III Exam Fees & Dates 2026: ₹600–₹1,100 Per Paper + Calendar
The III exam fee for 2026 is a one-time registration fee of ₹800 (inclusive of life membership) plus a paper enrolment fee of ₹600, ₹900 or ₹1,100 per subject, depending on how many credit points that paper carries. Taxes are added on top for candidates applying within India.
For a fresh Licentiate candidate sitting the usual three 20-credit papers, that comes to ₹800 + (3 × ₹600) = ₹2,600, plus applicable taxes.
These are the figures from the Insurance Institute of India's own Table of Fees, revised with effect from 1 April 2026. Below is the complete fee table, the full 2026 exam calendar, and the enrolment, slot-booking and result dates for every session.
Sources and caveat. Fees are from III's Table of Fees, Examination Handbook §13; dates are from III's Online Examination Schedule for the Year 2026 (updated 15 December 2025). Both were retrieved on 9 September 2026. III states that its published dates are tentative and subject to change. Always confirm the current fee and calendar on the official III website before you enrol or pay.
III exam fee 2026: the full table
Effective 1 April 2026. Amounts in Indian rupees.
| Particulars | India* | Overseas |
|---|---|---|
| Registration fee (inclusive of life membership fee) | 800 | 3,500 |
| Paper enrolment fee — 20 credit-point subject | 600 | 3,000 |
| Paper enrolment fee — 30 credit-point subject | 900 | 3,900 |
| Paper enrolment fee — 40 credit-point subject | 1,100 | 4,800 |
| One-time registration with compulsory Associateship subjects (in lieu of diploma fee) | 1,100 | 4,500 |
| One-time registration with compulsory Fellowship subjects (in lieu of diploma fee) | 1,100 | 4,500 |
| Merging multiple registration numbers | 1,000 | 1,000 |
The India column also applies to Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Maldives. Taxes as applicable are added for candidates applying within India.
Other III fees worth knowing
| Particulars | India | Overseas |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate mark sheet / certificate | 300 | 300 |
| Transcript | 800 | 2,500 |
| Duplicate diploma | 500 | 1,000 |
| Question-paper query (raised via the III portal) | 100 + GST | 100 + GST |
Two things catch repeat candidates out: re-totalling and revaluation of the answer paper are no longer available, and question-paper grievances must be raised through the portal under Exam Registration → Candidate Query → Question Paper Related Query — not by email.
What your exam actually costs, by paper
Because the enrolment fee is tied to a paper's credit points, you can work out your exact cost before you enrol. The credit value of every III subject is fixed:
| Credit points | Fee per paper (India) | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | ₹600 | IC-01, IC-02, IC-11, IC-14 |
| 30 | ₹900 | IC-22, IC-24, IC-26, IC-27, IC-29, IC-39, IC-45, IC-46, IC-57, IC-67, IC-71, IC-72, IC-74, IC-76, IC-77, IC-78, IC-83, IC-88, IC-90, IC-99, IC-102, IC-103, IC-104 |
| 40 | ₹1,100 | IC-28, IC-47, IC-81, IC-84, IC-85, IC-86, IC-89, IC-92, AS-03, AS-05 (iv), AS-05 (v) |
So a Licentiate (60 credits, normally IC-01 plus IC-02 or IC-11, plus IC-14 — all 20-credit papers) costs ₹800 registration and ₹1,800 in enrolment fees. Associateship means mostly 30-credit papers at ₹900 each, and Fellowship leans on 40-credit papers at ₹1,100 each, so the per-paper cost rises as you climb. See our guides to the Licentiate, Associateship and Fellowship for which papers each level needs, and how III credit points work for the credit maths.
III exam dates 2026: the full calendar
III runs four exam sessions a year — March, June, September and December. Each session follows the same three-stage rhythm: enrol, book your slot, then sit the paper.
| Step | March 2026 | June 2026 | September 2026 | December 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registration and subject enrolment (and change of centre or subject) | 5–15 Jan | 5–15 Apr | 5–15 Jul | 5–15 Oct |
| Slot booking | 5–11 Feb | 5–11 May | 1–7 Aug | 5–11 Nov |
| Exam dates | 7, 8, 14, 15 Mar | 6, 7, 13, 14 Jun | 29, 30 Aug and 5, 6 Sep | 5, 6, 12, 13 Dec |
| Scribe request last date | 27 Feb | 28 May | 21 Aug | 26 Nov |
| Result declared on or before | 31 Mar | 30 Jun | 30 Sep | 31 Dec |
Exams always fall on Saturdays and Sundays. The number of days actually used differs from centre to centre and depends on how many candidates enrolled there.
