how many IIM programmes are selected. Candidates should therefore review all programmes for which they are eligible rather than selecting only the flagship MBA or PGP options at a few well-known IIMs. Check each programme’s eligibility, campus, duration and admission policy. Select every programme you would seriously consider joining. Missing an eligible programme during registration may prevent consideration by that IIM, depending on its admission process. 

CAT 2026 will be held in approximately 170 test cities. Candidates can choose five cities in order of preference, but allotment remains subject to capacity.

Use this order:

First preference: Your current city or easiest location to reach

Second and third: Nearby cities with reliable road or rail connectivity

Fourth and fifth: Practical backup locations

Avoid choices requiring uncertain flights or expensive hotel stays

Do not assume that registering on the opening morning will automatically guarantee your first city preference. Accuracy matters more than rushing through the form.

CAT 2026 Application Fee Payment and Final Submission

The CAT 2026 application fee is:

The fee is paid only once, irrespective of the number of IIM programmes selected, and it is non-refundable.

Before payment, verify your:

• Name and date of birth
• Category and PwBD status
• Class 10, Class 12 and graduation scores
• Graduation completion status
• Selected IIM programmes
• Test-city preference order
• Uploaded photograph, signature and certificates

Category deserves special attention because the official advertisement states that it cannot be changed after registration. Pay through the options available on the portal and wait for confirmation. Do not refresh the page or begin another transaction while payment is processing. After submission, download the application summary and receipt. A saved form that has not been paid for and submitted is not a completed application. Open the downloaded PDF and confirm that the photograph, signature, category, programme choices and payment status are correct. Keep the PDF, receipt, registered email and mobile number accessible throughout the CAT 2026 admission cycle.

Also Read: CAT Form Fees 2026 for General, EWS, SC, ST and PwBD

How to fill CAT 2026 Application Form: Conclusion

The CAT 2026 application form must be completed carefully because the information entered may also be used during the IIM admission process. Candidates should keep their academic records, photograph, signature, category certificates and employment details ready before beginning registration. Review every field before making the final payment, especially the category, academic scores, graduation status, IIM programme choices and test-city preferences. Completing the form early and downloading the submitted application PDF and payment receipt can help candidates avoid preventable registration problems.