CAT 2026 Application Form: Start Date (Aug 1), Direct Link, Fees, How to Apply at iimcat.ac.in; Documents,Photograph and Signature Specification

CAT exam will be held on November 29, 2026. CAT 2026 application form release date is August 1, 2026 (Expected). Check important events and their dates in the CAT schedule 2026 table below: 

CAT 2026 registration link will be available on CAT official website www.iimcat.ac.in. You can also access the same from the link below:

CAT Application Form Direct Link 2026: To be updated in July 2026 

CAT Application Form Fees 2026 is expected to be Rs 2,600 for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates and Rs 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD categories. Candidates should wait for CAT 2026 notifications for an official confirmation of CAT 2026 Application Form Fees.  

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before you begin the CAT 2026 registration process, it is essential to verify that you meet the eligibility criteria set by IIMs. The CAT 2026 eligibility criteria cover educational qualifications, category-wise minimum marks, and reservation policies. Importantly, there is no age limit and no restriction on the number of attempts.

CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Key Requirements

CAT 2026 Eligibility: Important Points to Remember

• The percentage of marks is calculated based on the practice followed by the respective University/Institution. If the institution uses CGPA, conversion is based on its own conversion formula. If no conversion formula exists, CGPA is divided by maximum CGPA and multiplied by 100.

• Candidates appearing in the final year of their Bachelor's degree (or those who have completed degree requirements but are awaiting results) are also eligible to apply. If selected, they must submit a certificate from the Principal/Registrar of their University/Institution confirming that they have completed all degree requirements on or before the date stipulated by the respective IIM.
• IIMs may verify eligibility at various stages of the selection process. Meeting CAT 2026 eligibility criteria is the minimum requirement — it does not guarantee shortlisting for IIM interviews.

• IIMs have their own additional eligibility criteria for MBA Admissions beyond the basic CAT eligibility. Aspirants must check IIM-specific eligibility requirements separately on each IIM's admissions page.

CAT 2026 Reservation Policy is followed by IIMs which require reservation for SC, ST, NC-BC, EWS, and PwBD candidates. For complete category-wise eligibility requirements, supporting documents, and reservation rules, read CAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 on MBAUniverse.com.

CAT registration 2026 process will open on August 1, 2026. CAT 2026 application form filling is part of the registration process. CAT Form last date 2026 is expected to be September 20, 2026. CAT registration process can be completed by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Register as New Candidate: Visit the CAT official website iimcat.ac.in. Click on "New Candidate Registration" tab. Carefully fill in your Name (as per your 10th certificate), Date of Birth, Email ID, Mobile Number, and Country. 

Step 2: Login to Apply: Within minutes of submission, you will receive your User ID and Password via SMS and an email titled "CAT 2026 Successful Registration." Use these credentials to log in and begin filling out the CAT application form.

Step 3: Complete CAT Application Form: CAT Application Form filling can be completed by filling these details:

1. Personal details
2. Academics
3. Work experience
4. Programmes
5. Test city
6. Declaration  

Check how to fill CAT Application Form 2026 (step 3) in the following sections. 

How to fill CAT 2026 Form? The first step in CAT form filling is to enter and verify your personal details. Enter following information to complete your personal details required in this step:

• Candidate’s First Name, Middle Name, Last Name
• Father’s/Guardian’s Name and Mother’s Name/Guardian’s Name
• Spouse’s Name (if married)
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Nationality
• Category 

Candidates should select category details from the drop-down menu. If you are not selecting “General Category”, then you will be required to add supporting documents such as Caste/Tribe Certificate etc. Check list of category supporting documents required for CAT application form below.

Communication/Permanent Address: After adding personal details, candidates should add their Communication/Permanent Address. Enter both your present and permanent postal address details correctly, as it will be used for communication during the admission process. You need to provide an alternate Email Address and emergency Mobile Number while filling up the Application form. 

