How to Fill CAT 2026 Application Form: Step-by-Step Registration Guide, Documents, Fees and Last Date

CAT Form Filling 2026: Important Dates

Take a look at the following list, which mentions some of the most important dates for the upcoming events.

How to Fill CAT Application Form 2026?

The CAT application form will be divided into two parts:

• CAT Exam Registration
• Fill out the CAT Application Form

It is necessary for candidates to be well acquainted with how to register for CAT 2026 and then fill out the CAT application form 2026 without any errors. Candidates looking to appear for the CAT 2026 exam have to first register to generate a login ID and password.

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How to Register for CAT 2026: Prerequisites

Register to generate a unique user ID and password. Here is the process below:

• Log in using the generated User ID and Password
• Correctly enter details in the form and upload the documents required for CAT 2026
• Submit the CAT 2026 application form and make the payment of the fee in online mode to complete the registration and application process.

During registration, the mobile number and email address provided by the domestic candidates will be verified through an OTP sent to that mobile number and email address. Once the OTP is verified, the user ID and password will be sent to the registered email address or the registered mobile number to complete the registration process.

Applicants do not have to complete the application form in a single session. Applicants can save their current session and log in later to complete their CAT 2026 application form. This can be done multiple times. Applicants will not be allowed to make any changes once the payment is made and the CAT application form is submitted. They can only view and print the CAT application form after submitting it.

Documents Required to Complete CAT Application Process 2026 Online

• Candidates must have fulfilled the prescribed eligibility criteria of CAT 2026.
• Students must have a valid mobile number and email address to retain the unique ID and password.

• Keep scanned copies of the following documents/ images ready:

  • Documents related to your Educational history from Class 10 onwards

  • Mark sheets – Class-10

  • Mark Sheet – Class 12

  • Mark sheet – Bachelor’s Degree/ Diploma

  • Final Year Certificate from the HoD/Principal (If in the final year of bachelor’s degree), and previous year mark sheet

  • Work experience Document, if any

  • Applicable Certificates to upload (Category/Affidavits)

  • Scanned images of your passport-size photo and signature.

  • Prepare and keep ready the list of the IIM programmes to which you wish to apply and the preferred interview cities for them, before you fill in the CAT application form.

  • Keep ready the CAT application fee payment instruments like Debit/Credit cards, Net banking.

NOTE: Candidates must note that the passport-size photograph must not be more than 6 months old.

Suitable browsers to fill the CAT exam application form 2026

Candidates, while filling out the application form for CAT 2026, must ensure to fill the form through any of the browsers mentioned below to avoid any technical glitches:

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How to fill CAT application form 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

In order to apply for CAT 2026, candidates should follow the step-by-step instructions to fill out the CAT application form without any hassle.

Step 1 - Go to the official IIM CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) and register.

Before filling out the complete CAT application form 2026, candidates are required to visit the official website and enter the following details:

Click on the tab ‘Register’ and enter the following information;

• Name of the candidate (as in Class 10/ SSC certificate)
• Date of birth (DOB)
• Email Address
• Mobile number (India-based 10-digit number)
• OTP

To complete the registration process, CAT 2026 students will have to generate the OTP by clicking on the tab ‘generate OTP,’ and candidates will be redirected to CAPTCHA and submit the OTP received on the registered mobile number.

After entering the OTP, click on the tab ‘validate the OTP,’ and students will receive the registration ID and password on the registered email ID and phone number.

Once the candidates have entered the CAPTCHA, students will be required to select the ‘I agree’ checkbox in the declaration column.

Confirmation registration:

Within minutes, the candidates will receive the login details on the registered mobile number and email ID. If a candidate does not get the mail in the inbox, they should check the spam folder

Step 2 - Log in to the CAT official website

Using the system-generated user ID and password, candidates will now have to log in on the CAT 2026 official website:

After logging in, aspirants will be redirected to the applicant details page. Click on the tab ‘Go to application form’, which is next to personal details.

Step 3 - Fill out the CAT application form 2026

The CAT registration form 2026 is categorised into six categories as follows:

• Academic Qualifications
• Personal Details
• Work Experience
• Programmes
• Test City
• Payment

Before filling out the application form, students must ensure they read the instructions carefully. Aspirants will be able to exit and save the details to fill out the form later. However, candidates will not be allowed to move to the next section of the CAT application form 2026 until the necessary documents/ information is entered.

Check for the following details, which have to be entered in the CAT 2026 registration form

Academic Qualification

In this section, aspirants will have to enter the following qualification details:

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

Personal and Communication details:

• Enter Father’s/Husband’s/Guardian’s Name and Mother’s Name as applicable
• Select the Category
• If not general, enter - Serial/Entry Number of Caste/Tribe, State/Union Territory of Caste/Tribe, and Caste/Tribe Name.
• Nationality
• Communication address details
• Upload documents

In this section, candidates have to upload the necessary documents in the prescribed format below:

Work Experience

Aspirants will be required to enter their total work experience by July 31, 2026. Candidates must check the industry type and work experience in months for each industry type

NOTE: Only full-time employment details after graduation must be entered. Part-time/ Project/ Internship/ Articleship/ Pre-graduation work experience will not be considered work experience.

Once all the details are entered, click on the Save and Next button.

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Programmes

Aspirants will have to select any number of programme names and select the interview city for the chosen programme in this section

NOTE: Applicants applying for PGP courses at the following IIMs are required to select the same interview city for all the selections because of their Common Admissions Process (CAP).

• IIM Kashipur
• IIM Raipur
• IIM Ranchi
• IIM Sirmaur
• IIM Tiruchirappalli
• IIM Udaipur
• IIM Bodh Gaya
• IIM Jammu
• IIM Sambalpur

Seat details of IIMs for reference (Expected):

CAT Test City

Students will be required to mention any six CAT test cities in the application form as per his/ her preference. One among the six preferences, one city will be allotted to the student subject to availability. In case the preferred CAT exam centre city is not allotted, then the nearby test city will be allotted to the applicant.

NOTE: Aspirants will not be allowed to choose the same city for more than one preference.

Step 4 - Application fee payment

After successful completion of the CAT application form 2026, the last step is to pay the application fee to complete the CAT 2026 application process. The application fee for CAT 2026 for various categories is different, as mentioned in the table below:

Select the payment mode from any of the following:

• BillDesk
• PayU

Now enter the captcha as the characters are displayed in the box.

After entering the captcha, candidates will be provided with the tab ‘Preview’ to check the complete CAT 2026 application form and edit the form in case of any error. After having reviewed the registration form, students must click on the tab ‘I agree’ in the declaration box and click on the tab ‘Submit and pay’ to proceed to the payment gateway.

In the next step, the screen will display the payment gateway. Students can choose from the following methods to pay the application fee:

• Credit card
• Debit card
• Debit card+ ATM PIN
• Internet banking
• Wallet/ Cash card

After a successful transaction, the screen will display the ‘payment successful’ message on the screen along with the payment transaction number.

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Application Confirmation Email

Candidates will also receive a confirmation email stating the successful submission of their CAT 2026 application form within a few minutes. The email may also contain communication on additional details such as the CAT admit Card download window.

Application Summary

Whenever a candidate logs in to the IIM CAT website as a registered user, they will see the CAT 2026 application summary that will give a read-only view of the details they have entered.

Candidate Help Desk

In the event candidates do not receive a confirmation email after completion of the CAT 2026 application process or have any queries or concerns, they can connect with the Candidate Help Desk by e-mail (cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in) or call 1800 210 1088 (Toll-Free). For this, they must have a user ID and/ or payment transaction number details at hand for reference.

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