CA Foundation Registration 2026 is the first formal step for students who want to enter the Chartered Accountancy course through the Foundation route. Under ICAI’s New Scheme of Education and Training, students can register for the CA Foundation Course after passing Class 10, but they can appear in the Foundation examination only after appearing in Class 12 and satisfying the required study-period condition.
This updated guide explains CA Foundation registration eligibility, fees, syllabus, exam pattern, passing criteria, exam form details, documents required and important 2026 updates as per ICAI’s current prospectus and examination announcements.
CA Foundation Registration 2026: Quick Summary
| Particular | Latest Details |
| Course | CA Foundation Course under ICAI New Scheme of Education and Training |
| Who can register? | Students can register after passing Class 10 or equivalent examination |
| When can a student appear in exam? | After appearing in Class 12 and completing the required 4-month study period |
| Exam cycle | Foundation examinations are linked with January, May and September exam cycles, as decided by ICAI |
| Registration mode | Online through ICAI Self Service Portal (SSP) |
| Foundation registration fee | Rs. 9,000 for Indian students; foreign student fee is shown separately by ICAI |
| Foundation exam fee | Rs. 1,500 for Indian centres; US$ 325 for overseas centres excluding Kathmandu; INR Rs. 2,200 for Kathmandu centre |
| Papers | 4 papers: Accounting, Business Laws, Quantitative Aptitude, Business Economics |
| Passing requirement | Minimum 40% in each paper and 50% aggregate in one sitting |
Latest CA Foundation 2026 Updates Students Should Know
The old 2023 details are no longer enough for students planning upcoming attempts. ICAI’s current structure under the New Scheme has changed the practical planning for Foundation students. The key point is that students should not look only at “registration”; they should separately track course registration, exam form submission, admit card, exam dates and result updates.
- CA Foundation registration is handled online through the ICAI Self Service Portal.
- Students can register after Class 10, but exam eligibility is linked with Class 12 appearance and study-period conditions.
- The Foundation Course currently has four papers under the New Scheme.
- Paper 1 and Paper 2 are subjective type papers.
- Paper 3 and Paper 4 are objective type papers with negative marking.
- Students should check the official ICAI website and SSP before every attempt because exam form dates and correction-window dates are announced separately.
CA Foundation September 2026 Exam Dates
As per ICAI’s Examination Department announcement dated 2 May 2026, the CA Foundation September 2026 examination is scheduled on 2nd, 5th, 7th and 9th September 2026. Students should also keep checking the official ICAI website in case of any further announcement.
| Attempt | Foundation Exam Dates | Exam Timing |
| September 2026 | 2, 5, 7 and 9 September 2026 | Paper 1 & 2: 2 PM to 5 PM; Paper 3 & 4: 2 PM to 4 PM |
For preparation resources, students can also use our CA Foundation MTP, CA Foundation RTP and CA Foundation suggested answers pages.
Who Is Eligible for CA Foundation Registration?
A student who has passed Class 10 or an equivalent examination can register for the CA Foundation Course. This allows students to start their CA journey early and complete the registration process before they become eligible to sit for the Foundation exam.
However, registration and examination eligibility are different. For admission to the Foundation examination, ICAI requires that the candidate should be registered on or before 4 months prior to the month of the Foundation examination and should have appeared in the Senior Secondary (10+2) examination or an equivalent recognized examination.
CA Foundation Registration Fees 2026
As per ICAI’s current fee structure, the Foundation registration fee for Indian students is Rs. 9,000. The ICAI fee document also mentions prospectus and optional journal subscription components. Students should check the latest fee shown on SSP at the time of payment before submitting the form.
| Fee Component | Indian Students | Foreign Students |
| Cost of Prospectus | Rs. 200 | US$ 20 |
| Foundation Registration Fee | Rs. 9,000 | US$ 700 |
| Students’ Journal for one year | Rs. 200, optional | US$ 20, optional |
| Members’ Journal for one year | Rs. 400, optional | US$ 40, optional |
ICAI also provides fee concessions for eligible categories as per its rules, including specified Union Territories, North-East States and wards of deceased members. Students claiming concession should verify the latest conditions and required documents from ICAI before applying.
CA Foundation Exam Form Fee 2026
The CA Foundation course registration fee is different from the exam form fee. For the September 2026 examination, ICAI’s announcement mentions the following Foundation examination fee:
| Exam Centre Type | Foundation Exam Fee |
| Indian centres | Rs. 1,500 |
| Overseas centres excluding Kathmandu | US$ 325 |
| Kathmandu centre | INR Rs. 2,200 |
| Late fee after normal last date | Rs. 600 for Indian/Kathmandu centres and US$ 10 for overseas centres |
For the September 2026 exam, ICAI announced the exam form window from 6 July 2026 to 19 July 2026 without late fee and up to 22 July 2026 with late fee. These dates are attempt-specific, so students should always check the current ICAI exam notification for their own attempt.
