CAT 2026 Documents Required: The Official Upload List

For CAT 2026 you'll upload a recent photograph, a scanned signature and, if you're applying under a reserved category, a valid category certificate. Those are the files the form checks. The official notification is strict on two points. First, your category certificate must be uploaded at registration or the form is rejected. Second, NC-OBC and EWS certificates have to carry the right dates. Here's the full list, with the specs and the rules straight from the notification.

CAT 2026 documents at a glance

The two files everyone uploads: photo and signature

A recent colour photograph and a scanned signature are mandatory for every candidate.

The photograph should be a recent colour image with your face clearly visible against a light background, saved as a JPG. The signature should be your own, in black ink on white paper, scanned and saved as a JPG. CAT's registration guide lists the exact pixel and file-size limits each year, so check those on iimcat.ac.in before you upload. As a working rule from past years, aim for a square photo around 1200 by 1200 pixels under 80 KB. Keep the signature strip under 80 KB too.

This is where most upload failures happen. A selfie, a filtered picture, a black-and-white scan or an oversized file gets flagged. Fix the image once on a laptop, then save both files in one folder. You do not want to be resizing a photo at 4 in the afternoon on 15 September while the site is crawling.

Academic and personal details to have in front of you

You'll type your marks and personal details, so keep the real documents open.

The form asks for your class 10 and class 12 percentages, your graduation marks by year or aggregate and your personal details exactly as they appear on your ID. Keep your marksheets, degree records and a photo ID next to you and enter every number from the source. Small mismatches here, a wrong percentage or a misspelt name, cause real problems at interview verification months later. Enter your work experience in months if you have any. It isn't required, but it feeds the profile score some IIMs use.

Category certificates: upload them or the form is rejected

If you apply under a reserved category, the certificate must be uploaded at registration.

The notification is clear. A copy of your SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS or PwBD certificate has to be uploaded when you register. Failure to upload it results in rejection of your registration. The certificate is usually a PDF. Past years have capped it around 200 KB, so keep the scan clean and light. You'll also have to show the original and hand over a photocopy at the interview stage, then again when you join. So don't treat the upload as a one-time formality.

The date rules that catch people out

This is the part that quietly disqualifies people every year.

If your certificate is older, start a fresh one now. Government offices are slow and the form closes on 15 September.

What if your new certificate isn't ready yet

The notification allows a temporary route if you've applied but not received the certificate.

If you applied for a valid NC-OBC or EWS certificate on or after 1 April 2026 but don't have it by the time you register, you can still submit the form. Upload a single PDF with three things: the filled Undertaking for NC-OBC/EWS Certificate from the CAT website, your older certificate issued before 1 April 2026 and a copy of the acknowledgement or screenshot from the issuing authority showing you've applied. Miss any of the three and you risk disqualification from the whole admission process. So assemble all three before you start.

PwBD candidates: one extra step

If you're applying under the PwBD category, upload your disability certificate and consider a UDID card.

The benchmark disability certificate goes in like any other category certificate. The notification also encourages PwBD candidates to apply for a UDID card and upload it with the application. If you have one, use it.

The edit window covers only three fields

After the form closes, you can fix only your photo, signature and city choices.

This is why the rest has to be right the first time. After registration shuts, CAT opens a very short edit window. It lets you change only three things: your photograph, your signature and your test city preferences. Your name, your marks, your category and every other detail are locked once you submit. There's no correction window for those. So fill the form in one careful sitting from the real documents, preview every page and only then pay and submit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents are required for CAT 2026 registration?

A recent colour photograph, a scanned signature and, if you apply under a reserved category, a valid SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS or PwBD certificate. You'll also enter your class 10, class 12 and graduation marks from your marksheets.

What are the photo and signature specifications for CAT 2026?

A recent colour photo on a light background and a signature in black ink on white paper, both as JPG files. Check the exact pixel and size limits in the registration guide on iimcat.ac.in. As a guide, keep each file under 80 KB.

My OBC certificate is from last year. Can I use it?

No. For CAT 2026 the NC-OBC certificate must be issued on or after 1 April 2026. If you've applied for a new one but not received it, you can upload an undertaking, your older certificate and proof that you've applied, all in a single PDF.

What happens if I don't upload my category certificate?

Your registration is rejected. The notification requires the SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS or PwBD certificate to be uploaded at the time of registration, so it isn't optional.

Can I correct my form after submitting it?

Only in part. A short edit window lets you change your photograph, signature and test city preferences. Your name, marks and category cannot be changed after you register.

Is a UDID card mandatory for PwBD candidates?

It isn't mandatory, but the notification encourages PwBD candidates to apply for a UDID card and upload it with the application.