The CAT Application Form 2025 opened on August 1, 2025 (10:00 AM IST). The last date to apply was extended till September 20, 2025 (5:00 PM IST) at iimcat.ac.in. Earlier, the last date to register was September 13. 

• CAT 2025 registration fee has been revised. General/OBC candidates have to pay INR 2,600, and the fee for SC/ST/PWD candidates is INR 1,300.
• You’ll get almost 6 weeks to apply, so don’t leave it for the last day when the website usually slows down.

In this period, you’ll need to register, fill in your details, upload documents, and pay the fee online. Once done, you can download your admit card from November 5 to November 30, 2025, and the CAT 2025 exam will be held on November 30, 2025 (Sunday).

To be eligible for the CAT Exam 2025, candidates are required to have completed their UG degree, irrespective of the disciplines, with a minimum of 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD categories candidates) from a recognised university. Candidates in their final year of the UG programme, or if their results are awaited, can apply and fill out the CAT Application Form 

Also Check:

• CAT 2025 Question Paper
• CAT 2025 Cutoff

CAT Application Important Dates 2025

The CAT 2025 timeline follows the usual pattern set by IIMs. Registration started on August 1, 2025, and candidates will have about six weeks to apply before the window closes on September 20, 2025, at 5:00 PM IST. Admit cards will be available from November 5 to 30, 2025, giving applicants nearly a month to download and check exam details. The exam itself is scheduled for November 30, 2025 (Sunday).

Also Read

• CAT 2025 Admit Card
• CAT 2025 Exam Date

CAT Application Form 2025: Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for CAT 2025 may sound like a big task, but the process is actually quite straightforward if you go step by step. To make it easier, here’s a simple guide you can follow while filling out your application form:

Step 1: Register on the Official Website

Head to the official CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) and click on “New Candidate Registration”. Enter your name, email, and mobile number. Once verified, you’ll get your User ID and Password on email and SMS.

Step 2: Log In and Add Personal Details

Use your new login credentials to access the application form. Fill in basic details like your name, date of birth, category, and communication address. Make sure these match your official documents.

Step 3: Enter Academic & Work Experience Details

Add your marks from 10th, 12th, graduation, and beyond (if any). If you have work experience, enter the duration and company details. These numbers will be cross-checked later, so keep them accurate.

Step 4: Select Test Cities & IIM Preferences

Choose up to six exam cities in order of preference. At this stage, you can also pick the IIM programmes you want to apply for, all in the same form.

Step 5: Upload Documents

Upload a recent passport-size photo, your scanned signature, and category/disability certificates (if applicable). Be careful with file size and clarity, since blurry or oversized uploads can get rejected.

Step 6: Pay the CAT Application Fee

Pay the fee online using debit/credit card, UPI, or net banking.

• General / NC - OBC: Rs 2600
• SC / ST / PwD: Rs 1300

Step 7: Submit & Save Confirmation

Once you’ve reviewed everything, hit submit. Don’t forget to download the confirmation page, this is proof that your application was successful.

Also Read

• CAT 2025 Exam centres
• CAT 2025 Form Correction

Documents Required for CAT Application

When you’re about to fill out the CAT application form 2025, the last thing you want is scrambling for documents. To make things smooth, it’s better to keep everything ready in advance. Here’s a simple checklist:

• A recent passport-size photo (clear background, not too old).
• Your digital signature in black ink on white paper.
• Academic records – mark sheets from Class 10, Class 12, and graduation.
• A work experience letter (if you’ve worked full-time before).
• A valid category certificate (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS if applicable).
• PwD certificate if you’re applying under that category.
• One valid photo ID proof, Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, Voter ID, or Driving License.

CAT Application Form 2025 Fee and Payment Details

For CAT application form fee has been revised compared to last year's fees-

• General / EWS / NC-OBC candidates: ₹2,600
• SC / ST / PwD candidates: ₹1,300

Note: This fee is non-refundable, so double-check all your details before making the payment. The good part is, you don’t need to pay separately for IIM applications; it’s already included in this fee.

How to Pay CAT Registration Fee:

You can pay online using:

• Credit/Debit Card
• Net Banking
• UPI

Also Read

• CAT 2025 Login
• CAT Registration Documents Required

How to Check Your CAT Application Form Status

Once you’ve submitted your CAT 2025 form, the next thing you’ll want to do is make sure everything went through smoothly. Checking your status is super simple and only takes a minute:

• Head over to the official website iimcat.ac.in
• Log in with your User ID and Password (the same ones you used during registration).
• Click on the Application Status option in your dashboard.
• Your screen will show whether your form is submitted successfully, under review, or if there’s an issue.
• You can also download or print your application summary for future reference.

If your status says Successfully Submitted, you are all set.

If it shows incomplete or payment pending, don’t wait, retry the payment or reach out to the CAT helpdesk right away.

CAT Application Form 2025 Helpdesk

Stuck with your CAT application form 2025? Don’t worry, you can always reach out to the CAT Helpdesk. Whether it’s a payment that went through but no confirmation slip, an admit card download issue, or any other application query, they’re there to help.

• Email: cathelpdesk@iimcat.co.in
• Toll-Free Number: 18002100175
• Timings: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (closed on national holidays)

Pro tip: Keep your User ID, registered email, and payment details ready when you call or write, they’ll be able to solve your issue much faster.

Common Mistakes in CAT Application and How to Avoid Them

Filling the CAT application form isn’t rocket science, but even a tiny mistake can cause unnecessary stress later. Here are the slip-ups students often make, and how you can easily avoid them:

• Wrong Personal Details – Sometimes students hurry and end up typing the wrong name, date of birth, or category. Take two minutes to match everything with your official documents before hitting submit.
• Mixing Up Academic Marks – Rounding off percentages or messing up CGPA conversions is more common than you think. Enter your marks exactly as they appear on your marksheet. If conversion is needed, use the formula your board/university gives.
• Photo/Signature Upload Issues – Blurry pictures, wrong size, or selfies instead of passport-style photos? Big no. Stick to the format, size, and background mentioned in the official guidelines.
• Random Test City Choices – Picking far-away cities without thinking about travel can be a nightmare on exam day. Choose centers close to you or where you can comfortably travel.
• Skipping the Final Review – Many forget the final preview and only realize the mistake later. Always review your form carefully before clicking submit.

CAT Registration Statistics Over the Years

The CAT exam registrations touched a record high in the year 2023, as total CAT registered candidates were 3.3 lakh, out of which 2.88 lakh candidates for the exam. Below is the decadal data indicating the increasing trend of CAT exam registrations.

Don’t worry, this isn’t a big issue. The parent’s name section is only for records and doesn’t affect your CAT score or eligibility. If IIMs open a correction window, you can fix it then, but if not, leaving just the first name won’t cause any problem.