How to Register for CA Foundation on ICAI SSP
CA Foundation registration is done online through ICAI’s Self Service Portal. Students do not need to visit an ICAI office for routine registration. Keep a valid mobile number, email ID and scanned documents ready before starting the form.
- Visit ICAI Student Services or directly open the ICAI Self Service Portal.
- Select the entry-level form for Foundation registration.
- Create/login with your SSP account using email and mobile OTP verification.
- Fill personal details, education details and communication details carefully.
- Upload required documents in the format requested by ICAI.
- Pay the applicable registration fee online.
- Track confirmation on SSP and order study material through ICAI CDS when eligible.
Students should use the official ICAI SSP for registration and exam-related services. For attempt planning, also check our CA Foundation registration 2026 guide if you need a shorter updated summary.
Documents Required for CA Foundation Registration
Documents may vary depending on the student’s category and status, but students should generally keep the following ready before filling the Foundation registration form:
- Class 10 marksheet/certificate showing name and date of birth.
- Class 12 admit card or marksheet, if applicable.
- Recent passport-size photograph.
- Scanned signature.
- Nationality proof for foreign students, if applicable.
- Category/concession certificate, if claiming any fee concession.
CA Foundation Syllabus 2026 Under New Scheme
The CA Foundation syllabus under the New Scheme has four papers. The broad paper structure is:
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Type |
| Paper 1 | Accounting | 100 | Subjective |
| Paper 2 | Business Laws | 100 | Subjective |
| Paper 3 | Quantitative Aptitude: Business Mathematics, Logical Reasoning and Statistics | 100 | Objective/MCQ |
| Paper 4 | Business Economics | 100 | Objective/MCQ |
ICAI updates study material, study guidelines and related academic resources on its Board of Studies portal. Students should follow the latest applicable study material for their attempt.
CA Foundation Exam Pattern and Passing Criteria
- Paper 1 and Paper 2 are subjective papers of 3 hours each.
- Paper 3 and Paper 4 are objective papers of 2 hours each.
- Paper 3 and Paper 4 have negative marking.
- To pass Foundation, a candidate must score at least 40% in each paper.
- The candidate must also score at least 50% aggregate in all papers in one sitting.
Important Links for CA Foundation Students
- ICAI Student Services for registration and SSP access.
- ICAI Self Service Portal for student login, course services and exam forms.
- ICAI New Scheme of Education and Training for official prospectus, syllabus and study resources.
- CA Foundation question papers for past exam practice.
- CA Foundation September 2026 Mock Test Papers schedule for exam-like practice planning.
CA Study Advice for Foundation Students
If you are in Class 11 or Class 12 and planning CA, complete registration early but do not confuse registration with exam-form filing. Registration gives you entry into the Foundation Course. Exam-form filing is a separate step for a specific attempt.
For best preparation, first complete the latest ICAI study material, then solve MTPs, RTPs and previous question papers. Paper 3 and Paper 4 need strong MCQ practice because they are objective papers with negative marking.
FAQs on CA Foundation Registration 2026
Can I register for CA Foundation after Class 10?
Yes. As per ICAI’s current prospectus, candidates can register for the CA Foundation Course after passing Class 10 or an equivalent examination.
Can I appear in CA Foundation exam before Class 12?
No. For admission to the Foundation examination, the student should have appeared in Class 12 or an equivalent recognized examination and should satisfy ICAI’s study-period requirement.
What is the CA Foundation registration fee in 2026?
The Foundation registration fee for Indian students is Rs. 9,000. ICAI also mentions prospectus and optional journal subscription components. Students should verify the final fee shown on SSP before payment.
How many papers are there in CA Foundation under the New Scheme?
There are four papers: Accounting, Business Laws, Quantitative Aptitude and Business Economics.
What is the passing criteria for CA Foundation?
A candidate must obtain at least 40% marks in each paper and at least 50% marks in aggregate in one sitting to pass CA Foundation.
Where can I apply for CA Foundation registration?
Students can apply online through ICAI Student Services and the Self Service Portal at eservices.icai.org.
Official Sources Used
This article has been updated using ICAI’s Chartered Accountancy Prospectus under the New Scheme of Education and Training, ICAI fee structure, ICAI Foundation syllabus page and ICAI Examination Department announcement dated 2 May 2026 for September/November 2026 examinations.
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