What Is the CLAT Fee Structure 2027 Registration & Exam Fee

What Is the CLAT Fee Structure 2027 Registration & Exam Fee

S SWARNIM 12 Sep 2026 14 min read 46 views

Are you planning for CLAT 2027 but stuck on the fee part? Maybe you are unsure about the registration charges or what the final payment should be when you submit the form. You are not the only one. A lot of students start studying seriously, yet they keep the application steps for later. Then small errors or last minute panic can happen.

The good side is that the CLAT registration fee for 2027 is not hard to understand. Once you check the category wise amount and the extra payment for old question papers, things become clearer.

As per the official rules from the Consortium of NLUs, CLAT 2027 forms are filled online. The application fee is ₹4,000 for General and OBC candidates. For SC, ST, BPL, and PwD candidates, the fee is ₹3,500.

There is also an extra cost for previous years question papers. This is ₹500, and it applies if you choose to select them. On top of that, bank transaction charges may come in too.

Now, the main question is what you should keep in mind for your CLAT 2027 budget. Here is the full CLAT 2027 fee structure, explained in a clear way.

CLAT Fee Structure 2027 at a Glance

Before getting into the application process, here is the most important information you should know.

CategoryCLAT 2027 Application Fee
General / OBC₹4,000
SC / ST / BPL / PwD₹3,500
Previous Years' Question Papers₹500 extra
Bank/Payment Gateway ChargesAdditional, as applicable

The notice says the earlier years’ question paper charge is not part of the application fee. If you choose that option, you must pay ₹500 on your own. The bank charges for the online payment are also paid by you.

You should also note that the CLAT fee cannot be refunded. It also cannot be adjusted later. So check your entries again before you submit the final payment.

What is the CLAT registration fee for 2027?

The CLAT 2027 registration fee is the amount paid while filling and submitting the CLAT 2027 form.

For the UG test, the fee is:

  • ₹4,000 for General and OBC candidates  
  • ₹3,500 for SC, ST, BPL, and PwD candidates

The CLAT 2027 PG notes show the same set of charges. It lists ₹4,000 for General, OBC, and NRI, and ₹3,500 for SC, ST, BPL, and PwD.

Start by finding the section that matches your case. Then keep the right amount with you before you submit anything.

Is the fee for previous year papers already included?  

No.

This is one of those small points many students overlook during the form process.

The notice says the previous year question papers cost ₹500. This ₹500 is not mixed with the regular application fee.

Example:

General or OBC  

₹4,000 application fee plus ₹500 papers = ₹4,500. This is before any payment transaction charges.

SC or ST or BPL or PwD  

₹3,500 application fee plus ₹500 papers = ₹4,000. This is before any payment transaction charges.

You can submit the application without buying the old papers. The ₹500 is charged only if you select the option to purchase them.

CLAT 2027 Exam Fee: Is It the Same as the Registration Fee?

People sometimes get mixed up by the wording used in searches and guides.  

Many students look for “CLAT Exam Fee 2027” and also for “CLAT Exam Fees” and treat them as if they are separate from the registration fee.

In reality, the money you pay to take the test is the amount you submit with your online CLAT registration.  

That is the CLAT application fee.

For CLAT 2027, the official charges are as follows:  

₹4,000 for General and OBC  

₹3,500 for SC, ST, BPL, and PwD

Depending on how you pay, there could be extra costs like payment gateway fees or bank charges.

So, when you plan your CLAT 2027 budget, do not expect a fixed extra exam fee later just to sit the exam.

CLAT 2027 fee for UG applicants  

If you are studying in Class 11 or Class 12 and you want the five-year integrated law course, your test is called CLAT UG 2027.  

As per the official UG details, the fee is:  

  • General or OBC: ₹4,000  
  • SC or ST or BPL or PwD: ₹3,500  
  • Old question papers: ₹500 extra  
  • How to pay: online  
  • Other notes: the fee cannot be refunded or adjusted  

CLAT 2027 will be held for admission to National Law Universities for the 2027 to 2028 academic year. The exam date is Sunday, 6 December 2026, and the test runs from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. PwD candidates get extra time, as decided by the Consortium and as mentioned in the rules.

CLAT 2027 registration: what is the last date?

The fee matters, but the timing matters just as much.

As per the latest official CLAT 2027 dates:

  • Registration starts on 3 August 2026.
  • The registration window ends on 31 October 2026.
  • Final day for submission and paying the fee: 31 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.

The Consortium also asks students to finish the process earlier.Do not wait until the very last day.This is not just advice for convenience.Fee payment and final submission are both needed to finish the application.If the form is left incomplete, it will not be accepted.

Why You Should Not Leave CLAT Registration for the Last Day

Think about this. You study for months for CLAT. Then, the night before, you find out the payment did not go through. Or you realize you uploaded the wrong document. That kind of problem can hit at the worst time. And it is avoidable.

