The CA Foundation and CA Intermediate January 2027 exam form opens on 3 November 2026 at 10:00 AM IST. This guide covers eligibility, documents, centre choice, fees, and what to check after you pay.
Key Dates for the January 2027 Exam Form
The same window applies to both courses. Fill the form early, because there is no online form after the late fee date.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online exam form opens | 3 November 2026, 10:00 AM IST |
| Last date without late fee | 16 November 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Last date with late fee | 19 November 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Correction window for centre and medium | 20 to 22 November 2026 |
| Permanent exemption window (Intermediate) | 3 November, 11:00 AM to 22 November 2026, 11:59 PM |
| Class 12 proof for provisional Foundation applicants | 1 December 2026 |
Exam dates and timings are in our January 2027 exam dates guide.
Who Can Apply
CA Foundation
You must have registered for the Foundation course on or before 1 September 2026, or converted from CPT to Foundation by the date you fill the form.
You must also have passed or appeared in the Class 12 board exam. Upload your Class 12 marksheet or admit card on SSP before you apply.
If you apply provisionally, upload the Class 12 proof by 1 December 2026. Without it, ICAI will not issue your admit card.
CA Intermediate
You need an eight month study period as on 1 January 2027. That means your course registration must be on or before 1 May 2026.
You must also be registered for the group or groups you plan to appear in. Check this under your SSP login before you start.
What to Check on SSP Before 3 November
Do these checks now, so the form takes only a few minutes on the opening day.
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Login | Your SSP login at eservices.icai.org works. Use the forgot password option if you have lost it. |
| Course code | Intermediate must show NEWINT23 or CONINT23. Foundation must show NEWFND23 or CONFND23. |
| Course conversion | If your code is different, convert it for free at Student Functions, Student Module, Course Registration, Apply for Conversion. |
| Group registration | Intermediate only. Confirm the groups you are registered for. |
| Class 12 proof | Foundation only. Upload your Class 12 marksheet or admit card. |
| Photo and signature | Upload a clear photo and signature that meet the sizes below. |
Photo and Signature Requirements
If your photo or signature is missing or unclear, update it on SSP before you fill the form. ICAI prints them on your admit card and marksheet.
| Requirement | Photograph | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| File type | JPG or JPEG | JPG or JPEG |
| File size | 20 to 50 KB | 10 to 20 KB |
| Dimensions | 4.5 cm by 3.5 cm | 6 cm by 2 cm |
| Background | Plain white | Plain white sheet, black pen |
| Other rules | Face and ears visible, no selfies, caps or goggles | Well cropped with no extra white space |
How to Fill the Form Step by Step
You apply on the Self Service Portal. Your username is your SRN followed by @icai.org.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Log in at eservices.icai.org with your SRN and password. |
| 2 | Open the January 2027 exam form from your dashboard. Forms show up based on your eligibility. |
| 3 | Check the eligibility fields. Intermediate students select the group or groups. |
| 4 | Choose your exam city and centre. See the next section. |
| 5 | Choose English or Hindi as your medium. |
| 6 | Review every field before you pay, especially centre and medium. |
| 7 | Pay the fee online. |
| 8 | Download and save the barcoded exam form PDF that appears after payment. |
You do not need to send the printed form to ICAI. Keep it until you receive your admit card.
How to Choose Your Exam Centre
ICAI now lets you pick the exact centre inside your chosen city when you submit the form. The centre you pick is not guaranteed, and the final centre is shown on your admit card.
ICAI can change your centre for administrative reasons. An exam also runs at a centre only if enough candidates have opted for it.
Cities Divided Into Zones
Big cities are split into zones, so check the City Master for your zone code before you choose. These cities have zones:
| Region | Cities with zones |
|---|---|
| West | Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Surat, Thane, Vadodara, Vasai |
| North and Central | Bhopal, Delhi or New Delhi, Indore, Jaipur, Lucknow |
| South and East | Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata |
| Overseas | Bahrain, Dubai (UAE) and Kathmandu (Nepal) |
How to Choose Your Medium
You can answer in English or in Hindi. Choose it carefully, because you can change it only in the correction window.
For Foundation, Paper 1 is set in English for everyone. Papers 2, 3 and 4 are bilingual for Hindi medium candidates, and the OMR sheets for Papers 3 and 4 are in English only.
