CLAT 2027 Registration Is Open: Step-by-Step Application Guide

Introduction

The wait is over for students aspiring to pursue law at one of India's leading National Law Universities.

The CLAT 2027 registration process is now open, and candidates can submit their applications through the official Consortium of NLUs website. The application window opened on 3 August 2026 and will remain open until 31 October 2026, 11:59 PM. The CLAT 2027 examination is scheduled to be conducted on 6 December 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

If you are planning to appear for CLAT 2027, filling out the application form correctly is the first important step.

A mistake in your name, category, programme or uploaded documents can create problems later during counselling or admission. The Consortium specifically states that candidates should provide correct and authentic information and that certain fields cannot be changed after submission and payment.

This guide explains who can apply, what documents you need, how to fill the CLAT 2027 application form, how much the application costs, and the common mistakes you should avoid.

CLAT 2027 Registration: Important Dates

Before starting your application, make a note of the important dates.

Event	Date
CLAT 2027 Registration Begins	3 August 2026
Last Date to Apply	31 October 2026
Last Date to Submit Application & Fee	31 October 2026, 11:59 PM
CLAT 2027 Examination	6 December 2026
Examination Time	2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

The Consortium has officially notified 6 December 2026 as the examination date, while the application portal will remain open until 31 October 2026.

Do not wait until the final day to submit your application.

Even if you have plenty of time, completing the application early gives you an opportunity to identify and correct any issues before the deadline.

What Is CLAT?

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the national-level entrance examination conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes at participating National Law Universities.

For students appearing after Class 12, the UG-CLAT is used for admission to five-year integrated undergraduate law programmes.

The Consortium currently lists 26 participating National Law Universities for CLAT 2027, although candidates should always check the latest participating-university information before making their final preferences.

Some of the prominent NLUs participating in the CLAT admission process include:

National Law School of India University, Bengaluru
NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
National Law Institute University, Bhopal
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
National Law University, Jodhpur
Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi
National Law University Odisha
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow

However, the courses, seat intake, reservation rules and eligibility requirements can vary between NLUs. The Consortium advises candidates to check the individual NLU brochures and websites before filling in their choices.

Who Can Apply for CLAT 2027?

For the UG-CLAT 2027, candidates must satisfy the prescribed Class 12 eligibility requirements.

According to the official eligibility criteria:

Candidates must have passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination.
General/OBC candidates must have secured at least 45% marks or equivalent grade.
Candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwD categories must have secured at least 40% marks or equivalent grade.

Students appearing for their qualifying examination in March/April 2027 can also apply provisionally.

There is no upper age limit for appearing in UG-CLAT 2027.

This means that students currently studying in Class 12 can apply for CLAT 2027 even if their board examination results have not yet been declared.

However, they must subsequently provide proof of having passed the qualifying examination at the time of admission. Failure to do so can make them ineligible for admission.

CLAT 2027 Application Fee

The application fee depends on the candidate's category.

Category	Application Fee
General/OBC	₹4,000
SC/ST/BPL/PwD	₹3,500
Previous Years' Question Papers	₹500 additional

The Consortium states that the cost of previous years' question papers is not included in the application fee. Bank transaction charges, where applicable, are also payable by the candidate. The application fee is non-refundable and non-adjustable.

Therefore, if you are a General Category candidate and choose to purchase the previous years' question papers along with your application, the total will be ₹4,500, excluding any applicable transaction charges.

Documents Required for CLAT 2027 Registration

Keep the required documents ready before beginning the application.

For UG-CLAT 2027, the Consortium requires candidates to upload:

1. Recent Passport-Size Photograph

The photograph should be:

Recent
Front-facing
With a plain background

2. Candidate's Signature

Upload a clear image of your signature as required by the application portal.

3. Category Certificate

If you are applying under the SC/ST/OBC category, you will need the relevant category certificate.

4. PwD Certificate

Candidates claiming the benefit of the PwD category must upload the relevant certificate issued by the competent authority.

5. BPL Certificate

Candidates applying under the BPL category must upload the relevant certificate issued by the competent authority.

The Consortium states that the photograph and signature do not need to be attested for submission of the online application. Documents/certificates required for the application are to be uploaded in PDF format where applicable.

Keep your Class 10/12 documents nearby

Even when a particular document is not required to be uploaded at the initial stage, it is sensible to keep your academic records nearby while filling the form.

Your name, date of birth and other details should be entered exactly as they appear on your official documents.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filling the CLAT 2027 Application Form

Step 1: Visit the Official CLAT Website

Go to the official website of the Consortium of NLUs:

Official CLAT 2027 Website

Always use the official Consortium website for registration.

