If you are wondering how to apply for the CLAT exam, the process is simpler than most first-time aspirants expect, and it is entirely online. The Common Law Admission Test is the single gateway to the country's National Law Universities, and the CLAT 2027 registration window has just opened. This guide walks you through the full CLAT application procedure, from checking your eligibility to paying the fee and downloading your confirmation page, so you submit a clean form the first time.
Here is the short answer. To apply for the CLAT exam, visit the official Consortium of NLUs website at consortiumofnlus.ac.in, register with your mobile number and email, fill the CLAT application form, upload your photograph, signature and certificates, and pay the application fee online. CLAT 2027 registration runs from 3 August to 31 October 2026. The rest of this guide explains each step in detail.
CLAT Application at a Glance for 2027
CLAT 2027 is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to the five-year integrated law programme at the undergraduate level and the master of laws programme at the postgraduate level. The CLAT exam pattern and syllabus are set by the Consortium, and a single application form is valid for every participating university, so you do not fill a separate form for each one.
The key facts are quick to remember. The application is online only, submitted through the official website. Registration opened on 3 August 2026 and closes on 31 October 2026 at 11:59 PM. The exam itself is offline, in pen-and-paper mode, and is scheduled for Sunday, 6 December 2026 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. CLAT scores are accepted by the participating National Law Universities, listed as 26 in the official CLAT 2027 information brochure. If you are still deciding on preparation, our CLAT coaching in Delhi NCR team runs a free counselling session that maps your timeline against the December exam date.
CLAT 2027 Registration Dates and Important Deadlines
The CLAT application date matters more than most beginners realise, because the Consortium does not usually extend deadlines generously, and the correction window is short. The official notification was released on 22 July 2026, registration began on 3 August 2026, and the last date to submit the application form and pay the fee is 31 October 2026 up to 11:59 PM. A correction window is expected shortly after the last date for a limited period, and the admit card download date will be announced separately on the official website. The exam falls on 6 December 2026. For a running feed of official notices, keep our CLAT 2027 exam date and notification page bookmarked.
CLAT Eligibility Criteria to Check Before You Apply
Before you touch the CLAT application form, confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria, because the fee is non-refundable and a wrong programme choice cannot be changed later. The rules differ for the undergraduate and postgraduate tracks. For the full breakdown with category relaxations, see our detailed CLAT eligibility guide.
Undergraduate law eligibility
You must have passed, or be appearing in, the Class 12 or an equivalent examination.
Candidates in the general, OBC, PWD, NRI, PIO and OCI categories need a minimum of forty five percent marks in Class 12.
Candidates in the SC and ST categories need a minimum of forty percent marks in Class 12.
Students appearing in their Class 12 board exams can apply now and submit proof of passing at the time of admission.
There is no upper age limit to apply for the undergraduate exam.
Postgraduate law eligibility
You must hold a bachelor of laws degree or an equivalent law degree.
General and reserved categories have different minimum percentage requirements, so confirm your figure in the official brochure.
There is no upper age limit to apply for the postgraduate exam.
Candidates in the final year of their law degree can apply, subject to producing the result at admission.
Documents Required for the CLAT Application Form
A recent front-facing passport-size photograph with a plain background.
A clear scanned signature of the candidate.
A category certificate if you are applying under the SC, ST or OBC category.
A disability certificate from a competent authority if you are applying under the persons with disability category.
A below-poverty-line certificate from a competent authority if you are claiming that status.
Two rules trip people up here. First, your photograph and signature do not need to be attested when you upload them. Second, all certificates must be uploaded in PDF format only. The original documents are not needed now. You submit them to the allotted university at the time of admission, not with the online form.
Step-by-Step CLAT Registration Process on the Official Website
This is the heart of the CLAT online application. Follow the steps in order and do not rush the first registration screen, because the name you enter must match your certificates exactly. Apply only through the official portal, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, and ignore any third-party site that claims to accept CLAT forms.
Open the official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in, and click the CLAT 2027 registration link on the homepage.
Register using your personal mobile number and a valid email address. These become your login and cannot be changed easily, so use ones you check daily.
Enter the one time password sent to your mobile number to validate it, then set a strong password.
Log in with your registered mobile number and password to reach your candidate dashboard.
Choose your programme, undergraduate or postgraduate, and your category carefully. This choice cannot be changed after you pay.
Fill your personal details exactly as they appear on your Class 10 certificate, including the spelling of your name and your parents' names.