Register earlier instead. Go through each field with care. Keep your login details safe. Then confirm that the application was actually submitted.

CLAT 2027 Fee Breakdown: Other Charges to Watch

The fee you pay at the time of registration is not the whole story. There are other expenses that can come up during your CLAT preparation.

Try to sort out what counts as what. Look at registration costs first. Then consider coaching expenses if you take coaching. Also plan for travel costs. Finally, remember that college fees can be a separate cost later.

1. Application fee  

This is the mandatory payment made when you submit your CLAT form.  

  • General or OBC: ₹4,000  
  • SC or ST or BPL or PwD: ₹3,500  

2. Past papers from earlier years  

If you pick the official question papers from past CLAT years during signup, you will pay an extra ₹500.  

3. Fee payment charges  

The Consortium says candidates must cover the bank charges that apply.  

The payment page shows the exact amount. This depends on the method you choose.  

4. Study and prep costs  

These costs may cover a few different things, such as:  

  • Coaching or test series  
  • Books and other study material  
  • Mock tests  
  • Current affairs resources  
  • Travel for coaching or test centres  
  • Internet and online learning costs  

Plan your spending with care here. Paying less does not always mean better results. Paying more does not always mean higher scores either. 

A better question is this: Which study routine will help you raise your score step by step?

Is the CLAT Registration Fee Refundable?

No.

As per the official CLAT 2027 instructions, the application fee cannot be refunded.

It also cannot be adjusted.

One more point matters if you submit more than one form by mistake.

In that situation, the Consortium will take only the last online application you submitted.

Fees you paid for earlier forms will not be returned.

So take your time and review everything before you press submit.

Check:

  • Name
  • Father or mother name
  • Date of birth
  • Category
  • Programme
  • Contact details
  • Uploaded documents

before final submission.

CLAT 2027 Registration: Required Documents

The rules can differ by your situation. Still, the UG notice lists common items that students may need to upload:

  • A recent passport-size photo with a plain background  
  • Your signature  
  •  Category proof, if you belong to a reserved category  
  • PwD proof, if you are eligible for PwD benefits  
  • BPL proof, if applicable  

The Consortium says applicants should enter correct details and upload files in the format they ask for.

Quick tip: before you open the application, save clean digital copies of your documents.  

This helps the process feel easier and lowers the risk of mistakes.

CLAT 2027 Registration: How to Do It, Step by Step

Many students think CLAT registration is hard. It is easier if you follow the steps in order.

Step 1: Go to the main CLAT site  

You must register online on the official Consortium of NLUs website.

Step 2: Make an account  

Use your own mobile number and your own email. You will get an OTP to check that the mobile number is valid.

Step 3: Enter your details  

Type your name and other personal info with care. The site asks that your name and your parents’ names match what is on your certificates, marksheets, or ID papers.

Step 4: Pick the course and the category  

Select UG or PG as per your choice. Then choose the correct category.

Read this part closely. The Consortium notes that some fields, like the programme and the category, cannot be edited once you submit and pay.

Step 5: Upload documents  

Upload your photo and signature. Also upload any certificates that apply to you. Use the file formats they ask for.

Step 6: Pay the application fee  

Pay the required fee online, as per the amount shown for your case.

Step 7: Submit the form at the end  

Do not think it is done just because you filled the form. After payment, confirm that you have submitted the application before the last date.

CLAT Fee Structure 2027 vs NLU Admission Fees

Here is an important distinction every CLAT aspirant should understand:

CLAT application fee ≠ NLU tuition fee.

The ₹4,000 or ₹3,500 amount is what you pay to apply for CLAT.

If you eventually secure admission to an NLU, you will have to pay the fees prescribed by that university. These may include tuition, admission, hostel, mess, library, examination and other institutional charges.

The Consortium specifically advises candidates to check the detailed fee structure of individual participating NLUs before admission because fee structures vary by university.

The participating institutions for CLAT 2027 include leading National Law Universities such as NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, NLIU Bhopal, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, RMLNLU Lucknow and several others. The official list currently contains 26 participating NLUs.

So do not look at the application fee and assume that this is the total cost of studying law through an NLU.

It is simply the cost of entering the admission examination process.

How Much Money Should You Keep Ready for CLAT 2027?

A sensible approach is to keep a small buffer rather than arranging exactly the minimum amount.

For example, a General/OBC candidate could plan for:

₹4,000 application fee + applicable transaction charges

Or, if purchasing official previous years' question papers:

₹4,500 + applicable transaction charges

For candidates in the ₹3,500 fee category:

₹3,500 + applicable transaction charges

Or:

₹4,000 including the ₹500 previous-paper option + applicable transaction charges

This small amount of advance planning can prevent unnecessary payment stress during registration.