Avoid submitting your application through links shared through unofficial websites, social media posts or messages.

Step 2: Register Yourself

The first stage is to create your CLAT account.

You will need to provide:

Personal mobile number
Email ID
Other basic registration details as requested

The Consortium sends an OTP to the registered mobile number for validation. After your mobile number has been verified, you can log in using your registered mobile number and the password created during registration.

Important tip

Use a mobile number and email address that you will have access to throughout the CLAT admission process.

Do not use a friend's or relative's number simply because it is convenient at the moment.

Important communication relating to your application may be sent to your registered contact details.

Step 3: Select the Programme Carefully

The CLAT application process involves selecting the programme for which you are applying.

For a student appearing after Class 12, this will generally be the UG programme.

Be extremely careful at this stage.

The Consortium specifically states that candidates must select the programme correctly and that requests to change the programme after submission will not be entertained.

Before clicking the final submission button, check whether you have selected:

UG-CLAT and not PG-CLAT.

Step 4: Enter Your Personal Details

You will be required to provide personal information in the application form.

This may include details such as:

Candidate's name
Parent's name
Date of birth
Gender
Nationality
Contact details
Other information requested by the application portal

Be especially careful with your name.

The Consortium specifically instructs candidates to spell the name of the candidate and parents exactly as it appears on certificates, marksheets or identity proof. Any discrepancy or alteration can create problems.

For example, if your Class 10 certificate states:
Rahul Kumar Singh
do not enter:
Rahul K. Singh
or
Rahul Singh
unless your official records use that form.

Consistency matters.

Step 5: Enter Your Academic Details

You will need to provide information relating to your qualifying examination.

For students who have already completed Class 12, enter the details exactly as they appear in your academic records.

If you are currently appearing for Class 12 in 2027, provide the information requested for candidates awaiting their qualifying examination results.

Students appearing for their qualifying examination in March/April 2027 are eligible to apply provisionally, but they must subsequently produce proof of passing the examination at the time of admission.

Step 6: Select Your Category Carefully

This is one of the most important parts of the application.

Select the category under which you are genuinely eligible.

Depending on the options available in the application form, this may include categories such as:

General
OBC
SC
ST
PwD
BPL
Other applicable categories

Do not select a reservation category simply because you believe it will improve your admission chances.

You will be required to produce the relevant certificate at the appropriate stage.

The Consortium states that if information provided by a candidate is found to be false or inconsistent with the documents produced later, the provisional admission can be cancelled.

Step 7: Upload Your Photograph

Upload your recent passport-size photograph according to the specifications mentioned in the application portal.

Before uploading, check:

Is your face clearly visible?
Is the photograph recent?
Is the background plain?
Is the image clear?
Does the photograph meet the portal's file-size and format requirements?

Do not use a heavily edited photograph.

The photograph should allow the authorities to identify you easily.

Step 8: Upload Your Signature

Scan or photograph your signature clearly and upload it according to the prescribed specifications.

Make sure:

The signature is clearly visible.
The image is not blurred.
There is no unnecessary background.
The uploaded file meets the portal's size and format requirements.

Remember that the Consortium does not require the photograph or signature to be attested at the application stage.

Step 9: Upload Category/PwD/BPL Documents

If applicable, upload the relevant certificates.

For example:

SC/ST/OBC → Category Certificate
PwD → Relevant disability certificate
BPL → Relevant certificate

Make sure the certificate is issued by the appropriate competent authority.

If you do not fall under a particular category, do not upload or claim that category merely because the option is available.

Step 10: Review Your Entire Application

This is perhaps the most important step.

Do not rush to payment.

Before making the final submission, carefully review:

Personal details: Name, Parent's name, Date of birth, Gender, Contact details
Academic details: Board, School, Qualifying examination, Passing/appearing status, Marks, wherever applicable
Category: General/OBC/SC/ST/PwD/BPL, Relevant certificates
Programme: UG
Uploaded documents: Photograph, Signature, Certificates

The Consortium specifically warns candidates to fill the application carefully. Once the application has been submitted and paid, the programme, category and BPL field cannot be changed.

This makes the review stage extremely important.

Step 11: Pay the Application Fee

After verifying the application, proceed to payment.

The application fee can be paid online only.

For CLAT 2027:

General/OBC: ₹4,000
SC/ST/BPL/PwD: ₹3,500
Previous Years' Question Papers: ₹500 additional

Applicable bank transaction charges may be added to the amount displayed by the payment gateway.

Step 12: Submit the Application

Payment alone is not enough.

The Consortium requires the application to be complete and finally submitted by the deadline.

