CLAT registration 2027 is not a formality — it is the gatekeeping step that determines whether you sit the exam at all. A name mismatch, a wrong photograph format, or a missed payment window ends your year before preparation does. This guide walks through the complete registration process so you complete it correctly the first time.
CLAT 2027 registration is expected to open in July 2026 and close in October 2026, following the official notification release on consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The Consortium has maintained this approximate window across recent cycles: registration opens roughly five months before the exam and closes approximately six to eight weeks before exam day.
Before beginning registration, confirm your eligibility in full. Registering without meeting the eligibility criteria does not entitle you to sit the exam — the Consortium verifies documents at the admit card stage and at counselling. Read our complete guide on CLAT 2027 eligibility criteria before proceeding.
The Consortium portal at consortiumofnlus.ac.in handles all CLAT 2027 registrations. The process has five sequential stages. Each must be completed fully before proceeding to the next.
Preparing documents in advance prevents the most common registration failures. Every document below must conform to the specifications in the official notification. The table below reflects the standard specifications applied in recent CLAT cycles — verify against the 2027 notification when it is released.
| Document | Format | Specifications | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport-size photograph | JPG | White/light background; face 70–80% of frame; recent (within 6 months); 10–200 KB; typically 200×230 px | All candidates |
| Signature | JPG | On plain white paper; black or dark blue ink; 10–100 KB; typically 140×60 px | All candidates |
| Government-issued photo ID | JPG/PDF | Aadhaar card (preferred), passport, or PAN card; clearly legible; under 500 KB | All candidates |
| Class 10 certificate/marksheet | JPG/PDF | Proof of date of birth; board-issued document; clearly legible; under 1 MB | All candidates |
| Class 12 marksheet | JPG/PDF | Final marksheet if results declared; under 1 MB. If appearing, submit Class 12 admit card or roll number certificate | All candidates |
| Caste certificate (SC/ST) | JPG/PDF | Issued by competent authority (SDM/DC/Tehsildar); must be in candidate's name; clearly legible | SC/ST candidates |
| OBC-NCL certificate | JPG/PDF | Must explicitly state "Non-Creamy Layer"; issued within specified period (check notification for validity period) | OBC (NCL) candidates |
| PwD/disability certificate | JPG/PDF | Issued by recognised medical authority or government hospital; must state nature and percentage of disability | PwD candidates |
| EWS certificate | JPG/PDF | Income and asset certificate for EWS category; issued by competent authority; within financial year | EWS candidates |
| NRI/OCI proof | JPG/PDF | Passport copy showing NRI/OCI status; sponsorship letter if NRI-sponsored category | NRI/OCI candidates |
The Consortium provides a limited form correction window — typically one to two weeks after the registration deadline — during which candidates may correct specific fields in their submitted application. This window is your only opportunity to fix mistakes made during registration. It is not a re-registration facility.
The specific fields open for correction are confirmed in the form correction notification published by the Consortium. Do not assume a field can be corrected — verify against the official instructions before the window closes.
These are not hypothetical errors — they are recurring problems that surface every CLAT cycle. Each one is avoidable with careful preparation.
If the name in your CLAT application does not match the name on your Aadhaar card or Class 10 certificate exactly — including spelling differences, initials vs full names, or presence/absence of middle names — you may be denied entry at the exam centre or face cancellation at counselling. Use your Class 10 name as the reference standard and match it precisely across all fields.
Registering under a reserved category without valid supporting documentation, or registering as General when you are entitled to a reserved category (thereby missing fee concessions and lower cutoffs), are both costly errors. Category can generally not be changed after the correction window. Verify your category carefully and ensure your certificate is valid, current, and in the correct format before selecting it.
A photograph that does not meet the stated specifications — incorrect dimensions, coloured background, sunglasses, headwear (except religious requirements), or visible hands holding the photo — will cause your application to be flagged or rejected. Prepare a fresh, compliant photograph specifically for this application, not a repurposed image from another exam or ID.
Some candidates initiate payment but do not complete it — due to network interruptions, session timeouts, or banking errors — and assume the application is submitted. An application without confirmed payment is not a valid registration. Always verify your application status shows "Payment Confirmed" or "Registration Complete" after the payment step.
All official Consortium communication — registration confirmation, document deficiency notices, admit card availability, result links — is sent to your registered email. If you use an address you check infrequently, or one that aggressively filters automated emails, you will miss time-critical communications. Use a reliable, regularly monitored email address.
Blurry, skewed, or low-contrast scans of certificates and marksheets are rejected. Scan documents on a flat surface in good lighting, at 300 DPI minimum. If you do not have a scanner, use a document-scanning app (Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens) which significantly outperforms standard phone camera photos.
Completing CLAT registration 2027 marks the beginning of the cycle, not the end of your administrative responsibilities. Here is the full sequence from registration to counselling.
Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) candidates register through the same Consortium portal but are subject to different provisions. Understanding these differences before registration avoids category-related errors that cannot be corrected after the correction window.
Same Consortium portal at consortiumofnlus.ac.in. Select the NRI or NRI-sponsored category explicitly during form filling.
NRI candidates are subject to a higher registration fee as specified in the official notification. The fee is paid in INR through the same payment gateway.
NRI candidates compete for the NRI quota seats at each NLU, which are separate from the general merit list. NRI quota seats are limited (typically 1–2 per NLU per programme) and allocated on the basis of NRI merit rank.
In addition to standard documents, NRI candidates must upload a valid passport clearly showing NRI/OCI status, and (for NRI-sponsored candidates) a sponsorship declaration from the NRI sponsor with proof of their NRI status.
The academic eligibility criteria (Class 12 with minimum percentage) apply identically to NRI/OCI candidates. The difference is purely in seat allocation and fee structure.
NRI candidates participate in a separate counselling process for NRI seats. If an NRI candidate also qualifies on the general merit list, they may be eligible to convert to a general seat subject to Consortium rules.
Full schedule: registration window, admit card, exam day, answer key, results, and counselling timeline.
Academic qualifications, minimum marks, age limit, category-specific rules, and eligibility checklist.
Month-by-month preparation strategy for all five sections with mock test and daily routine guidance.
What to carry, what to avoid, time allocation on exam day, and how to handle pressure during the 120-minute exam.