After KCET 2026 Round 1 seat allotment on July 9, 2026, you must pay the counselling fee online at the official KEA portal within the given window to confirm your seat — not paying by the deadline leads to automatic cancellation of the allotted seat.
Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) opens an online fee payment window of typically 3–4 days immediately after Round 1 allotment results. You pay the seat acceptance fee, report to the allotted college with original documents, and complete admission formalities. The entire payment process is done online — no offline payment or in-person visit to KEA is required.
- KCET 2026 Round 1 allotment result date: July 9, 2026
- Fee payment window expected to open immediately after allotment results on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/
- Expected seat acceptance fee: ₹750 for GM/OBC and ₹500 for SC/ST/Category 1 — based on 2025 trends
- Fee payment window typically stays open for 3–4 days; missing the deadline cancels your allotted seat
- After payment, report to the allotted college within the KEA-specified reporting dates
| Direct Link — KCET 2026 Counselling Portal (Official) — cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
KCET 2026 Counselling Fee Structure by Category
KEA charges a seat acceptance fee after each allotment round to confirm your participation. Based on 2025 KCET counselling trends, the expected fee structure for 2026 is as follows:
| Category | Expected Seat Acceptance Fee (Based on 2025 Trends) |
|---|---|
| General Merit (GM) | ₹750 |
| OBC — 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B | ₹750 |
| Category 1 | ₹500 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | ₹500 |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | ₹500 |
Check the official KEA 2026 counselling notification at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ for the confirmed fee applicable to your category before proceeding with payment.
How to Pay KCET 2026 Counselling Fee Online — Step by Step
Fee payment is done entirely online through the KEA portal. Follow these steps after Round 1 allotment results are announced on July 9, 2026:
- Visit the official KEA counselling portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/.
- Click on the KCET 2026 Counselling link on the homepage.
- Log in using your KCET 2026 application number and date of birth or registered password.
- Navigate to the Round 1 Allotment Result section and check your allotted seat — college name, branch, and reservation category.
- If you wish to accept the allotted seat, click on Pay Seat Acceptance Fee (the exact link label may vary on the live portal).
- Verify all details shown — your name, allotted course, and college — on the confirmation screen before proceeding.
- Select your preferred payment method: Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI.
- Complete the transaction on the payment gateway page. Do not close the browser tab during payment.
- Once payment is successful, download and print the fee payment receipt or acknowledgment slip — this is mandatory at college reporting.
If the payment page shows an error or the transaction appears stuck, wait 15–20 minutes and check your bank statement before retrying. Do not pay twice for the same allotment without confirming the first transaction has failed.
Accepted Payment Modes for KCET 2026 Counselling Fee
KEA’s payment gateway supports all major online payment methods. You do not need to visit a bank branch or a KEA office to complete the payment.
| Payment Mode | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Banking | All major nationalised and private banks supported; use your internet banking login |
| Debit Card | Visa, Mastercard, and RuPay debit cards accepted |
| Credit Card | Visa and Mastercard credit cards accepted |
| UPI | Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM UPI, and other UPI-enabled apps |
Cash payments at KEA offices or at the allotted college are not accepted for the seat acceptance fee. Always use the official portal link to avoid payment fraud.
What to Do After Paying KCET 2026 Counselling Fee
Paying the fee confirms your acceptance of the Round 1 allotted seat. After successful payment, complete the following steps:
- Download the fee payment acknowledgment from the KEA portal right after the successful transaction. Save a digital copy and print at least two copies.
- Report to the allotted college on the dates specified in the KEA counselling schedule for document verification.
- Carry all original documents along with self-attested photocopies for the college to verify.
- Complete the admission formalities at the college by paying the tuition and other college-level fees as applicable.
You may still appear in Round 2 counselling even after accepting a Round 1 seat. If you receive a better allotment in Round 2 and accept it, the Round 1 seat acceptance fee may be adjusted or forfeited — check KEA’s 2026 counselling brochure for the exact refund policy before making the decision.
Documents to carry at KCET 2026 college reporting (based on previous year KEA requirements):
| Document | Copies Required |
|---|---|
| KCET 2026 Rank Card | Original + 2 self-attested photocopies |
| KCET 2026 Admit Card | Original + 1 photocopy |
| Class 10 Marks Card | Original + 2 photocopies |
| Class 12 / 2nd PUC Marks Card | Original + 2 photocopies |
| Category / Caste Certificate (if applicable) | Original + 2 photocopies |
| Karnataka Domicile / Study Certificate | Original + 2 photocopies |
| KCET 2026 Fee Payment Acknowledgment Slip | 2 printed copies |
| Recent Passport-size Photographs | 4 to 6 photographs |
KCET 2026 Counselling Important Dates
The dates below are based on the expected counselling schedule. Confirm all dates on the official KEA portal before taking action.
| Event | Expected Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| KCET 2026 Round 1 Allotment Result | July 9, 2026 |
| Round 1 Online Fee Payment Window | July 9–12, 2026 (expected) |
| Reporting to Allotted College — Round 1 | July 10–15, 2026 (expected) |
| KCET 2026 Round 2 Allotment Result | To be announced by KEA |
| Round 2 Fee Payment Window | To be announced by KEA |
KCET 2026 Counselling Fee Payment FAQs
Ques. How much is the KCET 2026 counselling fee after Round 1 seat allotment?
Ans. Based on 2025 KCET counselling trends, the expected seat acceptance fee is ₹750 for General and OBC (2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) students and ₹500 for SC, ST, and Category 1 students. Check the official KEA portal for the confirmed 2026 fee before paying.
Ques. What happens if I do not pay the KCET 2026 counselling fee on time?
Ans. If you miss the Round 1 fee payment deadline, your allotted seat is automatically cancelled. You may still participate in subsequent rounds, but the Round 1 allotted seat cannot be restored after the deadline passes.
Ques. Where do I pay the KCET 2026 counselling fee?
Ans. You pay the fee online through the official KEA counselling portal at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/. Log in with your KCET 2026 application number, check your Round 1 allotment, and use the payment link provided on the portal. No offline payment option is available.
Ques. Is the KCET 2026 Round 1 counselling fee refundable if I get a better seat in Round 2?
Ans. The refund or adjustment policy varies by year. In previous KCET counselling cycles, the seat acceptance fee was partially adjusted if you received and accepted a Round 2 allotment. Refer to the official KEA 2026 counselling brochure available at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ for the exact policy before deciding.
Ques. Can I pay the KCET 2026 counselling fee offline or at the college?
Ans. No. The seat acceptance fee must be paid online through the KEA portal only. Colleges do not collect this fee. Any college-level fees such as tuition or development fee are paid separately at the college during the reporting and admission process.
Ques. What should I do if my KCET 2026 counselling fee payment fails or shows an error?
Ans. If your transaction fails, wait 15–20 minutes and check your bank account to confirm whether the amount was debited. If the amount was debited but the KEA portal still shows payment as incomplete, contact the KEA helpdesk with your transaction ID and bank reference number. Do not attempt a second payment without confirming the status of the first transaction.
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