Fill your academic details for Class 10, Class 12, and your law degree if you are a postgraduate applicant.
Upload your photograph, signature and any category certificates in the prescribed format.
Select your exam city preferences in order of priority from the list of centres.
Pay the application fee online through debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.
Review every field, submit the form, and download the confirmation page for your records.
You do not have to complete the CLAT application form in one sitting. You can save your progress and return, but the form is considered final only after you submit it and pay the fee before 31 October 2026. Once your form is in, the real work is the exam itself. Aspirants who pair a clean application with an early start on the CLAT 2027 syllabus and steady practice on CLAT previous year papers give themselves the widest margin before December.
CLAT Application Fee and Online Payment Methods
If your money is deducted but the form still shows the fee as unpaid, do not pay again immediately. Wait a few hours for the gateway to reconcile, then check your dashboard. If you want a sense of what the exam preparation itself costs against the small application fee, our transparent coaching fees in Delhi page lays it out with no hidden add-ons.
Filling the Detailed CLAT Application Form Correctly
You will also be asked to choose exam city preferences in order of priority. Pick cities you can realistically reach on exam day, and list a nearby backup, because the Consortium may shift a centre if too few candidates opt for it. If you are still choosing between law entrances, our CLAT versus AILET comparison helps you decide which exams to sit.
What Changed in the CLAT 2027 Application Procedure
A second point worth flagging is the participating-university count. The official CLAT 2027 information brochure lists 26 National Law Universities participating through CLAT. NLU Delhi conducts its own separate entrance, the AILET, so if NLU Delhi is your target you also apply through the AILET 2027 notification route. To plan your reach, our NLU list and cut-offs page shows where different scores realistically land.
Common CLAT Application Mistakes That Cause Rejection
A name or date of birth that does not match the Class 10 certificate. Spelling and format must be identical.
Choosing the wrong programme or category, which cannot be changed after payment.
Uploading a photograph or signature in the wrong size or format, or on the wrong background.
Uploading certificates in a format other than PDF.
Missing the fee payment, which leaves the form incomplete and invalid.
Filling more than one form, in which case only the last submitted form is considered and earlier fees are not refunded.
Leaving the whole thing to the final day, when the portal is slowest.
CLAT Application Correction Window and Editing Details
What Happens After You Submit the CLAT Application Form
Download and save your confirmation page as proof of a completed application.
Watch the official website for the admit card, which you download from your own dashboard once released.
Appear for the CLAT 2027 exam on 6 December 2026 at your allotted centre.
Check the provisional answer key, raise objections in the given window if needed, and wait for the final key.
View your result and scorecard, which shows your marks, category and all-India rank.
Register for counselling, indicate your university preferences, and pay the separate counselling fee to be considered for seat allotment.
The counselling fee is separate from and much larger than the application fee, and it is paid only if you qualify for the counselling stage. See our results and toppers record for a realistic picture of the ranks that convert into seats at the leading universities.
Preparing for CLAT 2027 While Your Application Is In
The application is a one-day task. The exam rewards months of the right practice. CLAT since the 2020 pattern change is a speed-and-reasoning test built on unseen passages, not a memory test, which is why structured preparation moves ranks. Whether you join us at a centre or through online CLAT coaching, the same faculty, material and rank-graded mocks apply. If NLU Delhi is on your list, our dedicated AILET coaching in Delhi NCR runs as a separate, focused track.
If you are ready to begin, apply for CLAT 2027 today on the official portal, then book a free counselling session with our mentors. Walk into our Hauz Khas centre or any of our four Delhi NCR centres, attend one class, and decide with no commitment. Start with CLAT coaching in Delhi NCR and turn a clean application into an NLU seat.
Bringing It All Together
Knowing how to apply for the CLAT exam comes down to a short, careful sequence. Confirm your eligibility, ready your documents, register on consortiumofnlus.ac.in, fill the form to match your certificates, pay the fee, and submit well before 31 October 2026. Get the small things right, the photograph, the spelling, the category, and the CLAT application procedure is straightforward. Then give the exam the preparation it deserves, and 6 December 2026 becomes a day you walk into with confidence rather than nerves.
Frequently Asked Questions
To apply for the CLAT exam 2027, register on the official Consortium of NLUs website at consortiumofnlus.ac.in with your mobile number and email, fill the application form with your personal and academic details, upload your photograph, signature and certificates, and pay the application fee online before 31 October 2026.