Exam Fee and Payment
You pay online only. Fees depend on your course, group count and exam centre.
| Course and centre | Fee | Fee with late fee |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation, India | ₹1,500 | ₹2,100 |
| Foundation, Kathmandu | ₹2,200 | ₹2,800 |
| Foundation, Bahrain or Dubai | US$ 325 | US$ 335 |
| Intermediate, India, one group | ₹1,500 | ₹2,100 |
| Intermediate, India, both groups | ₹2,700 | ₹3,300 |
| Intermediate, Kathmandu, one group | ₹2,200 | ₹2,800 |
| Intermediate, Kathmandu, both groups | ₹3,400 | ₹4,000 |
| Intermediate, Bahrain or Dubai, one group | US$ 325 | US$ 335 |
| Intermediate, Bahrain or Dubai, both groups | US$ 500 | US$ 510 |
The late fee applies from 17 to 19 November 2026. Money leaving your account does not mean your application is complete.
Check That Your Payment Went Through
Your application counts only when it is recorded on SSP and the exam form PDF is generated. Open your dashboard and check the PDF shows the fee details.
If the payment failed, pay again. Fees are not refunded, except for failed transmissions, double payments and lost transactions. ICAI refunds double payments within 21 days of the last date.
Correction Window, 20 to 22 November
If you picked the wrong centre or medium, you get one free chance to fix it. The window opens on 20 November and closes on 22 November 2026.
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| What you can change | Only your exam centre and medium |
| How many times | Only once, so check before you submit |
| Cost | Free, with no second window for a fee |
| After 22 November | No change of centre or medium is allowed |
| Admit card | The change shows on your admit card |
Permanent Exemption Window for Intermediate
This is a separate window for Intermediate students whose exemption is running out. It runs from 3 November, 11:00 AM, to 22 November 2026, 11:59 PM, on your SSP dashboard.
It covers exemption won in the September 2025 exam, which ended with the September 2026 exam. You get only one chance to make it permanent.
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Same group papers | If two papers of one group are exempt, make both permanent or let both lapse |
| Passing condition | You must score at least 50% in each remaining paper of that group |
| Exempted marks | Counted up to 50 only for the 50% aggregate rule |
| Surrender | You can give up the exemption and reappear in the paper |
| Late window | There is no correction window or late fee window |
For the full rules, read our CA Inter exemption rules guide.
After You Submit the Form
ICAI hosts admit cards on eservices.icai.org about 14 days before the exam. No physical admit card is sent.
When you download it, check your name, registration number, centre and medium. If anything is wrong, contact the helpline at once.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Waiting for the last day | Fill the form in the first week to avoid portal and payment problems |
| Wrong or old course code | Convert your course on SSP first, it costs nothing |
| Photo or signature rejected | Upload files in the required size before you open the form |
| Foundation without Class 12 proof | Upload your marksheet or admit card by 1 December 2026 |
| Paying but not saving the PDF | Confirm the exam form PDF is generated and save it |
| Picking the wrong centre | Check the zone in the City Master, since you get only one correction |
Helpline and Contacts
ICAI helpdesks work on working days from 10 AM to 6 PM.
| Query | Contact |
|---|---|
| SSP login, password or OTP | ssp.helpdesk@icai.in or 99975 99975 |
| Foundation form and admit card | foundation_examhelpline@icai.in or 0120-3054851 |
| Intermediate form queries | intermediate_examhelpline@icai.in |
| Fee failure or refund | edpexam@icai.in or 0120-3054834 |
| Intermediate exemption queries | inter.exemption@icai.in |
Start Your Mock Tests Once the Form Is Done
Intermediate mock tests start on 19 November and Foundation mock tests start on 1 December 2026. See our CA Inter January 2027 mock test schedule and our CA Foundation MTP page for every paper date.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the CA January 2027 exam form open?
It opens on 3 November 2026 at 10:00 AM IST for both Foundation and Intermediate.
What is the last date to fill the form?
16 November 2026 without late fee and 19 November 2026 with the late fee.
What is the late fee?
It is ₹600 for centres in India and Kathmandu, and US$ 10 for Bahrain and Dubai.
Can I change my centre or medium after I submit?
Yes, once, free of cost, between 20 and 22 November 2026. After that no change is allowed.
Who is eligible for Foundation in January 2027?
You must be registered by 1 September 2026 and have passed or appeared in Class 12, with the proof uploaded on SSP.
What is the cut-off for Intermediate registration?
Your course registration must be on or before 1 May 2026, which gives the required eight month study period.
Do I need to send the printed form to ICAI?
No. Keep the barcoded PDF with you until you get the admit card.
Is the permanent exemption window part of the exam form?
No, it is a separate window on SSP for Intermediate students with exhausted exemption, from 3 to 22 November 2026.
Source: ICAI Examinations, January 2027 and ICAI notice on centre selection.
