CAT 2026 Registration: Step-by-Step Guide to Apply on iimcat.ac.in

Getting registered for CAT seems painless until you are facing six form sections, a photo upload that keeps getting rejected, and a fee payment screen with no "save and continue" button. CAT 2026 registration at IIM Indore opens on August 3 and ends on September 15, 2026; this guide tells you step-by-step what to prepare well in advance before filling the form so that you don't lose your way or commit a blunder that can't be corrected later.

To know about photo and signature specifications, refer to the official CAT 2026 notification as it usually provides strict limits (in terms of size/format- JPEG, specific pixel dimensions, and file size caps). Please verify the exact specs from iimcat.ac.in before submission, as forms with bad images are one of the primary blockers for candidates getting stuck during the registration process.

Browser Recommendation: Use a new and up-to-date version of Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge rather than old versions (if you use one) to prevent upload problems or payment glitches.

Note: Candidates should carefully review the official CAT notification for the latest document specifications, formats, and eligibility requirements before submitting the application.

Step 1: Create Your CAT ID (New Candidate Registration) 

Visit the official website, iimcat.ac.in.

1. Click on "New Candidate Registration."
2. You have to enter your name (same as it appears in your Class 10 certificate), Date of Birth, Email ID, Mobile Number and country.
3. Domestic mobile numbers 10-digit number no country code; overseas, the country code is supplied with symbols like +, –, brackets
4. Submit this section.

In a matter of minutes, your login details are sent to your email and message (for domestic candidates, both; for overseas, it is only email). You will have to use the same login you need months down the line, when you download your admit card and check your result, so save it somewhere safe.

Step 2: Log in and Complete the Application Form 

Re-enter your new User ID and password. The complete form is divided into some parts:

1. Personal details: name, DOB, gender, category, nationality, address and ID proof details.
2. Educational information: Class 10, Class 12 and graduation details (Board or University name along with percentage or CGPA and year of passing)
3. Professional experience: optional, name of employer, title and period of work.
4. Table of Contents: Choose the IIMs and other participating institutes/programmes to which you want your CAT score sent.
5. Test city preference:  list of the 5 preferred test cities from nearly 170 centres across the country, in order, about which you would like your test to be held. Applying earlier is mostly a way to give yourself better (not determinative) odds of ending up in your top city, but it won't affect your actual percentile vs. shortlist ranking.
6. Declare and pay: validate the declaration and go to fee.

Step 3: Upload Photograph, Signature, and Documents 

You must upload a passport-sized photo and scanned signature according to the specifications provided in the notification. You will also upload your category certificate in case you select for category (caste) and all other documents that are required or asked for by the form based on your previous answers.

Step 4: Preview Before You Pay

The form allows you to preview all sections you've completed and all documents you've uploaded before payment, and you can do this unlimited times. Use it. After the application fees are paid, the form is frozen and can only be updated through a very small correction window that opens subsequently.

Step 5: Pay the Application Fee

CAT 2026 registration fee:

• General & EWS and NC-OBC: ₹ 2,700
• SC, ST, and PwD candidates: ₹ 1,350

The payments are made through net banking or debit/credit card on the site. This is a non-refundable fee, and only needs to be paid once irrespective of the number of IIMs or institutes you will select in your programme preferences. After payment, you will receive a confirmation email and SMS; save this for your records.

Step 6: Submit

Your CAT 2026 application gets submitted only after payment confirmation. Now all you need to do is wait until the correction window (if you require it) or approach the admit card a week before the examination.

The Correction Window: What You Can and Can't Edit

Correction windows are generally open a few weeks after registration is closed and typically last 72–96 hours.  It is a one-time edit opportunity limited to:

• Re-uploading a clearer photograph
• Re-uploading a corrected signature
• Changing the order in which you want your test cities  

Information regarding your academic details, personal information and your programme choices is typically non-editable once you submit the application. This is what makes Step 4 (the preview stage) the true checkpoint; it should be treated as your final real opportunity to catch errors before they become permanent.

To use the correction window, once it opens:

1. Log in to iimcat.ac.in with your CAT ID.
2. Tap on the correction/edit tab available in your application.
3. Do not update the photo, name, signature or test city order at this time.
4. Re-affirm the declaration and push commit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a different name from the Class 10 certificate:  this could lead to admit card and admissions verification problems later.
• Uploading a photo older than six months or one without a white background:  this is a common reason why file uploads fail.
• Rushing through the preview screen:  this is your last check before the form locks.
• Registering close to the deadline: server loads peak on the last days, and there's no time for fixing any paperwork issue at the last minute.
• Losing your CAT ID and password:  you will need the same login again for your admit card and result, so write it down somewhere or save it to eDrive, not in memory.

Download Previous Year Question Papers

FAQs

Q1. What is the last date to register for CAT 2026?

Closing of Registration: September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM. This window opened at 10:00 AM on August 3, 2026

Q2. Can final-year graduation students apply for CAT 2026? 

Yes. Those only in their last year can apply based on the semester mark sheet available to them but still have to fulfil a criterion that states that a degree has to be completed within the deadline corresponding to admission categories (they need generation of final degree certificate, which is lacking if not yet passed) by participating institutes.

Q3. What is the CAT 2026 application fee?

 For General, EWS and NC-OBC — ₹2,700. For SC, ST and PwD — ₹1,350. Payment is one-time and non-refundable.

Q4. Can I edit my CAT 2026 application after submitting it?

It allows only for a limited period to rectify errors (generally two to three weeks after the end of registration), and only for your photograph, signature and choice of test city order, not academic and personal details.

Q5. How many test cities can I select while registering? 

Candidates can select up to five preferred test cities, ranked in order of preference, from around 170 centres across India.

Q6. Will I get my CAT ID and password by post?

No. Credentials are delivered digitally; domestic candidates receive them via both email and SMS, while overseas candidates receive them via email only.