How To Fill CAT Application Form 2026 – Registration, Documents Required

CAT Application Form Latest Updates –

• CAT 2026 registration process is expected to begin in early August 2026.
• CAT 2026 notification is likely to be released in late July 2026, on the iimcat.ac.in.
• The last date to apply for the CAT 2026 application form is expected to fall in mid to late September 2026, subject to official updates.
• The conducting IIM for CAT 2026 will be announced along with the official notification.
• The exam pattern for CAT 2026 is expected to remain similar to previous years unless stated otherwise in the official notification.

The CAT registration process will be conducted online, and candidates must visit the official website- iimcat.ac.in, to fill the CAT application form. Aspiring candidates will be required to visit the official CAT website, register themselves, complete the application form, upload the necessary documents, and pay the application fee online within the prescribed timeline.

CAT Application Form 2026 – Important Dates

Candidates who want to appear for the CAT exam should regularly check the important dates for the CAT registration 2026. Check below the registration dates for CAT 2026 exam –

How to Fill CAT Application Form 2026? Step-by-step Guide

Completing the CAT application form is quite tedious as it requires you to fill out your details, academic details, professional experience (if any), and other necessary information. Follow the steps mentioned below to complete your CAT application form 2026.

1. Fill Personal Details

Candidates must fill in their details and upload the necessary documents in this section to proceed with their CAT 2026 registration process. The details required in the form are as follows-

• Candidate’s Name
• Father’s and Mother’s/Guardian’s Name
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Nationality
• Category
• Address
• Emergency Contact

Candidates will be required to upload the following documents in their designated dimensions:

• A signature
• A photograph
• A reservation certificate (if applicable)

2. Update Academic Qualifications

In this section, candidates will be required to fill in the following details:

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

3. Add Work Experience

The CAT registration process allows candidates to provide their work experience in a separate section because it plays a vital role in the selection process. In this section, the candidate must specify the industry in which they have worked and provide the necessary documents to validate their statements.

Note: The total work experience should be calculated up to the 31st day of July 2026 (as per the usual CAT guidelines). Also, the experience offered in this section should be full-time only; part-time experience will not be considered. Internships/ part-time/ articleship/ project/ pre-graduation shall not be included as work experience.

4. Select Programs

In the next step, the candidates must select the programs they wish to apply to. Alongside this, you will have to mention the preferred interview city for every program.

For the IIMs under the Common Admission Process (i.e., IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Tiruchirappalli, IIM Udaipur, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, and IIM Sambalpur), candidates must choose the same interview city.

5. Choose CAT Exam Centers

According to the CAT notification, candidates must choose preferred exam centers for CAT in order of preference. Based on availability, the candidate will be allotted one test city. But if the convening IIM is unable to place the candidate in any of the preferred cities of the candidate, then he would be placed in the test city closest to the selected location.

6. Pay the CAT Application Fee

After completing the entire CAT application form, the candidate must pay the application fee to complete the registration process. It is to be noted that the fee has been revised in 2025. So, given below are the CAT application fee 2026 details:

The candidate must enter the characters in the captcha and click on the submit button. The next step will be the payment gateway to which the candidates will be requested to pay for the exam. Once you complete the payment, a “Payment Successful” message will appear on the page, signifying the successful completion of the process.

7. Confirmation

Once the candidates have successfully filled out and submitted the application, they will receive a confirmation email in the next few minutes. After successfully creating his/her login ID and password and logging in to the website, the candidate can view the CAT 2026 application form details.

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Documents Required for CAT 2026 Registration Process

The following is a list of documents needed to complete the CAT application form 2026, as follows:

• A recent passport-sized photo with a white backdrop (format:.jpg/.jpeg; size: less than 1 MB)
• Scanned signature with black pen on white paper (.jpg or .jpeg format, maximum size 1 MB)
• Any identity proof like PAN card, Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport
• Class 10/ Class 12 mark sheet
• Certificate and mark sheet of graduation
• Transfer/ Passing Certificate
• Documents related to your Work experience (If Applicable)
• Certificate of relevant category (for students in the SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, PwD categories)

Read More – Documents Required for CAT 2026 Registration

CAT Application Form 2026 – Common Mistakes to Avoid

CAT registration process requires thorough attention as the details can’t be changed later. Candidates often tend to make the following errors, which can be avoided while filling out the CAT 2026 application form, such as:

• Overall Marks Consideration: You are required to calculate the overall percentage by adding the marks for all subjects listed on the 10th and 12th-grade mark sheets, regardless of board regulations.
• Grades/CGPA to Percentage Conversion: Convert CGPA to a percentage using the correct method provided by the respective authorities.Note: If there’s no specific formula provided by your institute, then you can use this one: (CGPA/Total CGPA) * 100 (Note: A CGPA of 10 does not equate to 100%).
• Aggregate Percentage: Enter your aggregate percentage rounded to two decimal places.For Example, if the maximum marks are 500 and the marks obtained are 300, the calculation is (300/500)*100 = 60%
• Final Year Graduates Awaiting Results: Those pursuing graduation or in their final year should fill out the CAT form with their aggregate percentage calculated from the last semester’s marks. Keep in mind that failure to provide the necessary documents required, such as the provisional certificate and semester mark sheet, will result in the may lead to rejection of the application during verification.
• Final Year Candidates with ‘Promotion/Pass without Marks’: Final-year graduation students who did not receive marks in earlier semesters or were promoted without marks can choose “Promotion/Pass without Marks” while filling out the CAT application form. Mark that this option is available for candidates graduating in 2024, 2025 or 2026.
• Work Experience: Only include full-time paid work experience as of 31st July 2026. Do not mention the part-time, project, internship, articleship, or pre-graduation experiences, as these are not considered valid work experiences.
• Program Selection: Be mindful while selecting the right program for you, the one that matches your career goals and aspirations, because once the form is filled out and submitted, further changes cannot be made.

Also check: CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Once you have successfully registered for CAT 2026, your first and foremost approach should be to glance at the CAT syllabus to be thorough with the topics that will be covered in the exam, along with the CAT exam pattern, to understand what strategies you can plan based on your strengths and weaknesses.

Related Article – CAT Preparation without Coaching

CAT 2026 Application Form Helpdesk Contact Details

For queries regarding CAT Registration, Application, and Payment Processing, and Document uploading:

> Toll-Free Number: 1-800-210-8720.

You can give a call from Monday to Saturday, only from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (excluding National holidays).

> Email ID: cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in

For Academic queries like eligibility, category, and PwD certificate:

> Contact Number: +91-0522-6696676

You can give a call from Monday to Friday, only from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (excluding holidays).

> Email ID: cat2025_helpdesk@iimcal.ac.in

Best of Luck!!