CAT 2026 Registration Last Date Extended to September 22
APPLICATION GUIDE | LAST UPDATED 17 SEPTEMBER 2026
The CAT 2026 registration deadline has been extended to 22 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. The earlier closing date was 15 September.
If you have not filled out the form, use the official CAT website and finish the process as soon as possible. Avoid depending on the last hours. A slow website, payment problem or document-upload error can cost you valuable time.
Official portal: iimcat.ac.in
CAT 2026 is scheduled for 29 November 2026. The revised deadline has been reported by reliable national news publications. Candidates should still check the official CAT portal before submitting the form.
CAT 2026 Registration at a Glance
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Registration status | Open |
| Last date | 22 September 2026, 5:00 PM |
| Exam date | 29 November 2026 |
| Official website | iimcat.ac.in |
| Preferred test cities | Up to five |
| Important warning | Verify every detail on the official portal before payment |
Apply through the official CAT website
CAT 2026 Registration Latest Update
The original CAT 2026 registration deadline was 15 September 2026. Candidates now have until 22 September at 5:00 PM to finish the application. This extra time is useful, but it should not cause you further delay.
Creating an account is not the same as completing the application. You must fill in the required details, upload the documents, select programmes and test cities, pay the fee and submit the form.
- Fill in personal information
- Enter academic records
- Upload the required documents
- Select IIM programmes
- Choose preferred test cities
- Pay the application fee
- Submit the completed form
After submitting the form, download the confirmation page and payment receipt. Save copies on your phone, computer and email account. Keep your CAT user ID and password in a safe place.
CAT 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date or status |
|---|---|
| Original registration deadline | 15 September 2026 |
| Revised registration deadline | 22 September 2026, 5:00 PM |
| CAT 2026 examination | 29 November 2026 |
| Correction window | To be confirmed on the official CAT portal |
| Admit card | Check the official portal for the confirmed date |
| Result | To be announced |
Dates can change. Always check iimcat.ac.in before acting on information published elsewhere.
CAT 2026 Official Application Form Link
The official website for the CAT 2026 application form is iimcat.ac.in. Check the address carefully before entering personal details or making a payment.
- Websites pretending to be the official CAT portal
- Payment links received through unknown messages
- Social-media links that do not open on iimcat.ac.in
- People asking for your CAT password or payment details
- Agents promising guaranteed admission or a guaranteed CAT score
VerbalHub and other preparation institutes can help you prepare for CAT, but they are not official registration portals.
CAT 2026 Application Fee
| Candidate category | Reported application fee |
|---|---|
| General, EWS and NC-OBC | Rs 2,700 |
| SC, ST and PwD | Rs 1,350 |
Verify the final fee and payment instructions on the official CAT website before paying. The official notification is the final authority.
- Wait for payment confirmation.
- Check the application dashboard.
- Confirm that the form shows a successful submission.
- Download the receipt.
- Save the final application PDF.
Do not assume that money deducted from your account means the form has been submitted. If the page shows a payment or submission error, follow the instructions on the official portal. Check the refund rules before making another payment.
Documents Required for CAT 2026 Registration
Personal details
- Full name as shown on official documents
- Date of birth
- Active mobile number
- Working email address
- Communication address
- Government-issued identification details, where required
Photograph and signature
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Clear scanned signature
The photograph should be recent and easy to recognise. The signature should not be blurred, cut off or placed on a dark background. Check the portal for the correct file format, dimensions and file size.
Academic information
- Class 10 and Class 12 marks
- Graduation marks or semester details
- Degree and institution details
- Current graduation status
- Professional qualification details, where applicable
Keep your marksheets beside you. Do not enter marks from memory.
Reservation and employment documents
- SC, ST, NC-OBC or EWS certificate, where applicable
- PwD certificate, where applicable
- Employer, role and work dates for working candidates
- Payment method accepted by the portal
File formats, sizes and certificate rules may change. Check every requirement on the official CAT portal.
How to Fill the CAT 2026 Application Form
- Visit iimcat.ac.in and open the CAT 2026 registration page.
- Create an account with a valid email address and mobile number.
- Complete the required verification.
- Log in to the application dashboard.
- Enter your personal information exactly as shown on official documents.
- Enter Class 10, Class 12, graduation and other academic details.
- Add full-time work experience, if applicable.
- Select the correct category and reservation details.
- Upload the photograph, signature and certificates.
- Select the programmes and IIMs for which you are eligible.
- Choose up to five preferred test cities.
- Review every section carefully.
- Pay the application fee through the available payment option.
- Submit the form and confirm that the status is successful.
- Download the final confirmation page and payment receipt.
Before final submission, check your name, date of birth, category, academic marks, graduation status, work experience, photograph, signature, programme choices and test-city preferences.
How to Select CAT Test Cities
Candidates can currently select up to five preferred cities. Your first choice should usually be the city that is easiest for you to reach. The remaining choices should also be practical.