Next, candidates have to Upload Required Documents, given below, to complete personal details: 

• Photograph: Upload the scanned image of your passport size photo within the dimension of 1200 pixels x 1200 pixels. The image should be clear with a minimum resolution of 150px/inch The photo should not be more than 6 months old and should have a white background. Remember that you will need the photograph uploaded here to be affixed on the admit card on the day of the test. So, keep sufficient copies of this photo.
• Signature: Upload the scanned image of your signature within the dimensions of 80mm X 35mm. The documents file format should be a .jpg or .jpeg and the file size should not be more than 80KB.
• EWS/NC-OBC/SC/ST Certificate: If applicable, upload this certificate. Scan as PDF document to upload it.
• Valid PwD Certificate: If applicable. Scan as PDF document to upload here. 

Refer image of previous year’s CAT application form below for completing this stage. After entering your personal details and uploading the required documents, click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.  

In this section, you should enter following educational qualification details carefully: 

• SSC/10th/Equivalent Exam Details: Enter Name of the Board, Year/Month of completion, Maximum Marks, Total Marks Obtained, Aggregate Percentage. Enter similar details for following qualifications.
• HSC/12th/Equivalent/Diploma Exam Details
• Bachelor’s Degree Details
• Master’s Degree Details
• Other Professional Degree Details 

Refer image of previous year’s CAT application form below for completing this stage. Click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.

CAT 2026 Form Filling: Enter Academic Details

If you are a candidate with work experience, enter your experience details as on July 31, 2026. Enter following details for each of your work experiences:

• Name of Organization
• Start Date
• End Date
• Break in Experience (In days)
• Experience (In days)

Remember, only Full-time experience after graduation must be entered. Do not enter Part-time/ Project/ Internship/ Article ship/ Pre-graduation work experience as it will not be counted as work experience by IIMs for MBA admission. Break in Experience if any, needs to be entered in days in the text box provided. If there is no break, please enter “0” and proceed.

Refer image of previous year’s CAT application form below. Click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.

CAT 2026 Form Filling: Enter Work Experience

Next step is to enter IIMs and their programs that you wish to apply to. Since there is no additional fees and effort in applying for all IIMs, you should select all programmes by clicking on the “Select All” checkbox. Also select your Interview City preference from the respective drop-down list. 
 
Refer image of previous year’s CAT application form below. Click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.

CAT 2026 Form Filling: Enter IIM “PROGRAMMES” Details

Next, you should enter your preferred CAT Test City where you will like to take the CAT exam. This is a very important step while filling the CAT application form. Candidates have to fill 6 different Test Cities as per your preference from the drop-down menu. After the last date of registration, one among the 5 preferred test cities will be allotted subject to availability. 

Refer image of previous year’s CAT application form below. Click on “SAVE & NEXT” button to proceed to the next section.

CAT 2026 Form Filling: Enter CAT Test City 

The last and final step of CAT application form filling is to pay CAT exam fees and sign declaration form. CAT 2026 registration fees for General/EWS/NC-OBC candidates is Rs. 2,600. CAT 2026 registration fees for SC/ST/PwD candidate is Rs. 1300. Candidates must sign a declaration confirming that all details submitted in the application form are correct, and you will produce supporting certificates and documents when required. During this stage, it is important to preview the application form, using the ‘PREVIEW’ button to check for accuracy and completeness of your data. 
 
After successful fees payment, a ‘Payment Successful’ message will be displayed on the screen along with the Payment Transaction Number. Please keep it saved for future references. Next, you will receive a confirmation email stating the successful submission of your CAT 2026 Application. With this step, your CAT application form filling process is completed. 

CAT 2026 Form Filling: Pay Fees and Sign Declaration

Submitting the right documents is key to completing CAT application form 2026. Follow these specifications carefully.

How to Upload Photograph in CAT Application Form? 

• Upload your recent passport size photograph of not more than 6 months old.
• The dimension of the photograph should be 1200 pixels x 1200 pixels.
• Maximum file size: 1 MB
• File Formats: Only JPEG, JPG
• Please upload the same photograph, that you will affix on the Admit Card on the day of the test.
• The photo-print should be clear and with a continuous-tone quality. It should have a white background, full face, neck and shoulders, front view, eyes open.
• Ensure that the photograph is scanned properly using a scanner only. Do not use mobile phone or other mobile applications to scan your photograph.

