A bonafide certificate is a signed letter from your school, college or employer confirming that you are a genuine student or employee there. It goes on letterhead with a reference number, date, the head's signature and the official seal. Below are copy-paste bonafide certificate formats with [fill-in] fields for every common use.
"Bona fide" means "in good faith". The institution is vouching, from its own records, that you are enrolled or employed, in which course or role, and for which period. Scholarship portals, banks, government offices and employers ask for it because they cannot check your enrolment themselves. The wording barely changes between uses. What changes is the detail each office wants on it, so pick the matching format below.
Every [field] to replace is highlighted, and each format starts on a new page. Print the certificate on your institution's letterhead.
What a bonafide certificate must include
Letterhead of the school, college or company, with address, phone and email
Reference or serial number and date of issue
Title: Bonafide Certificate (some forms say Study Certificate or Study/Bonafide Certificate)
Your details: full name and father's or mother's name, exactly as in the institution's records
Your link to them: class or course, year or semester, roll, admission or enrolment number, or job title and employee ID
Period: the academic year or the dates you have been there
Extra fields the form asks for: date of birth, scholarship application ID, domicile state, fee paid or hostel stay
Signature block: the head's name, designation, signature and the official seal
Keep it factual. A bonafide certificate states what the records show. It is not a recommendation letter, and adding praise does not make it more acceptable.
When you need a bonafide certificate, and who issues it
| Your situation | Who usually signs | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Applying for or renewing a scholarship | Principal, Director or Head of the Institution | Use the scheme's own format if it gives one; the institute also verifies your application |
| Education loan | Principal or registrar of your college | Banks usually want the fee structure too; ask for both together |
| Children Education Allowance for a central government employee's child | Head of the school | Departments use a prescribed Annexure B format; see Format 4 |
| Internship or project at a company or government lab | Principal or head of department | Mention the internship dates and the organisation's name |
| Hostel, student pass or concession | Head of the school or college | Check whether the office prints its own form |
| Loan, visa or rental paperwork while employed | HR head or manager | Ask for an official email ID on it so the other side can verify |
Format 1: School bonafide certificate format
This is the standard bonafide certificate format for a school student. Copy the right-hand column onto school letterhead, fill in the brackets and delete what does not apply. All seven formats are also in one Word file.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Letterhead | [School name] | [Board affiliation or school code] | [Address] | [Phone] | [Email] |
| Serial number and date | S. No.: [Number] Date: [DD Month YYYY] |
| Title | BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE |
| Body | This is to certify that [Full name], [son/daughter] of [Father's or mother's name], is a bonafide student of this school, studying in Class [Class and section] during the academic year [YYYY-YY]. [His/Her] Admission No. is [Number] and [his/her] date of birth as per school records is [DD Month YYYY]. |
| Conduct (optional) | To the best of my knowledge, [he/she] bears a good moral character. |
| Purpose line | This certificate is issued on [his/her] request for [purpose, e.g. a scholarship application / opening a bank account]. |
| Signature block | [Signature] / [Principal's name] / Principal / [School seal] |
Format 2: Bonafide certificate from college
Colleges issue this through the principal's office, the registrar or the head of department. Many now take the request through the student portal or a form at the office, so ask how your college handles it before you write a letter.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Letterhead | [College name] | [Affiliating university] | [Address] | [Phone] | [Email] |
| Reference and date | Ref. No.: [Number] Date: [DD Month YYYY] |
| Title | BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE |
| Body | This is to certify that [Mr./Ms. Full name], [son/daughter] of [Parent's name], is a bonafide student of this college, enrolled in [Course, e.g. B.Sc Computer Science], [Year/Semester], during the academic year [YYYY-YY], with Enrolment/Roll No. [Number]. The course runs from [Year] to [Year]. |
| Fee line (optional) | [He/She] has paid the fee of Rs [amount] for the academic year [YYYY-YY]. / The fee for the academic year [YYYY-YY] is Rs [amount]. |
| Purpose line | This certificate is issued on [his/her] request for [purpose, e.g. an education loan / an internship at (Organisation name)]. |
| Signature block | [Signature] / [Name] / [Principal / Registrar / Head of Department] / [College seal] |
If the certificate is for an education loan, ask the bank which fee figures it wants on it, then test the monthly repayment on our education loan EMI calculator before you sign anything.