Common Errors in CLAT Registration

The fee is not the hard part. Most problems come from the form itself.

Mistake 1: Leaving It for the End  

The registration closes on 31 October 2026 at 11:59 PM.  

Pick an earlier day Don't wait for the deadline.

Mistake 2: Picking the Wrong Category  

Your category can change the fee and the benefits you get.  

Select it with care. Also keep your documents in hand.

Mistake 3: Thinking the ₹500 Paper Fee Is Already Paid  

That amount is not part of the base fee.  

You pay it only when you opt for last years' question papers.

Mistake 4: Writing Names Wrong  

Enter your name and your parents' names in the correct way.  

Use the same spelling as in your official documents.

Mistake 5: Viewing Registration as the Biggest Job  

The form may take just one evening.  

But preparing for a top NLU needs far more than that.

So, serious candidates should treat the registration as paperwork.  

Then put more time and effort into studying.

What Should You Do After Paying the CLAT Fee?

Once your application is successfully submitted, shift your attention back to what actually determines your result: preparation.

The official CLAT 2027 UG pattern contains 120 multiple-choice questions to be attempted in two hours, with 0.25 marks deducted for every incorrect answer. The paper covers:

  • English Language
  • Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
  • Legal Reasoning
  • Logical Reasoning
  • Quantitative Techniques

That means your preparation should not be limited to memorising legal concepts.

You need to build strong reading comprehension, reasoning ability, current-affairs awareness and quantitative accuracy.

A Better Way to Plan

Instead of only asking, “How many hours should I study?”, try this:

How much progress can I show each week?

Keep a log of things like:

  • Mock-test results  
  • Accuracy rate  
  • Time spent on each section  
  • Current-affairs coverage  
  • Number of questions attempted  
  • Number of wrong answers  
  • The weak topics that keep coming back  

With this, your study plan becomes more than guesswork. It turns into something you can measure week by week.

Does Paying the CLAT Fee Guarantee a Good Rank?  

Absolutely not.

Registration gives you the opportunity to appear for the examination. Your preparation determines how well you use that opportunity.

This distinction is important because some students spend considerable time worrying about the application process while underestimating the months of preparation required to compete effectively.

Think of the application fee as the entry cost.

Your preparation is what determines how far you go.

How TCM Education Can Help CLAT Aspirants  

If you are studying for CLAT while also handling school or other exams like CAT, IPMAT, or CUET, a clear plan helps.

TCM Education aims at core ideas, regular questions, test feedback, and one to one guidance.  

It is not only about moving through chapters fast.

  • Which CLAT section is currently costing me the most marks?
  • Am I improving my accuracy?
  • Is my reading speed sufficient?
  • Am I analysing my mock tests properly?
  • Which topics need revision?
  • Am I preparing consistently or only studying when exams get close?

These are the questions that eventually matter more than the registration fee.

Frequently Asked Questions on CLAT Fees for 2027

What will be the registration fee in CLAT 2027 for the General category?

For General and OBC, the application cost is ₹4,000.

What is the CLAT 2027 fee for SC and ST category?

SC, ST, PL, and PwD candidates need to pay ₹3,500.

Is the CLAT 2027 application fee refundable?

No. The fee will not be returned and it cannot be adjusted.

Can I register for CLAT 2027 online?

Yes. You must fill and submit the form online on the Consortium of NLUs site.

When is the last date for CLAT 2027 registration?

The official deadline is 31 October 2026, up to 11:59 PM.

What is the rate for past CLAT question papers?

The listed price is ₹500. This is in addition to the application fee.

After I pay, can I change my application?

After you submit and pay, you cannot alter the programme, category, or BPL details.

Also, changes are not accepted after the registration end date.

When is the CLAT 2027 exam date?

The exam is set for Sunday, 6 December 2026.

Does the CLAT application fee cover admission fees of NLUs?

No. The CLAT application fee is separate.

Each NLU sets its own charges after admission, so you should check their fee details.

Final takeaway

The CLAT fee plan for 2027 is not as hard as it sounds. Most students only need to note the main amount. General and OBC students pay ₹4,000. SC, ST, BPL, and PwD students pay ₹3,500.

There may also be extra costs. If you want past question papers, an optional ₹500 charge applies. Some payment transaction charges may also come up.

Still, do not treat the registration as the biggest goal. Put thought into the form. Then move on to the work that matters.

Fill the registration step by step. Finish it before the deadline. After that, spend time on reading speed, reasoning, legal knowledge, current events, and mock tests

If you prefer a planned approach, TCM Education can help with routine practice and mentor support for CLAT 2027. The aim is not just to sit for the exam. The aim is to reach the test ready and calm.

Your CLAT path starts with registration. Your NLU goal is shaped by steady preparation.

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