AFCAT 1 Apply Online 2027: Registration Link, Fees and Step-by-Step Process

The online application for AFCAT 1 2027 (AFCAT 01/2027) is now open. The Indian Air Force is accepting applications for the Flying Branch and the Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, along with NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry, for courses commencing in January 2028. This guide covers only the application: what to keep ready, how each screen of the form works and what you pay.

Status as on 13 November 2026: The registration link has been live since 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) and will close on 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM). Every rule, size limit and fee figure below is taken from the official AFCAT 01/2027 notification. Anything it does not cover, such as the result date, will be announced later.

AFCAT 1 Apply Online 2027: Key Details

AFCAT 1 2027 Registration Link: Where to Apply

Applications are accepted only through the official AFCAT portal, afcat.edcil.co.in. There is no offline form. Type the address directly into your browser and avoid look-alike pages that ask for money or personal details.

For vacancies, branch-wise qualifications and the exam pattern, see our breakdown of the AFCAT 1 notification 2027.

Documents and Details to Keep Ready

Keep these ready before you begin. The form will not move forward until every mandatory field (red asterisk) is filled and you click “Save and Next” on each part.

• A personal email ID and mobile number that will stay active until selection is over; your user ID, password and all updates are sent to them.
• Your Aadhaar number (the form asks for the last 4 digits) and a second ID proof.
• Your Class 10 certificate: your name and parents’ names must match it exactly.
• Your Class 12 mark sheet (aggregate, Physics and Mathematics percentages).
• Graduation and post-graduation details, including the date or expected date of completion and aggregate percentage.
• Any earlier AFSB/SSB, CPSS/PABT, DGCA CPL, NCC Air Wing ‘C’ or GATE details that apply to you.
• Scanned photo, signature and thumb impression (sizes below) and a working camera for the live photo.

Upload Specifications

The notification also suggests file names: Passport Photograph.jpg, Signature.jpg and Thumb Impression.jpg. Use the same photograph throughout the recruitment process. You will also need two prints of it on exam day.

AFCAT 1 Apply Online 2027: Step-by-Step Process

The official process has two stages: sign-up (to get your login) and the application form (details, uploads and fee). Here it is screen by screen.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility First

Do this before you pay anything, because the fee is non-refundable. Your date of birth must fall within the range for the branch you want, and the Flying Branch range is narrower than the Ground Duty range. Our AFCAT 1 age limit 2027 guide lists the exact DOB windows and the CPL relaxation. Also match your 10+2 subjects and degree with para 5.3 of the notification.

Step 2: Sign Up (Registration)

1. Open afcat.edcil.co.in and choose the AFCAT 01/2027 registration option.
2. Enter your full name as per your Class 10 certificate, your 10-digit mobile number and your email ID, then click Generate OTP.
3. Enter the two OTPs sent separately to your mobile and email, and type the CAPTCHA.
4. Tick I Agree after the declaration, click Re-verify to check what you entered, tick the confirmation boxes and press Submit.

After submission, your Application Sequence Number (user ID) and password are sent to your email and mobile.

Step 3: Sign In

Click Go To Application at the top right, or sign in later with your user ID, the system-generated password and CAPTCHA (you will be asked to change the default password).

Step 4: Personal Details

First choose your exam category: AFCAT (all branches, including technical), NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch) or GATE Score Entry (technical branch). Then fill in parents’ names (as per Class 10), a secondary email, identification mark, glasses, ID proofs, CPSS/PABT status, CPL, serving-airman and NCC details.

Take extra care with three fields. Gender: a wrong choice leads to cancellation, with no representation entertained. Date of birth: you enter it twice and it must match your Class 10 certificate. Exam city: AFCAT candidates pick five test city preferences, and centre, date or slot cannot be changed later. NCC candidates choose five AFSB preferences instead.

Step 5: Communication Details

Enter your permanent address with PIN code and nearest railway station; tick the box if the correspondence address is the same.

Step 6: Qualification Details

Enter your 10+2 aggregate percentage and your Physics and Mathematics percentages (enter 0 if not applicable). Then choose your education level: 10+2 + Graduation, 10+2 + Graduation + Post Graduation, or 10+2 + Integrated Post Graduation. Pick the graduate option (A: AE Mechanical, B: AE Electronics, C: Accounts, D: other branches), then fill in course duration, college, university, graduation date, percentage and current backlog.

Note: if your post-graduation percentage is below 50%, you can select 10+2 + Graduation as your education level and choose an eligible branch on the basis of your graduation percentage.

Step 7: Course Preference

The form shows the Flying, Ground Duty (Technical) and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) courses you are eligible for, based on your age and qualification. You must arrange all the listed courses in your order of preference; the form will not move ahead until every course has been ranked. The IAF reserves the right to allot branches as per suitability and vacancies, irrespective of your choices.