Format 3: Bonafide certificate for scholarship
Scholarship schemes often print their own bonafide certificate format, and you should use it when they do. AICTE's Pragati scholarship FAQ on the National Scholarship Portal, for example, carries a "Study/Bonafide Certificate" to be issued by the Director, Principal or Head of the Institution. It asks for your NSP application ID, roll number, branch, year of study and domicile state, plus your photo. The version we read was printed for the 2021-22 academic year, so download the current one from the scheme page when you apply. If your scheme gives no format, this one covers the same fields.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Title | STUDY / BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE (To be issued by the Director / Principal / Head of the Institution) |
| Photo | [Student's passport photo, attested with the institution's seal] |
| Body | This is to certify that [Ms/Mr Full name], [Daughter/Son/Ward] of Shri/Smt [Parent's name], Date of Birth [DD-MM-YYYY], is a bonafide student of [Name of the institution]. |
| Scholarship line | [He/She] has registered on the National Scholarship Portal and [his/her] Application ID is [ID]. |
| Course line | [He/She] bears Roll No. [Number] and is currently studying [Course and branch] in [1st/2nd/3rd/4th] year in the academic year [YYYY-YY]. |
| Domicile line | As per records, [his/her] domicile state is [State]. |
| Signature block | Place: [City] / Date: [DD-MM-YYYY] / [Signature of the Director / Principal / Head of the Institution with seal] / Name: [Name] / Designation: [Designation] / Institute ID: [ID, if the scheme asks] / Address, office phone, mobile and email |
Strike out every option that does not apply, such as Daughter/Son/Ward, before the head signs. The Pragati form itself warns that failing to strike them off may lead to rejection.
Format 4: Bonafide certificate for Children Education Allowance
Central government employees claim Children Education Allowance with a bonafide certificate from the head of the child's school, usually in a format called Annexure B. The structure below follows the Annexure B used in departmental claim forms, such as the form published by CAG. Your office may attach its own copy, so use that if it does.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Title | BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE FROM THE HEAD OF INSTITUTION/SCHOOL |
| Body | This is to certify that [Master/Miss Full name], Roll No. [Number], Admission No. [Number], [son/daughter] of Sri/Smt [Parent's name], is a bonafide student of this school and studied in Class [Class] during the financial year [YYYY-YY], and as per school records [his/her] date of birth is [DD-MM-YYYY] (in words: [Date in words]). |
| Previous year | This is also to certify that the above named child had studied in this school in the previous academic year [YYYY-YY]. |
| Conduct | [He/She] bears a good moral character. |
| Hostel line (strike out if not applicable) | During the year [Master/Miss Full name] resided in the residential complex (hostel) of the school and paid Rs [amount] towards boarding and lodging. |
| Affiliation | This institution/school is affiliated/recognised by [Board or authority], and the affiliation/recognition number is [Number]. |
| Signature block | Dated: [DD-MM-YYYY] / Place: [City] / [Signature of the Head of the Institution/School, with stamp and seal] |
Format 5: Bonafide certificate from employer
An employee bonafide certificate, also called an employment certificate, confirms that you currently work at the company. Banks, landlords and visa offices ask for it. It is different from an experience letter, which is issued when you leave; our experience letter formats cover that one.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Letterhead and date | [Company name] | [Address] | [Official email] | Ref. No.: [Number] | Date: [DD Month YYYY] |
| Title | BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE / TO WHOMSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN |
| Body | This is to certify that [Mr./Ms. Full name], Employee ID [ID], is a bonafide employee of [Company name] and has been working with us as [Designation] in the [Department] department since [Date of joining]. |
| Employment type (optional) | [He/She] is a [permanent / full-time / contract] employee, and [his/her] current gross annual salary is Rs [amount]. (Include salary only if the requesting office asks for it.) |
| Purpose line | This certificate is issued at [his/her] request for [purpose, e.g. a home loan application with (Bank name) / a visa application]. |
