NMAT registration 2026: account, form, payment and slot booking
NMAT registration and NMAT exam scheduling are separate steps. Registration creates the candidate record, completes the application form and pays the exam fee; scheduling books the date, time and location or mode. GMAC states that candidates must also apply separately to each business school. As of 27 October 2026, first-attempt registration for the 2026 NMAT window closed on 25 October. The instructions below explain the official process and help candidates who already registered; they are also a preparation guide for the next announced cycle. No 2027 registration dates or fees are published on the official exam page as of this date.
2026 status: who can still act?
The 2026 registration and initial scheduling window ran from 20 August through 25 October. The exam delivery period is 2 November–20 December 2026. A candidate with a completed registration should sign in to the NMAT dashboard to confirm their appointment and any available actions. A candidate who did not complete first-attempt registration by the deadline should not assume they can start now merely because test delivery continues into December.
Retake registration is a separate process for candidates who have already taken or attempted the exam. The official 2026 dates page lists retake registration and scheduling from 3 November through 17 December. The registration guide says retake booking becomes available after the previous attempt; the exact date depends on the status of that attempt and the current gap rule. Retake access is not new first-attempt registration.
Step 1: create one account
Start from the official NMAT page and choose the account creation option. Use an email address that you can access throughout the application period. Complete the profile and verify the email from the message sent by the service. If the verification message is missing, check junk or spam folders and use the resend option in the NMAT account page. Use one account: GMAC warns that duplicate or multiple registrations may lead to rejection and fee forfeiture.
Keep your login credentials private and use the official candidate dashboard for profile, registration, scheduling, score sending and retakes. If you make a mistake or cannot access the account, contact the designated NMAT support desk. Creating another profile to work around an account problem can create a duplicate-registration issue.
Step 2: complete the form accurately
Fill the remaining details under Manage NMAT Profile and complete the exam application. GMAC instructs candidates to enter a name and date of birth that exactly match their photo ID. Check spelling, name order and birth date before paying. A mismatch can create avoidable problems at identity verification or on the admit card; if the information is already wrong, ask official support how to correct it rather than submitting another registration.
The registration instructions request a recent photograph, taken within six months, that resembles the test taker and matches the photo ID. The image is used on the admit card. Choose a clear, current photograph and follow the upload specifications displayed in the portal. The official FAQ also describes a category field for Indian candidates and says foreign nationals should select GEN in that NMAT form field. That entry is an exam-registration detail; it does not determine how a university handles category or international admission status.
Provide complete and truthful information. The official registration FAQ says an application with incomplete or false information, duplicate registrations or payment received after the deadline can be cancelled, and the fee may not be refunded in such cases. Read the confirmation screen and preserve the confirmation email after submission.
Step 3: select score-report recipients
In the School Preferences section, select the business schools to receive your score. The 2026 registration fee includes reports to five schools; each additional report is ₹400 plus applicable taxes. Review programme-level NMAT acceptance before making selections. A school may accept NMAT for one programme and not another, or may change its policy by admission cycle.
Selecting a school to receive a score is not the same as applying there. Each institution has its own application form, fee, documents and deadlines. Check the exact programme’s admissions page and confirm whether you must submit a separate application, what score-report deadline applies and which test year is accepted. If you need to send a report to more than five recipients, account for the 2026 extra-report fee and any applicable taxes.
Step 4: pay the exam fee
The official 2026 dates and fees page lists ₹3,000 plus applicable taxes for test registration. Payment methods shown include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, debit card, internet banking and Diners Club. The portal’s final amount and available payment methods govern the transaction. Save the payment confirmation and check that the dashboard changes to a registered status before moving on to appointment booking.
The listed 2026 retake fee is also ₹3,000 plus taxes. Rescheduling is ₹1,200 plus taxes. These amounts are specific to the published 2026 cycle. Do not use them as confirmed prices for a later testing year. The official FAQ describes cancellation/refund rules that apply only to certain candidates outside India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan; Indian candidates should not assume that the same refund option applies. Check the current terms before paying.
If a payment attempt fails or the dashboard does not show confirmation, avoid repeated payments until you check the transaction status and contact official support if needed. Keep transaction references. A payment confirmation alone does not mean an appointment has been booked: scheduling is still a separate action.
Step 5: book the test appointment
After registration and payment, open the candidate dashboard and choose Book Exam Slot. The current registration page describes a test-centre booking flow: select the country, city and test centre, then choose a date and time from the appointments available. Slots are limited and allocated first-come, first-served, so the preferred centre or time may not remain available if booking is delayed.