Two certificate courses run on a shorter cycle — the Advanced Diploma in Life Insurance Underwriting (AIU) and the Certificate Course on Compliance, Governance and Risk Management in Insurance (IRCC) are held only in June and December.
The next session: December 2026
If you are planning now, December 2026 is your session:
- Enrol between 5 and 15 October 2026. This is also your only window to change centre or subject.
- Book your slot between 5 and 11 November 2026.
- Sit the paper on 5, 6, 12 or 13 December 2026, on the date and time you booked.
- Results on or before 31 December 2026.
That gives you roughly twelve weeks from today to prepare. Our 30-day study plan works well as the final month of that runway; on Certena you can practise real exam-style MCQs with explanations and take timed mocks that mirror the 100-question, 2-hour format.
III exam registration last date
The enrolment window is the same shape every session: the 5th to the 15th of the month three months before the exam — 5–15 January for March, 5–15 April for June, 5–15 July for September, and 5–15 October for December.
Miss it and you wait for the next session. There is no late-fee enrolment for online examinations — unlike the old offline system, III provides no paid grace period, so the 15th is a hard stop. You can change your centre or your subject (to one with equivalent credit points) using your own login, but only on or before that same last date of enrolment.
For a walkthrough of the portal itself, see how to register for the III exam online.
III exam slot booking
Enrolling for a paper does not give you an exam date. Slot booking is a separate step in its own window — 5–11 February, 5–11 May, 1–7 August, or 5–11 November, depending on your session.
What to know before you book:
- It is first come, first served. Popular dates and times go early, so book on the first day of the window if you can.
- Your centre is already fixed. You get the centre you selected at paper enrolment; slot booking chooses only the date and time.
- Download your hall ticket at the end of the booking process.
- Skipping slot booking is not a neutral act. You must complete it on or before the last date of the slot-booking period, or you will not have a booked seat for the session you have already paid for.
How to pay the III exam fee
The fee is paid online through the III portal, in two parts: the registration fee once, when you first become a member, and the paper enrolment fee each time you enrol for a subject. Practical points:
- Pay during the enrolment window, not on the last evening — payment gateways congest on the 15th.
- Taxes are added to the listed fee for candidates in India, so the amount debited will be slightly above the table figure.
- Save the payment receipt until your hall ticket is issued.
- If money is debited but the payment shows as failed, do not immediately pay again — check the portal status and your bank first, then contact III with the reference number.
Choosing an exam centre
You select your city and centre at paper enrolment, not at slot booking — so this decision is made early, and is only changeable up to the last date of enrolment. Choose one you can reach comfortably, note the reporting time on your hall ticket, and carry a printed hall ticket with valid photo ID.
If you need a scribe (for physically or visually challenged candidates), apply by the scribe request date for your session — 26 November 2026 for the December session.
Frequently asked questions
What is the III exam fee for 2026? ₹800 registration (one-time, inclusive of life membership) plus ₹600, ₹900 or ₹1,100 per paper depending on its credit points, effective 1 April 2026. Taxes extra for candidates in India.
How much does the Licentiate cost in total? About ₹2,600 plus taxes for a fresh candidate — ₹800 registration and three 20-credit papers at ₹600 each.
When is the next III exam? 5, 6, 12 and 13 December 2026, with enrolment 5–15 October and slot booking 5–11 November.
What is the last date for III exam registration? The 15th of the enrolment month — 15 October 2026 for the December session. There is no late-fee window for online exams.
Can I change my exam centre after enrolling? Yes, but only up to the last date of paper enrolment, using your own login. After that the centre is fixed, and slot booking will only offer the centre you already chose.
Is revaluation available if I fail by a few marks? No. III's current handbook states that re-totalling and revaluation of the answer paper are not available. You can raise a question-paper query through the portal for ₹100 plus GST.
How many papers can I take in one session? Up to six papers in a single examination, per the III Examination Handbook.
Turn the date into a plan
A booked slot is only useful if it drives your preparation. With the December session's exam dates known, count backwards: leave the final week for revision and full-length mocks rather than new topics, and turn the weeks before it into a weekly question target per paper.
On Certena you get a free mock per subject, unlimited practice questions with explanations, and a study plan paced to your exam date. Browse all III subjects →
Fees, dates, eligibility and exam rules are set by the Insurance Institute of India and change from cycle to cycle; III describes its published calendar as tentative. The figures above were taken from III's own published Table of Fees and 2026 examination schedule on 9 September 2026 — always confirm the current details on the official III website before registering or paying. Certena is an independent exam-prep app and is not affiliated with III or IRDAI.