KEAM Application Form 2026, Registration, Fee, Documents and How to Apply (~66 chars)

KEAM 2026 registration opened on January 5 and closed on February 6, 2026, after CEE Kerala extended the original January 31 deadline by a week. KEAM stands apart from most entrance exams because a single application at cee.kerala.gov.in can cover engineering, pharmacy, architecture, and medical-allied courses in Kerala, though the fee changes depending on which combination of courses a candidate selects. KEAM 2026 exam was held from April 13 to 25, 2026 in CBT mode across multiple sessions, and the form correction window was extended up to May 17, 2026.

KEAM 2026 Application Fee by Course and Category

KEAM charges fees based on both the course group selected and the candidate's reservation category. This is different from most entrance exams that charge a flat fee regardless of course. ST candidates with annual family income below Rs 40,000 do not pay any application fee. Candidates applying for a Dubai exam centre pay a substantial surcharge on top of the regular fee. Payment is accepted online through debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.

The fee is non-refundable once paid, even if the candidate decides not to appear for the exam. Candidates choosing the Dubai centre must pay the Rs 16,000 surcharge on top of their regular course-wise fee through the online payment mode only.

KEAM 2026 Registration Overview

The table below covers the key details about KEAM 2026 registration for candidates checking the basics quickly. All information is from the official CEE Kerala notification and the application portal at cee.kerala.gov.in.

Step-by-Step KEAM 2026 Registration Process

CEE Kerala runs a single-stage online application. Candidates receive an auto-generated application number at the time of registration and use it along with a self-created password for all future logins until the seat allotment process ends. The form does not need to be completed in one sitting, but all steps, including fee payment and document upload, must be finished before the respective deadlines.

• Step 1: Visit cee.kerala.gov.in and click 'KEAM 2026 Online Application'. Accept the terms and conditions.
• Step 2: Enter your name, date of birth, active mobile number, and email address. Create a password and note it down. An application number is generated automatically.
• Step 3: Log in using the application number and password. Fill in personal details, parent information, nationality, nativity, valid ID proof details, and course preferences (engineering, pharmacy, architecture, medical, or a combination).
• Step 4: Select your exam centre from the list of available cities in Kerala (or Dubai, with the Rs 16,000 surcharge).
• Step 5: Upload a recent passport-size colour photograph (JPEG, 150 x 100 pixels, 1 to 100 KB) and a signature scan (JPEG, 150 x 100 pixels, 1 to 100 KB).
• Step 6: Upload mandatory documents in PDF format: SSLC certificate (for date of birth proof) and Nativity certificate. Additional documents like community certificate, non-creamy layer certificate, or income certificate can be uploaded based on reservation claims.
• Step 7: Pay the application fee online based on the course combination selected. The fee amount changes depending on which courses you chose in Step 3.
• Step 8: Click 'Save & Preview' to review your form. No changes are allowed after this step, so check every field carefully.
• Step 9: Submit the form and print the acknowledgement page. Keep this printout safe. CEE does not send any hard copy by post.

Candidates can track their application status on the portal. Six status indicators show whether registration, image upload, form submission, fee payment, printout, and CEE receipt are complete. A green mark means that step is done. A red mark means it still needs attention.

KEAM 2026 Application and Exam Dates

CEE Kerala kept the registration window open for about a month, with a separate, slightly later deadline for fee payment and document uploads. The form correction window was opened after registration closed and was extended multiple times, most recently to May 17, 2026.

Candidates who registered before the deadline but had not finished uploading certificates could complete that step until February 7. The option to add new courses to an existing application was opened separately at a later date announced on the portal.

Documents Required for KEAM 2026 Application

KEAM asks candidates to upload more documents at the application stage than most entrance exams. CEE Kerala uses these uploads to verify eligibility, nativity, and reservation claims before the exam itself, rather than waiting until counselling. All documents must be uploaded in PDF format, and multiple documents supporting the same claim must be combined into a single PDF file.

Class 12 appearing candidates who do not yet have their mark sheet at the time of application should upload their Class 10 documents first. The Class 12 mark sheet can be uploaded later through the candidate portal when results are declared.

KEAM 2026 Application Form Correction Window

CEE Kerala opened the correction window after the registration deadline, and extended it multiple times. The most recent extension allowed corrections up to May 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM. During this window, candidates who submitted their application before the last date could log in and edit certain fields. This is a one-time facility, and not all fields are editable.

• Editable fields: photograph, signature, name, and certain personal or academic details flagged by CEE.
• Non-editable fields: application number, date of birth, and mobile number used during initial registration.
• Only candidates who completed their application before the February 6 deadline could access the correction window. Fresh applications were not accepted during this period.

CEE sends notifications about defects in an application via email and SMS. Candidates should check the portal regularly, especially after the correction window opens, to see if any uploaded document was rejected or flagged for re-upload.

Nativity Certificate and Kerala Reservation in KEAM 2026

KEAM is a state-level exam, and a large share of seats in Kerala's government and aided colleges are reserved for candidates who can prove Kerala nativity. The nativity certificate is one of the mandatory documents during KEAM registration, and without it, a candidate is treated as a non-Kerala applicant during counselling, which significantly limits seat options.

• Kerala native candidates get priority access to government and aided engineering, pharmacy, and medical college seats.
• Non-Kerala candidates can apply and appear for KEAM, but their seat allotment is limited to the seats available in the NRI or management quota at private colleges.
• The nativity certificate must be obtained from the Village Officer or Tahsildar of the candidate's place of residence in Kerala.
• SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) candidates claiming communal reservation must also upload a separate non-creamy layer certificate issued by the competent authority in Kerala, specifically for educational purposes.

Candidates who are Kerala natives but currently living outside the state should still upload their nativity certificate. The certificate proves nativity, not current residence.

Tracking KEAM 2026 Application Status on the CEE Portal

CEE Kerala provides a six-step status tracker on the candidate portal that shows whether each stage of the application is complete. This is more detailed than the status trackers on most entrance exam portals, and candidates should use it to confirm that their application has been fully received by CEE before the exam.

• Registration: confirms the initial online registration is done.
• Upload Images: confirms the photograph, signature, and thumb impression have been uploaded.
• Fill Application: confirms the form is filled and submitted.
• Pay Application Fee: confirms CEE has received the payment confirmation from the bank.
• Print Application: confirms the candidate has generated a printout of the acknowledgement page.
• Received by CEE: confirms CEE has taken the application for scrutiny. A green mark here means the application is under review.

If any of these six steps shows a red mark, the application is incomplete. Candidates should log in and complete the pending step before the deadline. An application that is not fully received by CEE (the sixth step) will not be processed, and the candidate will not get an admit card.

After Completing KEAM 2026 Registration

Once the application is fully received by CEE, the next step is the admit card. CEE releases admit cards on the portal a few days before the exam. Candidates must download and print it. The KEAM exam for engineering and pharmacy was held in CBT mode from April 13 to 25, 2026, across multiple sessions. After the exam, CEE publishes a normalized score (since different candidates write in different sessions), followed by a rank list and online counselling for seat allotment in Kerala's engineering, pharmacy, architecture, and medical colleges.

KEAM Application Form 2026 FAQs

Ques: I want to apply for both engineering and architecture through KEAM. Do I need two separate forms?

Ques: Can candidates from outside Kerala apply for KEAM 2026?

Ques: My KEAM application status shows a red mark against 'Received by CEE'. What does this mean?

Ques: Is the KEAM application fee refundable if I do not appear for the exam?

Ques: I chose the Dubai exam centre. Is there any extra fee?