GMAC’s FAQ also describes online-proctored testing at home for some candidates and regions. The exact mode offered can vary by location and current cycle; use the live dashboard and the exam policies shown there as the source for your booking. Before selecting an at-home option, check the technical, room and identity requirements. For a centre appointment, verify the address and travel plan once the confirmation arrives.
The registration guidance says the admit card can be downloaded from the candidate dashboard seven days before the exam. It includes the appointment details. A confirmation email is also sent after scheduling; support guidance says the appointment email may arrive within 24 hours. Keep the admit card accessible and follow the current exam-day instructions. Do not rely on an email alone if the dashboard shows a different appointment.
Retakes and rescheduling after registration
The current guidance allows a maximum of three attempts in a testing year, including the first sitting and up to two retakes. The testing year runs from 1 July to 30 June. A candidate with a valid score may schedule another attempt immediately, but the new exam date must be at least seven days after the previous one. A No Show, NDA Refused or Exam Incomplete status follows a different rebooking route: the registration page says a new slot may be scheduled 24 hours later. Follow the rule tied to the actual status in the dashboard.
There is older official FAQ wording that says a 15-day interval is required. Because it conflicts with the current registration page, check the instruction shown for your attempt in the current candidate portal before selecting or paying for a retake. Do not infer a slot date from a third-party summary. The 2026 retake booking window ends 17 December, while delivery ends 20 December; the maximum-attempt rule does not guarantee that three appointments can fit into the remaining calendar.
The official 2026 dates page lists rescheduling through 17 December. The registration FAQ says rescheduling must be requested at least 72 hours before the appointment and is subject to available seats and a fee. The applicable fee listed for 2026 is ₹1,200 plus taxes. Read the live rescheduling screen carefully: an overall date deadline does not override the advance-notice rule, capacity or any more specific instruction for your appointment.
Avoid these registration errors
Treating registration as a school application. NMAT registration only enters the exam process. Apply separately to each programme and observe its deadline.
Using a second account. The official FAQ warns that multiple registrations can lead to rejection and forfeiture. Ask support to correct an account issue.
Booking late and assuming the preferred slot will remain open. Appointment availability is first-come, first-served. Register and schedule early in a future window.
Using mismatched identity information. The name and date of birth should match the ID; the photo should be recent and recognisable.
Choosing score recipients without checking the programme. Score acceptance, accepted test year and application requirements vary. Confirm the exact programme policy.
Assuming one fee or refund rule applies everywhere. Fees are cycle-bound, and the FAQ’s cancellation conditions differ by geography. Check the current terms before paying.
After you have registered
Check that the dashboard records a completed registration, payment, recipient list and appointment. Save the confirmation email and transaction details. Download the admit card seven days before the exam, verify its particulars, and review the official exam-day requirements for the selected mode. After the test, the scorecard is generally available within 48 hours, though a security review can take longer.
Once the score is released, follow each school’s own application instructions. Verify whether the programme accepts the test year and score, whether the report reached the school and whether an application remains open. A high score does not waive academic eligibility or an application deadline. A school may also have its own policy on which attempt it considers.
Looking ahead to the next NMAT window
As of 27 October 2026, GMAC has not announced a separate 2027 registration calendar on the official NMAT page. Do not reuse the 2026 dates or fees as if they were next-cycle facts. When a new window is published, confirm the opening and closing dates, appointment modes, fees, retake interval, photo and identification instructions, and school-recipient rules from the current official pages.
Applicants planning for a later MBA intake should independently check the target programme’s application timeline. A school may accept a score from one exam testing year for a different academic intake, but that mapping belongs to the institution. Before registering, ensure the programme accepts NMAT, your academic background meets its requirements, and the score can arrive by the deadline.
Frequently asked questions
Is NMAT registration still open?
The 2026 first-attempt registration window ended on 25 October. The published exam dates continue through 20 December, but that does not reopen first-attempt registration.
How do I register for NMAT?
Create and verify one account, complete the profile and application form, enter identity details matching your photo ID, upload the requested recent photograph, select score recipients, pay the fee and then book an appointment through the candidate dashboard.
Is NMAT slot booking automatic after payment?
No. Registration and scheduling are separate. After payment, use the dashboard to select an available test appointment.
How many colleges can receive my score without an extra charge?
The 2026 registration fee includes five score reports. Additional reports are listed at ₹400 plus applicable taxes each.
Can I reschedule my NMAT appointment?
The 2026 fee page allows rescheduling through 17 December, subject to the current notice period and seat availability. The FAQ states at least 72 hours’ notice; check the live dashboard and current terms.
Has 2027 NMAT registration opened?
No separate 2027 testing schedule is published on the official page as of 27 October 2026. Wait for the official announcement rather than relying on prior-cycle dates.