CAT 2026 application fee is ₹2,700 for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates and ₹1,350 for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. The fee must be paid online to complete the CAT application. It is paid only once irrespective of the number of IIM programmes selected and is non-refundable.
The CAT 2026 application fee is a mandatory part of completing the Common Admission Test registration process. Candidates belonging to General, EWS and NC-OBC categories have to pay ₹2,700, while SC, ST and PwBD candidates have to pay ₹1,350. The official CAT 2026 advertisement confirms that the registration fee needs to be paid only once regardless of the number of institutes selected and that fees once paid cannot be refunded.
CAT 2026 Application Fee: Category-Wise
| Category | CAT 2026 Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General | ₹2,700 |
| EWS | ₹2,700 |
| NC-OBC | ₹2,700 |
| SC | ₹1,350 |
| ST | ₹1,350 |
| PwBD | ₹1,350 |
The reduced fee applies specifically to SC, ST and PwBD candidates. Other categories pay the standard ₹2,700 CAT registration fee.
CAT 2026 Fee vs CAT 2025 Fee
CAT application fees have increased for the 2026 examination cycle.
| Category | CAT 2025 Fee | CAT 2026 Fee | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/EWS/NC-OBC | ₹2,600 | ₹2,700 | ₹100 |
| SC/ST/PwD/PwBD | ₹1,300 | ₹1,350 | ₹50 |
CAT 2025 charged ₹2,600 for candidates other than SC, ST and PwD and ₹1,300 for those reserved categories, while the official CAT 2026 advertisement lists the revised amounts at ₹2,700 and ₹1,350 respectively.
Is CAT 2026 Fee Paid Separately for Every IIM?
No. Candidates need to pay the CAT registration fee only once, irrespective of the number of IIM programmes or participating institutes they choose while filling the CAT form. Therefore, selecting more eligible IIM programmes does not increase the CAT application fee. This is different from later MBA admission processes, where some non-IIM institutes may require candidates to submit separate applications and pay their own application fees.
When Do You Pay the CAT 2026 Application Fee?
The application fee is paid at the final stage of the CAT 2026 application form. Candidates first complete sections such as:
- Personal Details
- Academics
- Work Experience
- IIM Programme Selection
- Test City Preferences
- Documents Upload
They should then preview the completed form before proceeding to declaration and payment. The current CAT 2026 registration window closes on September 15, 2026, at 5 PM, so the application and successful fee payment must be completed within the registration period.
How to Pay CAT 2026 Application Fee
Candidates should follow the payment workflow available through the CAT 2026 application portal.
Step 1: Login to the CAT Candidate Portal
Visit iimcat.ac.in and open the Registered Candidate Login.
Enter:
- CAT User ID
- Password
- CAPTCHA
Then open the CAT application.
Step 2: Complete All Application Sections
Fill all mandatory details before moving to final submission.
Candidates can save the application and return later before payment if they do not want to complete the entire form in one session. The CAT 2026 registration guide confirms that applications can be saved and resumed before final submission.
Step 3: Preview the CAT Application Form
Before paying, use the Preview option and carefully verify:
- name and personal details;
- category;
- academic marks;
- work experience;
- uploaded photograph/signature;
- supporting certificates;
- selected IIM programmes; and
- CAT test-city preferences.
This step is important because the current CAT 2026 guide states that after payment and final submission, the standard application becomes non-editable.
Step 4: Accept the Declaration and Payment Terms
Read the declaration and confirm that the details entered are correct.
Candidates must also accept the terms and conditions related to the online payment facility before proceeding to the payment gateway.
Step 5: Proceed to Online Payment
Click the final Submit/Payment option.
The CAT 2026 registration guide identifies BillDesk as the payment partner for the current cycle, after which candidates are redirected to the payment gateway.
Step 6: Select a Payment Method
The payment gateway displays the currently available online payment methods.
Common options include:
- Debit Card
- Credit Card
- Net Banking
- UPI
Current CAT 2026 registration guidance confirms online payment through these methods.
Step 7: Complete the Transaction
Enter the required payment information and authorise the transaction.
Do not close the browser until the transaction has completed and the payment status is displayed.
Step 8: Save the Payment Transaction Number
After a successful transaction, the CAT system displays a Payment Successful message along with a Payment Transaction Number.
Save this number carefully because it may be required if you later need help regarding a payment or application-status issue.
Step 9: Check Application Confirmation
After successful payment, candidates are redirected to the CAT application.
A confirmation email should also be sent after successful submission. Candidates should retain:
- payment confirmation;
- Payment Transaction Number;
- CAT User ID;
- confirmation email; and
- submitted application copy.