• Upload your signature only in JPEG, JPG formats
• Maximum File Size is 80KB

Key Documents Required for CAT Application 2026

Before you begin with the CAT Application process, remember to organize these key documents required to complete the form:

• Mark sheets – Class 10th
• Mark Sheet – Class 12th
• Mark sheet – Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma
• Final Year Certificate from the HoD/Principal (If in final year of bachelor’s degree) also previous year mark sheet
• Work experience Document, if any
• Applicable Certificates to upload (Category/Affidavits). Check and understand the size and format of Documents to be Uploaded

Scanned images of your passport size photo and signature. 

CAT Application Form Correction Window 2026 is expected to open in the fourth week of September 2026 (tentatively Sept 24–27). It typically remains active for only 72 to 96 hours, allowing candidates to correct specific errors before the final admit cards are generated. Unlike other entrance exams, IIMs are extremely strict. You cannot change your personal details, academic marks, or work experience. The correction window is exclusively for:

1. Photograph: If your original upload was blurry or had a non-white background.
2. Signature: If the signature was illegible or cropped incorrectly.
3. Test City Preferences: You can re-prioritize your choice of 6 preferred exam cities.

To make changes in your CAT 2026 application form, candidates have to log in to their account on CAT official Website. Read how to edit CAT form below:

• Visit CAT exam website iimcat.ac.in
• Click on ‘login’ tab
• Enter User ID and password
• Login to go to dashboard
• Click on ‘Application Form’ option
• Go to relevant section (photo, signature, test city) and edit it
• Enter CAPTCHA code and click on ‘continue’ to complete the process

Note that there is no fee for CAT form correction. 

The CAT 2026 application is an "irreversible" document. Once you pay the fee, major fields like your Name, Date of Birth, and Academic Scores become locked. While a limited correction window exists in September, it typically only allows for changes to your Photograph, Signature, and Test City preferences. For everything else, the IIMs expect candidates fill correct details during the application process. Critical mistakes to avoid are given below: 

• Identity Mismatch: Never use nicknames or shortened versions of your name. It must match your Class 10/SSC Certificate letter-for-letter. Also, any mismatch with your ID proof (Aadhaar/PAN) will cause rejection at the test center.
• CGPA Conversion Blunders: Do not use a generic "multiply by 10" rule. You must use your university's official conversion formula. If no formula exists, follow standard CGPA conversion rule given above.
• The "All Subjects" Rule: When entering marks for Class 10 and 12, you must include every subject listed on your marksheet—even "additional" or "sixth" subjects. You cannot selectively choose "Best of 5."
• Invalid Work Experience: Only include full-time, paid employment completed after your graduation. Internships, articleships, and part-time projects do not count and will be struck down during the IIM interview verification.
• Expired Category Certificates: For NC-OBC and EWS candidates, certificates must be issued on or after April 1, 2026. Using an older certificate will result in your application being treated as "General," losing you the reservation benefit.
• Check CAT confirmation. Ensure your application is successfully submitted and that you receive an SMS from the CAT Centre. If you made a mistake, register again with a new email ID. Only the latest application will be valid.

CAT Application Form 2026 Download: CAT application form can be filled only on the official CAT website iimcat.ac.in. You can download CAT 2026 application form PDF after filling it online for your records. For your reference, MBAUniverse.com has provided a sample CAT application form pdf. You can download from link below. 

In summary, IIM Indore will conduct CAT 2026 on November 29, 2026. CAT application form 2026 release date is August 1, 2026 (expected). CAT Application Form 2026 deadline is expected to be September 20, 2026. CAT form fees 2026 is expected to be Rs 2600 for the general, OBC and EWS category students and Rs 1300 for the SC/ST and PwD category. CAT application 2026 form must be filled on CAT 2026 official website iimcat.ac.in. Check how to fill CAT 2026 application form step by step. Also check documents required, specifications of photo and signature to be uploaded and common mistakes to avoid. Also read about CAT 2026 Registration, CAT 2026 Preparation and take free CAT Mock Tests.