CLAT 2026 Counselling Process (Started): Registration Dates (Dec 17 to 27), Fees, Documents Required

CLAT 2026 Counselling Process

CLAT Counselling 2026 has begun from December 17, 2025 and the last date to register for the counselling process is December 27, 2025. The counselling of CLAT 2026 is the centralised admission process conducted after the declaration of the CLAT 2026 results. CLAT 2026 Counselling Process acts as the formal system for assigning seats to applicants from each of the 22 National Law Universities (NLUs) that take part in the CLAT admissions cycle. CLAT Counselling Process, which is run by the Consortium of NLUs, guarantees an open, merit-based, and efficient admissions procedure for LL.B. and LL.M. law schools. 

Usually, the counseling process starts soon after CLAT 2026 results are made public. You can lock your preferences for NLUs based on rank, category, seat availability, and personal preference after registering. You are given seats based on their rank and the selections they made during the preference-filling phase during the several rounds of seat distribution. The float, lock, or exit choice is a crucial component of CLAT 2026 counseling. You can choose to accept the seat they have been assigned, wait for a better option in the following round, or completely withdraw from the process. You will have sufficient control over your admissions decisions to this adaptable method. To guarantee your places, you must also upload the necessary paperwork, pay the relevant fees, and meet tight deadlines.

Direct Link - CLAT Counselling Registration (Active)

CLAT 2026 Counselling Dates

The CLAT 2026 counselling dates are added here.

Overview of CLAT 2026 Counselling Events

Go through all the steps involved in CLAT counselling process 2026 given below:

Counselling Registration

To attend the CLAT counselling 2026, applicants will have to pay the CLAT counselling charges. You should fill in a minimum of five preferences. 

Publication of First Allotment List

CLAT office will post the first university-wise list online. It will be published on the grounds of merit-cum-preference. The list will be accessible via the CLAT website. Only students who have enrolled for CLAT Counselling 2026 will be taken into account. 

Such students should use their options - 

• You must accept or lock the seat, submit documents, and pay the NLU fees. 
• Or else, you can apply for an upgrade, attach documents, and pay the NLU fees.
• You also have the option to leave the admission process.
• NLUs will ascertain the certificates and accept the applicant after receiving the fee.

Publication of Second Allotment List

In this round also, the process will be similar for the shortlisted candidates - 

• Those students who endorse the allocated seat must share documents before paying the NLU fee. 
• You also can apply for a choice upgrade, submit documents, and pay the NLU fee.
• In case they are not satisfied, they can exit the admissions process.
• Following that, one who acknowledge the seat or want to apply for an upgrade must submit documents and fees to the designated NLU.
• NLUs will conduct document verification and update candidates' admission status.

Publication of Third, Fourth, and Fifth Allotment Lists

• You can exercise your seat options like in previous rounds.
• NLUs must verify candidates' documents, accept the fees, and update their admission status.

Step by Step CLAT 2026 Counselling Process - Complete Details

The CLAT counselling process 2026 includes the following major steps -

Update NLU Preferences

• The first step to register for CLAT 2026 online counselling is to log in to the CLAT account and check if the student has received the invitation for the counselling.
• Those who have been invited for the counselling will notice a link named “Update NLU Preferences” tab.
• Applicants are requested to review the different courses and the respective seat matrix from the official websites of the participating NLUS.
• From the available list, they have to submit at least 15 preferences. They can add more NLUs from the participating list if they want to.
• Please note that the candidates will be considered for allotment to only those NLUs which they added. Even if there are vacancies in any other NLU, they will not be considered for them.
• Additionally, they can edit the NLU preferences list as many times as they want before the deadline of the counselling registration closes.
• After the last date of online registration, they cannot request any modifications to the NLU preferences.

Make counselling registration fee payment

• In this step, they have to click on the “Make Payment” link and pay the required fee.
• They have to pay the fees as per the reservation category.
• After making the payment, they must wait for a confirmation message of “Payment Successful”.
• Only those who completed the payment will be considered for the seat allotment.

