Documents Required for CAT 2026 Registration – The CAT 2026 registration process is expected to commence in early August 2026 and continue till mid to late September 2026. The CAT 2026 exam is expected to be conducted on the last Sunday of November 2026, as per the usual exam schedule. Interested candidates must check the CAT eligibility criteria before filling out the CAT application form online on the official website at iimcat.ac.in.
While filling out the CAT application form 2026, applicants can pick the test centers from multiple options available from the list of CAT test cities across India. However, the distribution of the CAT exam centers will purely depend on the availability of seats at the selected locations. The test city and center will be printed on the candidate’s CAT 2026 admit card. It is advised that candidates must be extra careful while selecting the test cities, as changes to the test city may be allowed only during the correction window, subject to official guidelines.
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CAT Exam Registration 2026 Important Dates
|
Particulars |
Dates (Expected) |
|
CAT 2025 Registration Start Date |
Early August 2026 |
|
CAT Registration Last Date |
Mid to late September 2026 |
|
CAT 2025 Admit Card Release Date |
Early November 2026 |
|
CAT 2025 Application Fee |
> INR 2,600 (General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates) > INR 1,300 (SC/ST/PWD) |
|
CAT 2025 Exam Date |
Last Sunday of November, 2026 |
|
CAT Official Website |
iimcat.ac.in |
Documents Required for CAT Registration 2026
While filling out the CAT 2026 application form, candidates must ensure that all personal, academic, and category-related details are entered accurately. To avoid errors during registration, it is advisable to keep the following documents and information ready beforehand.
Mandatory Documents to Upload
During the CAT 2026 registration process, candidates are required to upload only a limited set of documents. These include:
-
Recent passport-size photograph (in JPG/JPEG/PNG format, as per prescribed dimensions)
-
Scanned signature (done with a black pen on white paper, as per specifications)
-
Category certificate (only if applicable for SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, or PwD candidates, in the prescribed format)
Documents to Keep Ready (Not for Upload)
The following documents are not uploaded during CAT registration but are required for entering correct details in the application form:
-
PAN card (mandatory for all candidates)
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Class 10 certificate or marksheet (for date of birth and basic academic details)
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Class 12 marksheet (to enter academic information)
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Graduation marksheets or degree details (to enter aggregate percentage/CGPA)
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Work experience details (if applicable, including duration and organisation details)
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Valid debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI details for payment of the application fee
Candidates should note that documents such as address proof, transfer certificate, or detailed academic certificates are not required to be uploaded at the CAT registration stage. These may be needed later during the admission or verification process by individual institutes.
Related Articles –
| CAT Syllabus 2026 | CAT Exam Pattern 2026 |
| How to Fill CAT Application Form 2026 | Best Books for CAT Preparation |
| CAT 2026 Preparation Tips | Free CAT Study Materials |
Instructions for Uploading the Documents in the CAT Application Form 2026
During the uploading of documents in the CAT application form, candidates must ensure that the documents uploaded are in sync with official CAT guidelines released on iimcat.ac.in. In case one fails to submit the documents in the required format, they may face issues during the application or at later stages of verification. Below are the points to keep in mind while uploading documents for registering for CAT 2026:
> All the necessary details in the documents should be visible.
> Maintain the resolution of images and ensure that the uploaded files meet the prescribed format and size mentioned in the official notification.
> While scanning your signature, make sure that it is taken on a plain white sheet with black ink.
Specifications of Documents Required for CAT 2026 Registration
|
Documents Required |
File Format |
File Size |
|
Passport Size Photograph |
JPEG/PNG/JPG |
100 KB or less |
|
Educational Qualification Documents |
PDF/JPEG/PNG/JPG |
1 MB or less |
|
Age Proof |
PDF/JPEG/PNG/JPG |
1 MB or less |
|
Identity Proof |
PDF/JPEG/PNG/JPG |
1 MB or less |
|
Category (SC / ST/OBC) Certificate |
PDF/JPEG/PNG/JPG |
1 MB or less |
|
Signature |
JPEG/PNG/JPG |
100 KB or less |
The registration and application for the CAT exam 2026 is a one-time activity, and it is a compulsory activity as there is no other option available for offline submission. Interested or eligible candidates must pay attention to details while filling out the form and not make any blunders as the fee is non-refundable.
CAT Application Form Correction Window 2026
Candidates must fill out the registration form actively and with utmost concentration, and avoid making mistakes while uploading the documents, as it is a crucial step that can make or break their future. But if any candidate has uploaded the wrong image/document, they need not worry. The conducting authorities open a CAT application form correction window for all students, which usually takes place once the registration is finished, probably in late September, where candidates can correct the necessary documents in case they have made certain errors.
Note: This would probably be the last chance for all CAT aspirants to make corrections in their application form and should be used wisely, as no further corrections will be allowed in the CAT application form after this.
With the release of the CAT Notification 2026, all CAT aspirants must pace up their preparation by adding on the topic tests, full-length mocks reflecting the actual CAT environment, and practicing CAT previous year question papers to gain an edge over the competition. Establishing a structured routine is the beginning, but being consistent in following that study plan is the most challenging thing to accomplish. If one is able to maintain that consistency, then acing CAT 2026 is not too difficult.
Best of Luck!!