CAT 2026 Payment Modes
CAT 2026 application fee is paid online.
| Payment Mode | Available |
|---|---|
| Credit Card | Yes |
| Debit Card | Yes |
| Net Banking | Yes |
| UPI | Yes |
| Cash | No |
| Demand Draft | No |
Candidates should use the payment methods displayed on the CAT payment gateway at the time of transaction because available options can depend on the gateway.
Are There Extra Transaction Charges for CAT Fee Payment?
The base CAT 2026 registration fee is ₹2,700 or ₹1,350, depending on category. The payment gateway or payment provider may display applicable transaction/convenience charges depending on the payment method selected. Candidates should therefore check the final payable amount shown on the payment gateway before authorising the transaction.
Is CAT 2026 Application Fee Refundable?
No. The official CAT 2026 advertisement clearly states that fees once paid cannot be refunded under any circumstances.
Candidates should therefore:
- verify eligibility before applying;
- choose the correct category;
- check uploaded documents;
- preview the entire application; and
- verify all information before paying.
What Happens After CAT Fee Payment?
Successful payment completes the CAT application submission process. After submission:
- the application becomes available in read-only form;
- candidates can view or print the submitted application;
- a successful-payment transaction number is generated; and
- an application confirmation should be sent to the registered email address.
Candidates should not assume that simply filling the form without completing payment constitutes a submitted CAT application.
CAT Fee Deducted but Payment Status Not Updated
If money has been deducted from your bank account but CAT does not immediately show a successful payment:
- Do not make another payment immediately.
- Login again to your CAT candidate dashboard.
- Check the latest payment/application status.
- Keep the bank transaction details and CAT User ID ready.
- If the issue remains unresolved, use the Grievance Portal available inside the CAT login.
- Upload supporting payment proof if required.
The CAT 2026 grievance system allows registered candidates to raise a ticket and attach up to three supporting documents. Candidates are asked to allow at least two working days for a response.
CAT 2026 Payment Grievance: How to Raise a Ticket
For unresolved application or payment issues:
- Login to the CAT 2026 portal.
- Open the Grievance Portal tab.
- Click the “+” button.
- Select the relevant issue category.
- Describe the payment problem clearly.
- Upload screenshots or transaction proof if necessary.
- Submit the ticket.
- Allow at least two working days for the response.
Keep your CAT User ID and Payment Transaction Number available for reference.
CAT 2026 Payment Helpdesk
Candidates facing registration, application or payment-processing issues can contact the CAT Candidate Helpdesk:
Toll-free: 1-800-210-0175
Working hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM
Closed: National holidays
The current CAT 2026 registration guide advises candidates to keep their User ID and/or Payment Transaction Number ready when contacting the helpdesk.
Common CAT 2026 Fee Payment Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these errors while paying the application fee:
- paying before carefully previewing the application;
- selecting the wrong category;
- closing the browser while the payment is processing;
- making another payment immediately after a delayed status update;
- failing to save the Payment Transaction Number;
- assuming the application is complete without successful payment;
- waiting until the final hours of registration to pay; and
- losing the final application/payment confirmation.
Since CAT fees are non-refundable, reviewing the form before payment is particularly important.
CAT 2026 Application Fee: What Candidates Should Do Now
CAT 2026 registration is scheduled to remain open until September 15, 2026, at 5 PM. Candidates who have completed most of the application should review their form and complete payment well before the deadline rather than waiting until the last few hours.
Candidates who still need to complete the full application process can use our How to Fill CAT 2026 Application Form guide.
For candidate-dashboard access or credential problems, check CAT 2026 Login: Candidate Login, Forgot Password & Login Problems.
FAQs on CAT 2026 Application Fee
Can I fill the CAT form now and pay the fee later?
Candidates can save an incomplete application and return to it in another session before final submission. However, CAT registration is not complete until the application is submitted with successful payment, so the fee must be paid before the registration deadline.
What if CAT payment is debited twice from my bank account?
Candidates should preserve both transaction records and raise a payment-processing grievance through the CAT candidate login rather than attempting additional transactions. Include the CAT User ID and relevant transaction numbers when submitting the grievance.
Do female candidates get a concession in the CAT application fee?
There is no separate female-candidate fee category in the CAT 2026 official advertisement. The fee depends on the candidate’s applicable category: ₹2,700 for categories other than SC/ST/PwBD and ₹1,350 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
Can I pay CAT application fee after September 15 if I registered earlier?
Registration is officially scheduled to close at 5 PM on September 15, 2026. Candidates should complete both the application and payment within the active registration window unless CAT authorities issue a subsequent official extension.
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