Step 8: Additional Details

Mention any earlier AFSB/SSB appearance and how you learnt about AFCAT. GATE Score Entry candidates add their GATE year, score, B.Tech discipline and paper.

Step 9: Upload Documents and Live Photo

Upload the photograph, signature and thumb impression in the sizes given above, capture your live image through the device camera and tick the declaration.

Step 10: Preview, Submit and Pay

Click Preview and check every field carefully. Errors can be edited only at this point. After you click Submit, you are taken to the payment gateway, and once payment succeeds the form is auto-submitted.

Step 11: Print Your Application

After payment, use the Print button to save your application form as a PDF and keep a printout. Note the Application Number under Payment Status and keep your transaction details.

AFCAT 1 2027 Application Fee

The fee is paid online after you submit the form, through net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI on the payment gateway. Cash, cheque and demand draft are not accepted. The fee is non-refundable and cannot be held over for any other recruitment. The notification does not mention any category-wise fee exemption for AFCAT Entry. Once the bank confirms payment, the Payment Status shows your Application Number, and you receive a confirmatory SMS and email.

No Edit, No Withdrawal: Check Twice Before You Pay

Read this carefully:

• Details cannot be edited after final submission. After successful payment, you can only view the Payment Status and preview the application.
• The only way to amend an application is to register again with a different email ID, fill a fresh form and pay the fee again.
• If you submit more than one application, only the latest one against your Aadhaar number is considered for the admit card. Fees paid on earlier forms are not refunded.
• An application, once submitted, cannot be withdrawn.

Special Cases While Applying

NCC Special Entry

You must hold an NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate obtained within two years before the AFCAT registration date. NCC Special Entry candidates do not take the written test and are called directly to the AFSB, and no application fee applies.

GATE Score Entry

Select GATE Score Entry as the exam category and enter your GATE details in the form. No fee is charged for this entry. Your GATE result must have been declared between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2027.

Serving Airmen and Government Employees

Serving airmen apply online like other candidates and must also apply through service channels in the format given in AFO 11/2015. Candidates already in government service, including the armed forces and government undertakings, must apply only after taking permission from their department and must produce a No Objection Certificate at the AFSB. Without it, you will be sent back without testing.

Important Dates for Applicants

For exam-day reporting times and how this schedule compares with earlier cycles, see our guide to the AFCAT 1 exam date 2027. Apply early to avoid last-minute server slowdowns.

After You Apply: Admit Card and Exam Day

Candidates who submit their application successfully will get the e-admit card four days before the exam, from 27 January 2027 (11:00 AM). It is emailed and can be downloaded from the portal with your login; nothing is sent by post.

On exam day, carry a colour or laser printout of the e-admit card, your original Aadhaar, a second original photo ID (PAN, passport, driving licence, voter ID etc.), two photos identical to the uploaded one and a blue or black ballpoint pen. Names on both IDs must match your Class 10 certificate.

Help Desk Contacts

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Typing a name or DOB that differs from the Class 10 certificate.
• Uploading files outside the size limits, or a selfie or casual photo instead of a passport-size photo with a light background.
• Using the wrong thumb (left for men, right for women).
• Picking exam cities without checking travel, since centre, date and slot cannot be changed.
• Paying before previewing the form. Corrections are not possible after payment.

Download AFCAT 1 2027 Official Notification PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the last date for AFCAT 1 apply online 2027?

The online application window closes on 11 December 2026 at 11:30 PM.

2. What is the AFCAT 1 2027 application fee?

The fee is ₹550 plus 18% GST (₹649 in total) for AFCAT Entry. It is not applicable for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry. It is non-refundable.

3. Can I correct my AFCAT 1 2027 form after payment?

No. After successful payment, no changes or corrections are possible. The only option is to register again with a different email ID and submit a new application with a fresh fee.

4. Is Aadhaar mandatory for AFCAT 1 2027 registration?

Yes. The notification makes Aadhaar mandatory for online registration, and the form asks for its last 4 digits. You must also carry the original Aadhaar card to the exam centre.

5. What photo size is required for the AFCAT 1 2027 form?

The photograph must be a recent passport-size colour photo with a light background, between 100 KB and 200 KB in JPG/JPEG format. The signature must be 80 KB to 150 KB and the thumb impression 50 KB to 100 KB.

Conclusion

The AFCAT 1 2027 application is a two-stage online process on afcat.edcil.co.in: sign up with OTP verification, then fill the form, upload your photo, signature, thumb impression and live image, and pay ₹550 + GST. The window runs from 12 November to 11 December 2026, and because nothing can be changed after payment, a careful preview is the most important step. Check your eligibility, keep your documents ready, apply early and then focus on preparing for the exam on 31 January 2027.