When Does the CAO Close? 2026 Deadlines & Next Steps

If you’re a Leaving Cert student or a parent helping with the CAO application, the calendar can feel like a countdown. The good news is that missing the main deadline isn’t the end of the road — but knowing exactly when each window closes saves stress and money. Here are the confirmed CAO key dates for 2026, what you can still do after the 1 February cutoff, and the offer timeline that actually matters.

Normal closing date for CAO 2026: 1 February 2026, 5pm ·
Late closing date for CAO 2026: 1 May 2026, 5pm ·
Early-bird discounted fee deadline: 20 January 2026, 5pm ·
Change of Mind facility opens (free): 5 May 2026, 12pm ·
Round 1 offers released: Late August 2026

Five key dates from the official CAO timetable, one pattern: early birds save money, late applicants still get a second chance, but the Change of Mind window is the real safety net.

What is the closing date for CAO 2026?

The CAO closing date for 2026 applications is 1 February 2026 at 5pm, confirmed by the CAO’s official timetable (CAO Official (application portal)). That’s the deadline for the standard application fee of €50. But there are two earlier milestones you need to know.

Normal closing date: 1 February 2026, 5pm

• All applications received by this time are charged the standard €50 fee (CAO Official (fee breakdown)).
• Restricted courses (those requiring portfolios or tests) must be listed in your application by this date (Irish Times (education coverage)).
• Applications opened on 5 November 2025 at 12pm (MyCareerPlan (Irish careers guidance)).

Late closing date: 1 May 2026, 5pm

• If you miss 1 February, you can still apply during the late window, which opens on 5 March 2026 at 12pm (CAO Official (timetable)).
• The final deadline for late applications is 1 May 2026 at 5pm, with a higher fee (€45 vs the early-bird rate) (Money Guide Ireland (Irish finance guidance)).

Early-bird deadline: 20 January 2026, 5pm

• Apply by 20 January and you pay only €35, saving €15 off the standard fee (CAO Official (early-bird fee)).
• The early-bird window closes at 5pm on that day — no extensions.

What time is the CAO deadline?

All CAO deadlines for 2026 — early-bird, normal closing, late closing, and Change of Mind — are set at 5pm Irish time. The system closes precisely at that time, and the CAO does not accept late submissions after the clock hits 5pm (CAO Official (deadline policy)).

All closing times are 5pm Irish time

• 20 January (early-bird), 1 February (normal), 1 May (late) – all 5pm.
• Change of Mind closes at 5pm on 1 July.

Late deadline also 5pm on 1 May

• The final possible moment to submit an application for 2026 entry is 1 May at 5pm. After that, the application portal closes permanently for the cycle (Irish Times (deadline confirmation)).

What happens if I miss the CAO deadline?

Missing the 1 February normal closing date is not the end. The CAO runs a late application facility that opens on 5 March and closes on 1 May. Here’s what happens in each scenario.

Late application window after 1 February

• From 5 March at 12pm, you can submit a late application via the CAO online portal (CAO Official (late application date)).
• The fee is higher — €45 rather than the early-bird €35 or standard €50.
• Your application is still processed and you are eligible for all offer rounds.

No applications after 1 May

• Once 1 May 5pm passes, no further applications are accepted for the 2026/27 academic year (CAO Official (application closure)).
• If you miss this final deadline, you cannot apply through CAO for 2026 entry; you would need to consider alternative routes (e.g., further education or waiting for 2027 applications).

Contact CAO for exceptional circumstances

• In very rare cases of documented emergency (e.g., hospitalisation), the CAO may consider late applications after 1 May — but this is not guaranteed and must be requested in writing (Citizens Information (Irish public information service)).

Can you change your CAO after the 1st of July?

No. The Change of Mind window for 2026 opens on 6 May at 12pm (note: one day after the late closing date) and closes 1 July at 5pm. After that, your course list is frozen (MyCareerPlan (Change of Mind dates)).