Admissions Counselling Process 

In a counselling session, each applicant who has been assigned a seat at any NLU may utilise any of the 'Freeze,' 'Float,' or 'Exit' choices based on the parameters outlined below -

Freeze Option 

If the applicant is content with the assigned seat, accepts it, and is not keen to take part in future rounds of seat allotment / counselling, they may 'Freeze' the seat allocation. To 'freeze' their spot in the First or Second phases of counselling, the applicant must submit the Confirmation Fee within the time frame specified. Candidates who choose the Freeze Possibility and pay the Confirmation Fee in the First or Second Round of Counselling will not be evaluated in consecutive rounds of counselling.

A candidate who chooses the Freeze Option in the First or Second Round of Counselling shall pay the remaining University Fee to the NLU concerned by by the deadline after correcting the Counselling Registration Fee and Confirmation Fee. To 'Freeze' their place in the Third, Fourth, or Fifth round of Admissions Counselling, candidates must deposit the university charges to the NLU involved by the deadline specified in the admissions counselling calendar.

Float Option

If an applicant has not been assigned to their first choice NLU and want to keep the potential of being assigned to a higher priority NLU seat open, they may select the 'Float' Option. To use the Float Option during the First or Second stage of Counselling, the applicant must pay the Confirmation Fee within the time frame specified in the admissions counselling schedule.

To use the Float Option in the Third or Fourth Round of Counselling, an applicant must pay the NLU the University Fee for the seat granted to them in that round of counselling within the time frame specified. Under the Float Option, the applicant may keep the seat that was assigned to them, but if they are assigned a higher choice NLU seat in a future counselling round, they must transfer to that higher preference NLU.

An applicant who has chosen the Float Option must either Freeze the existing allocation or quit the Admissions Counselling Session and forfeit the Confirmation Fee at the end of the counselling process.

The 'Float' option will be removed after the fourth stages of counselling, and the last given seat will be regarded as definitive. Candidates must now select whether to "Freeze" or "Exit" the Admissions Counselling Process.

Exit Option

If, after successful registration, a student decides not to continue with the counselling process, they may 'Exit' the Admissions Counselling Process. If a person selects the Float or Freeze option before the Exit option, the seat assigned to them will be reassigned and the Confirmation charges will be forfeited. After selecting the Exit option, no contender will be assigned a seat.

Fee for Confirmation

Prior to picking a 'Freeze' or 'Float' option in the First and Second rounds of counselling, an eligible candidate who has been awarded a seat based on their expressed NLU preferences will be asked to pay a non-refundable Confirmation Fee of Rs. 20,000/- (Rupees Twenty thousand only). The Confirmation Fee must be paid just once during the Admissions and Counselling Process.

Counselling Rounds

Admissions will be offered in five rounds. If an applicant is not assigned a seat in a given round of counselling, they are asked to wait for the following round, as this is a sequential procedure. The fifth stage of CLAT admissions counselling will be held in June 2026 to fill any remaining seat openings.

Counselling Registration Fee Refund

The Counselling Registration Fee will be returned in full if an applicant is not assigned a seat by the Consortium at the end of the Fifth phase of the CLAT Counselling Process or has not selected the Freeze or Float option and exits the Counselling Process.

If a candidate is assigned a seat and prefers a Float or Freeze option, and then chooses to leave the counselling process or fails to complete their admission at the chosen NLU by paying their fees, their Counselling Registration Fee will be refunded in full if the exit option is used before the deadline.

If a candidate is allocated a seat for the initial time in the Fifth Counselling round and chooses to Exit or is unable to complete their admission at the NLU by paying their tuition, their Counselling Registration Fee will be fully returned.