- Distance from home
- Travel time
- Train, bus or flight options
- Need for accommodation
- Likely traffic or weather problems
- Whether you know the city well
Your preferred city is not guaranteed. Final allocation depends on availability and the examination authority. Once the admit card is released, check the test centre, reporting time and route carefully.
Common CAT Application Form Mistakes
| Mistake | What to do |
|---|---|
| Wrong date of birth | Use the date shown on your official records. |
| Wrong category | Select a category only if you meet its conditions and can provide the certificate. |
| Inaccurate marks | Use your marksheets and follow the stated conversion rule. |
| Unclear photograph or signature | Check the uploaded preview before saving. |
| Inactive email or mobile number | Use contact details that will stay active. |
| Wrong graduation status | Choose the option that matches your present situation. |
| Missing work experience | Enter eligible full-time experience carefully. |
| Impractical test cities | Choose cities you can actually reach. |
| Payment without final confirmation | Return to the dashboard and check the status. |
| Waiting until the final hour | Submit early enough to handle a technical problem. |
| Expecting every field to be editable | Fill the first form as if no correction window will be available. |
CAT 2026 Correction Window
A correction window may be provided after registration closes. It may be limited to candidates who completed the application, paid the fee and submitted the form successfully.
Current reports suggest that the photograph, signature and test-city preferences may be editable. The exact dates and fields must be confirmed on the official portal. Personal, academic, category and programme details may not be open for correction.
Do not enter information carelessly because you expect to correct it later.
- Log in through iimcat.ac.in.
- Read the correction instructions.
- Check which fields can be changed.
- Make only the required correction.
- Review the form again.
- Save the revised confirmation page.
Can Final Year Students Apply for CAT 2026
CAT has traditionally allowed final-year bachelor degree students to apply, subject to the conditions given in that year eligibility rules. Final-year students should check the CAT 2026 notification before submitting the form.
Read the full CAT eligibility criteria before selecting programmes.
What to Do After Submitting the CAT Form
Registration is only the first step. Once the form is complete, move your attention to preparation.
- Save the submitted application and payment receipt
- Keep login details secure
- Track official announcements
- Take a diagnostic mock test
- Find weaknesses in VARC, DILR and Quant
- Begin concept revision and timed practice
- Maintain an error log
- Analyse every mock carefully
Start with the CAT 2026 preparation guide if you need a complete plan. New students can use the CAT preparation for beginners to organise the first few weeks.
Review the complete CAT syllabus, then map your weak areas against the CAT Quant and DILR topics.
For Verbal, follow a clear CAT VARC preparation strategy. After each full test, use this guide on how to analyse CAT mock tests instead of checking only the percentile.
How VerbalHub Can Help with CAT Preparation
Students often collect several books, videos and mock tests but still do not know what to study next. The root cause is not study materials. It is the lack of a clear plan and regular correction.
VerbalHub uses diagnostic testing, concept building, guided practice, error-log review and mock-test analysis. The aim is not simply to solve more questions. Students learn how to recognise the question type, understand what it is asking, remove weak options and make better decisions under time pressure.
VerbalHub is led by Hasan Sir, an IIM Kozhikode alumnus, GMAT Verbal V50 scorer and three-time CAT VARC 99th-percentile scorer. He has 20 years of teaching experience and has mentored more than 10,000 students.
His approach is especially useful for students whose CAT VARC scores remain uneven despite regular practice. Lessons focus on why the correct answer works and why the other options fail.
| Typical broad preparation | VerbalHub approach |
|---|---|
| Same plan for every student | Preparation based on a diagnostic test |
| More questions without review | Accuracy and learning from mistakes |
| Limited mock analysis | Structured analysis and error logs |
| Dependence on shortcuts | Concepts supported by practical strategy |
| General feedback | Personal guidance and doubt resolution |
Explore VerbalHub CAT preparation
CAT 2026 Registration FAQs
The revised deadline is 22 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. Check iimcat.ac.in for any further update.
Yes. The earlier deadline was 15 September 2026.
The official website is iimcat.ac.in.
Do not expect a late application to be accepted unless another extension is officially announced.
The reported fee is Rs 2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates and Rs 1,350 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. Verify it on the official portal.
A correction window may be provided, but only selected fields may be editable.
Candidates can currently select up to five preferred cities. Final allocation depends on availability.
Final-year students have traditionally been allowed under stated conditions. Check the 2026 eligibility rules.
Check the official notification and payment policy.
Save the records, follow official updates, take a diagnostic mock and begin a structured study plan.
VerbalHub provides CAT VARC preparation, diagnostic testing, timed practice, personal guidance and mock analysis.
Final Takeaway
The CAT 2026 registration deadline is 22 September 2026 at 5:00 PM. Complete the form early, check every entry and confirm that both payment and final submission were successful.
Do not depend on the correction window to fix avoidable mistakes. Once the form is submitted, take a diagnostic mock, identify weak areas and begin a realistic plan for VARC, DILR and Quant.
Students who want structured verbal guidance and regular mock analysis can speak with VerbalHub and Hasan Sir.
