CAT Admit Card 2026: Release Date November 4, How to Download CAT Hall Ticket from iimcat.ac.in, Details to Verify

CAT admit card is the passport to your CAT Exam as without carrying it, you will not be allowed to enter the CAT exam centre on CAT exam day. The admit card is also called the CAT Hall Ticket 2026. You must carry the hard copy of your CAT admit card, with photo affixed on it, to CAT exam center otherwise you will not be allowed to enter the test center. In short, CAT 2026 Admit Card is a mandatory document for taking the CAT 2026 examination. Read key highlights and exam admit card release dates in the table below. 

CAT Admit Card Release Date - Nov 4: CAT 2026 Information Bulletin

When will CAT admit card be released in 2026? As shared above, the CAT admit card 2026 will be released on November 4, 2026, according to the CAT 2026 Information Bulletin. 

MBAUniverse.com analysis of previous years’ release date shows that the CAT admit card date has changed in recent years. From CAT 2014 to CAT 2022, the admit card came out in October month itself. But, since CAT 2023, it has been released in November: on November 7 in 2023, November 6 in 2024 and November 12 in 2025. The CAT 2026 release date of November 4 follows this pattern. 

Candidates should also note that MBAUniverse.com analysis of the last 12 years also shows that the CAT admit card release date has not always been on schedule and there could be delays. As the table below shows, the admit card came out on the scheduled date only in six of the 12 years, and has been delayed in the other six years. The longest delay in admit card release was in CAT 2023, when the admit card came out 13 days late! Last year, in CAT 2025, admit card was released 7 days late. Check complete details in table below. 

What if the CAT Admit Card is Not Out on November 4?

Candidates should not panic or be confused and waste time. In past years, the admit card has sometimes arrived a few days after the scheduled date, so you can check your CAT login on iimcat.ac.in a few times in a day. MBAUniverse.com will add the direct download link to this page as soon as it is live. 

CAT Admit Card download link will be available to registered candidates after they login to their account on official website. Check CAT exam admit card steps to download below.

1. Logon to CAT 2026 official Website (iimcat.ac.in) for CAT 2026 Admit Card login
2. Enter CAT Login ID & Password
3. Click on CAT 2026 Admit Card link.
4. Click on PDF file 'Admit card', your admit card is downloaded now
5. Take print out of CAT Admit card and verify details

Read more details on each step below.

Step 1: Logon to CAT Official Website iimcat.ac.in
The first step to download your CAT admit card is to logon to CAT official website. On CAT admit card release date, CAT website can be slow to open. So be patient!

Step 2: Enter CAT Login ID & Password
Next, you should complete CAT admit card 2026 login by entering your CAT user Id and CAT password. Once you have logged in, you will be able to download your CAT admit card pdf document.

Step 3: Click on ‘Admit Card’ Link
After login, you will see ‘Admit Card’ link. Click on it and it will open the page with your admit card.

Step 4: Click on Admit Card PDF link
At admit card page, click on the pdf file Admit card image on the right hand corner. Click on it to download your Admit Card.

Step 5: Take Print Out and Key Verify Details 
After downloading the Admit card, you should verify all the details mentioned on it. Then, take at least 2 prints on A4 size paper and affix your identical photograph on the hard copy of the CAT Admit card. 
 

CAT 2026 admit card will contain following formation, which you must check with your official records.  In case of any error, you should seek help of the examination authority for rectification to avoid any hassle during the identification process on the exam day.

• Candidate name
• Candidate caste
• Candidate's date of birth
• Candidate's photo
• Candidate's signature
• CAT Registration number
• CAT Exam Date and time
• CAT 2026 exam slot
• CAT 2026 exam centre address
• CAT exam related instructions
• Emergency contact number

Sample CAT Admit Card: check your name, category, exam date, time slot, reporting time and test centre address

How to rectify errors in CAT admit card 2026? If you find a mistake in your CAT admit card, such as a wrong name, category, photograph or signature, don’t panic. Report it immediately through the official help channels listed in the CAT 2026 Registration Guide. These are the Grievance Portal in your CAT login and the toll-free candidate helpdesk; for category or PwBD certificate issues, contact the CAT Centre at IIM Indore.