The final deadline is:

31 October 2026, 11:59 PM

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After successfully submitting the application, save the confirmation/details for your records.

It is also advisable to keep:

Application number
Registered email ID
Registered mobile number
Payment receipt
Submitted application form
Login credentials

in a safe place.

What Happens After Registration?

Submitting the application is only the beginning.

Your next major milestones will be:

1. Admit Card

The Consortium will make the admit card available through the candidate's login account. The exact release date will be announced on the official website.

2. CLAT 2027 Examination

The examination is scheduled for:

6 December 2026
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

The examination will be conducted in offline mode.

3. Result and Rank

After the examination, candidates will receive their CLAT scores and rank.

4. Counselling

Candidates who qualify and meet the relevant requirements will participate in the CLAT counselling/admission process for participating NLUs.

Remember that the intake, reservation rules, fees and eligibility conditions can differ between NLUs. The Consortium advises candidates to examine the individual NLU information before making decisions.

CLAT 2027 Exam Pattern: What Are You Preparing For?

While completing the application, remember what you are actually registering for.

The recent CLAT UG format consists of:

Section	Approx. Questions
English Language	22–26
Current Affairs including GK	28–32
Legal Reasoning	28–32
Logical Reasoning	22–26
Quantitative Techniques	10–14
Total	120

The paper is for 120 marks, with one mark for each correct answer and a 0.25-mark deduction for each incorrect answer. The duration is two hours.

The Current Affairs and GK section therefore represents a substantial part of the examination.

This is why students should not treat registration as merely an administrative formality.

Once you register, your preparation clock is already running.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Filling CLAT 2027 Form

Waiting Until the Last Date
The deadline is 31 October 2026. But there is no advantage in waiting until 31 October. Technical problems, payment failures or document issues can arise unexpectedly. Apply early.
Entering a Different Name
Your name should match your official documents. Even a small variation can create unnecessary complications.
Selecting the Wrong Category
Do not select a category unless you can produce the required supporting documents.
Uploading Poor-Quality Images
A blurry photograph or unclear signature can create problems. Check the uploaded files before proceeding.
Assuming Payment Means Submission
Payment and final submission are separate steps. Make sure your application is successfully submitted.
Filling the Form in a Hurry
A 30-minute application can become a major problem if you enter the wrong category or programme. Spend a few extra minutes checking everything.
Using Unofficial Registration Links
Always access the application through the official Consortium website.
CLAT 2027 Official Website

CLAT 2027 Registration Checklist

Before submitting your application, use this checklist:

[ ] I have checked the UG eligibility requirements.
[ ] I have registered using my own mobile number.
[ ] I have access to my registered email address.
[ ] My name matches my official documents.
[ ] My parents' names are correctly entered.
[ ] I have selected the correct programme.
[ ] I have selected the correct category.
[ ] My photograph is recent and clear.
[ ] My signature is clear.
[ ] I have uploaded applicable category/PwD/BPL certificates.
[ ] I have checked all academic details.
[ ] I have reviewed the complete application.
[ ] I have paid the correct application fee.
[ ] I have completed the final submission.
[ ] I have saved my application/payment details.

What Should You Do After Registering for CLAT 2027?

Once the application is submitted, do not put CLAT preparation on hold.

The examination is scheduled for 6 December 2026, which means the remaining months should be used strategically.

Your preparation should now focus on five areas:

English: Build reading speed, comprehension and vocabulary through regular practice.
Current Affairs & GK: Follow important national and international developments and revise them regularly.
Legal Reasoning: Practise principle-based questions and develop the ability to apply rules to factual situations.
Logical Reasoning: Work on arguments, assumptions, conclusions, inferences and critical reasoning.
Quantitative Techniques: Strengthen basic mathematics, data interpretation and calculation speed.

Most importantly, start taking full-length CLAT mock tests and analyse them carefully.

A mock test is useful only when you understand why you got questions wrong.

Final Takeaway

The CLAT 2027 application process is now open, and candidates have until 31 October 2026 to complete and submit their applications. The examination is scheduled for 6 December 2026.

The application itself is not complicated, but accuracy matters.

Check your:

Name → Programme → Category → Academic details → Documents → Payment → Final submission

before completing the process.

And don't wait for the last week.

Once your application is submitted, your focus should shift completely towards the examination. With approximately four months between the opening of registration and the CLAT 2027 examination, this is the ideal time to move from casual preparation to a structured study plan.

Register carefully. Prepare consistently. And remember that getting the form right is only the first step towards securing your NLU seat.

For the latest notifications, always rely on the official Consortium of NLUs website.

Ready to Excel?