If an NLU determines that a candidate is disqualified based on the verification of documents/information submitted by them, an amount of Rs 5,000 will be withheld, and the remainder of the Counselling Registration Fee will be returned. Refunds will be made to the same account that was used to pay the Counselling Registration Fee. Applicants must check that their provided bank accounts are operational during the counselling and reimbursement processes.

Refund requests to some other bank account will not be accepted. The Confirmation Fee paid by any applicant shall be deducted from the fees payable at the NLU to which the candidate has been admitted. The Confirmation Fee will not be returned if an aspirant chooses the Exit Option, misses to pay the fees required at the NLU by the due date, or is declared unsuitable by an NLU based on the verification of papers / information submitted by them.

Important Documents for CLAT 2026 Counselling Process

Here is the list of important documents for CLAT 2026 counselling - 

For UG Programme

• Grade 10 statement of marks
• CLAT 2026 Admit Card
• Grade 12 Statement of Marks
• Character Certificate/Conduct Certificate from the Educational Institution last attended
• Transfer/Migration Certificate from the Educational Institution last attended
• Caste Certificate (SC, ST, OBC, etc.) if applied and allotted under the Reserved category of seats.
• PWD/SAP Certificate, if applied and allotted under the PWD category
• Domicile/Residence Certificate, if applied and allotted under the domicile/resident category seat
• Domicile/Residence Certificate, if applied and allotted under the domicile/resident category seat

For PG Programme

• Grade 10 statement of marks
• CLAT 2026 Admit Card
• Grade 12 Statement of Marks
• LL.B./B.L./Equivalent Degree Statement of Marks
• Character Certificate/Conduct Certificate from the Educational Institution last attended
• Transfer/Migration Certificate from the Educational Institution last attended
• Caste Certificate (SC, ST, OBC, etc.) if applied and allotted under the Reserved category of seats
• PWD/SAP Certificate, if applied and allotted under the PWD category
• Domicile/Residence Certificate, if applied and allotted under the domicile/resident category seat

Important Points regarding CLAT 2026 Counselling Process

Here are a few points that the candidates must be aware of regarding the CLAT 2026 counselling process:

• CLAT 2026 counselling process will be conducted online by the CLAT conducting body.
• All the original documents must be submitted by the candidates during the CLAT counselling 2026 process. The documents will be handed back to their respective holders after the verification of the documents is over
• After the conclusion of the CLAT counselling process 2026, the eligible candidates will be issued with call letters from the officials.

CLAT 2026 Seat Allotment

Only those who have enrolled for CLAT counselling 2026 and paid the CLAT counselling fee will be regarded for seat allocation. The NLU Consortium will announce the CLAT 2026 seat allocation after considering the following factors.

• Rank and category of the candidate
• The candidate's college preference
• Seat availability in the candidate's preferred category

The CLAT 2026 seat allotment is revealed separately for each of the 22 national law universities. Students will be called to verify their allotment status by logging into their registered accounts.

Options after CLAT Seat Allotment 2026

1st Option - Accept CLAT allotment

Applicants who have no issues with their allotment can use this option. They must upload documents and pay the course fee to the designated law university. These aspirants will be unable to participate in the next round of selection. Applicants must pay the application fee and complete the admissions process after getting their documents verified.

2nd Option - Application for Upgrade

Candidates who want to participate in the next selection round can request an upgrade. Such candidates must also complete the admission process by submitting the documents and course fee to NLU that they received in the first round of allotment.

Such students will be assigned a seat at the university that received the previous allotment. A new allotment will be made only if a vacancy in the NLU exists that is preferred over the current allotment. Candidates who exercise the upgrade option will be allocated another seat in the next round of counselling, with the opportunity to accept, upgrade, or exit the process. 

3rd Option - Exit from CLAT Admission Process 2026

It is the final option for candidates who are uninterested in any NLUs and wish to withdraw from the admissions process. Candidates who choose the exit will not only forgo their current allotment but will also be disqualified from participating in any subsequent rounds.