Steps to report an error in the CAT admit card:

1. Log in at iimcat.ac.in with your CAT user ID and password, and open the Grievance Portal, which is a separate tab in the registered candidate login.
2. Click the “+” button to raise a ticket, select the relevant options from the drop-down list, and describe the error clearly along with the correct details.
3. Upload up to three supporting documents, such as a screenshot of the error and proof of the correct details.
4. Allow at least two working days for a reply. If the matter is urgent, also call the toll-free helpline.

Report any error as soon as you download your admit card, so that there is enough time to correct it before the exam on November 29, 2026.

Along with downloading Admit Card, candidates should focus on completing their CAT exam preparation. CAT mock tests and sample papers are among the most important tools for effective preparation. If you are serious about scoring a high percentile, you must take a large number of mock tests to build exam readiness, improve speed, and refine your strategy. You can access mock tests and sample papers from the links below. Similarly, CAT previous year question papers are equally valuable. They help you understand the exam pattern, difficulty level, and question trends. You can download CAT previous year papers in PDF format from the link below or attempt them online for better practice.

• CAT Mock Tests 2026
• CAT Sample Papers 2026
• CAT Previous Year Question Papers

CAT exam day instructions and guidelines that the candidate must follow at the test centre and during the exam are given below:

• Documents to carry: Candidates must carry two copies of the CAT 2026 admit card and a photo ID proof (original and photocopy). Remember that only CAT 2026 admit card and photo ID card are allowed inside the exam hall.
• Affix Photo: Candidates must affix their photo on the admit card printouts. The photo should be same as uploaded in the CAT application form.
• Reporting Time: Candidates must reach the CAT exam centre as per the reporting time mentioned in their admit card.
• Locate Exam Hall: Candidates should use the Reference Number printed on the CAT 2026 admit card for identifying the exam hall door/wing/lab at the test venue on the day of the test.
• Don’t Sign Admit Card Before Hand: Candidates are not supposed to sign their CAT admit card beforehand. The admit card is to be signed only inside the exam hall in front of the invigilator.
• Don’t Carry Prohibited Items: Mobile phone, calculator, IPad or any other gadget is prohibited inside the examination hall. Candidates are advised not to carry bags or luggage to the CAT 2026 exam centre as there will be no provision of bag deposit. Jewellery that contains metal, clothes with pockets, jackets and footwear with big heals are prohibited inside the exam hall.
• CAT Dress Code: While there is no CAT exam dress code, remember that jackets, hoodies, coats, cardigans with many pockets, caps and headgear will not be allowed.
• Metal Detector: Candidates with a metal implant, pacemaker, etc. in their body will be required to bring medical certificate of the same.
• Writing pad and pen provided: Writing pad and pen will be provided by the authorities for rough work which will have to be submitted before leaving the test hall. Candidates will be required to write their name and registration number on the writing pad.
• Submit CAT Admit Card copy after exam: Candidates must leave the invigilator's copy of their CAT admit card 2026 in the examination hall.

Read complete details in CAT exam day guide 2026. 

The CAT admit card release date is November 4, 2026, and candidates can download the CAT 2026 admit card from iimcat.ac.in until November 29, 2026, the day of the exam, using their CAT user ID and password. The admit card is also called the CAT Hall Ticket 2026, carries your exam date and time slot, test centre address and exam-day instructions, so verify every detail as soon as you download it and report any error to the CAT helpdesk immediately. On exam day, carry printouts of the admit card with the same photograph you uploaded in your application affixed on it, along with the photo ID specified in the admit card instructions. Check your CAT 2026 exam centre in advance, and until exam day, take free CAT mock tests, solve CAT previous year papers and follow the CAT 2026 last 30 days preparation strategy of 50+ CAT toppers on MBAUniverse.com, India’s No 1 MBA Portal.