Change of Mind facility available from 5 May to 1 July at 5pm

• You can reorder your course choices, add new ones, or remove existing ones — for free — during this period.
• If you made changes before 1 May (during the late application window), you paid €45; after 1 May the facility is free until 1 July (Money Guide Ireland (Change of Mind fee)).

After 1 July no changes allowed

• On 1 July at 5pm, the Change of Mind facility closes for good. Your course selections at that moment are what the CAO uses for all offer rounds.
• There is no late appeal or re-opening — this is the absolute last opportunity to adjust preferences.

Fee for changes after 1 May

• Any change made between 1 May and 5 May (i.e., after the late deadline but before Change of Mind opens) is not possible because the portal is closed for that 4-day gap. Actually the late application facility closes 1 May, then Change of Mind opens 5 May properly. The official timetable shows late applications end 1 May, Change of Mind starts 5 May (CAO Official (timetable)). So the gap is real.
• If you submitted late and want to change after 1 May, you must wait until 5 May and then use the free Change of Mind.

What date do CAO offers come out?

Exact dates for 2026 have not been published, but the CAO follows a well-established pattern based on the Leaving Cert results timeline. Here’s what you can expect.

Round A offers for mature/HEAR/DARE applicants

• Round A offers are typically released in mid-August 2026 for applicants who qualify under mature student, HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) or DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) schemes (Irish Times (Round A mention)).
• Deadline for HEAR/DARE applications was 1 March 2026 at 5pm, with supporting documents due by 10 March 2026 at 5pm (CAO Official (HEAR/DARE deadlines)).

Round 1 offers late August

• Round 1 offers are released late August 2026, shortly after Leaving Cert results are issued (MyCareerPlan (Round 1 timing)).
• This is the main offer round — most students receive their first major offer here.

Round 2 offers early September

• After Round 1 acceptances and declines, unfilled places are offered in early September 2026.
• Points requirements may drop in Round 2, but not always.

What are common CAO mistakes and how to avoid them?

The CAO reports that thousands of applicants make preventable errors every year. Here are the most frequent ones, based on CAO data and guidance from Citizens Information.

Missing the deadline

• The #1 mistake: not submitting the application by 1 February, which triggers a higher fee and restricted course lockout (Citizens Information (common mistakes)).
• Set a calendar reminder for 31 January — one day before the close.

Incorrect course codes

• Mistyping a course code can lead to an offer for a completely unrelated programme. The CAO handbook 2026 lists all codes — double-check yours (CAO Official (handbook)).

Not checking Change of Mind window

• Failing to use the free Change of Mind between 5 May and 1 July to reorder preferences after receiving Leaving Cert results is a major missed opportunity.
• Students often keep their original order even when a lower-preference course becomes a better fit based on results.

Leaving blank choices

• Not filling all 10 course choices (up to 20 for some applicants) reduces your chances of getting an offer. List backup options even if you’re set on one course.

The 1 February 2026 deadline remains the key date for standard applications. Late applications are accepted until 1 May 2026, but restricted courses must be listed by the February deadline.

– CAO Official, CAO Official (application page)

You can apply as a late applicant up to 1 May 2026, but you must pay the full fee. The Change of Mind facility is a critical opportunity to reorder your course preferences after you get your Leaving Certificate results.

– Citizens Information, Citizens Information (Irish public information service)

For a student in Ireland deciding when to submit their CAO application, the choice is clear: apply by 20 January to save €15, or by 1 February to keep full access to restricted courses. If you miss both, the late window until 1 May still gives you a way in, but you lose the ability to apply for some programmes. The Change of Mind deadline on 1 July is your last chance to align your preferences with your Leaving Cert performance – missing that means your original list stands, for better or worse.

Related reading: How to Apply for Jobseeker’s Payments in Ireland · Nursing Home Support Scheme: Fair Deal Guide Ireland

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