| Signature block | [Signature] / [Name] / [HR Manager / Director] / [Official email and phone] / [Company seal, if used] |
Format 6: Application for a bonafide certificate to the principal
Schools and colleges usually want a written request. Mention the purpose, because some offices word the certificate differently for a scholarship, a loan or a pass. Attach a copy of your ID card or fee receipt so the office can find your record quickly.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| To | The Principal, [School or college name], [City] |
| Date | [DD Month YYYY] |
| Subject | Application for a bonafide certificate |
| Salutation | Respected Sir/Madam, |
| Body paragraph 1 | I am [Full name], [son/daughter] of [Parent's name], a student of [Class or course, year], [Section, if any], with Roll No. [Number] (Admission or Enrolment No. [Number]). |
| Body paragraph 2 | I need a bonafide certificate for [purpose, e.g. my scholarship application on the National Scholarship Portal / an education loan from (Bank name)]. [If the scheme has a format: I have attached the prescribed format, and request you to fill and sign it.] I request you to kindly issue it by [date]. A copy of my [ID card / fee receipt] is attached. |
| Closing | Thanking you, / Yours obediently, / [Full name] / [Phone] / [Email] |
Format 7: Email to HR asking for a bonafide certificate
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Subject | Request for bonafide certificate: [Full name], Employee ID [ID] |
| Greeting | Dear [HR name], |
| Body | I need a bonafide (employment) certificate on company letterhead for [purpose, e.g. a home loan / a visa application] by [date]. [The bank has asked for my designation, date of joining and current salary to be mentioned.] I have attached a draft in a standard format; please edit it as you see fit. |
| Sign-off | Thank you, / [Full name] / [Designation] / [Phone] |
Bonafide certificate vs character, transfer and migration certificates
Offices often ask for two or three of these together, and the names get mixed up. The quick way to tell them apart is the question each one answers.
| Certificate | Answers the question | When you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Bonafide (study) certificate | Are you currently a student or employee here? | Any time you are enrolled or employed, on request |
| Character certificate | How was your conduct while you were here? | Usually when you leave, on request |
| Transfer or leaving certificate | Have you left, with no dues pending? | When you leave the school or college |
| Migration certificate | Is your board or university releasing you to join another one? | When you move to a different board or university |
Our guides cover the other three: the character certificate format has copy-paste samples, and the migration certificate guide explains who issues it and how long it takes.
Checks before you submit a bonafide certificate
Your name and your parent's name match your Class 10 certificate and your ID letter for letter.
Roll, admission, enrolment or employee numbers are correct, and the academic year is the current one.
It is on letterhead, with a reference number, date, signature and seal. A certificate signed by someone other than the head named on the form may not count.
Every option that does not apply (son/daughter, hostel line, year) is struck off.
The issue date suits the form. Many offices want a recent certificate for the current academic year, so do not reuse last year's.
You have a clear scan and a few self-attested photocopies ready.
A bonafide certificate is only as good as the institution behind it. Before you pay fees anywhere, check that the university appears on our list of UGC-recognised universities.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bonafide certificate?
It is a letter from your school, college or employer confirming that you are a genuine student or employee there, with your course or role and the period. It is signed by the head of the institution and carries the official seal.
Who issues a bonafide certificate?
The principal, director, registrar or head of department at a school or college, and the HR head or manager at a company. Scholarship and allowance forms usually require the head of the institution specifically, so check the form.
Is a bonafide certificate the same as a study certificate?
In most uses, yes. Both confirm current enrolment, and AICTE's Pragati scholarship form itself is titled "Study/Bonafide Certificate". Use whichever title the requesting office prints.
How long is a bonafide certificate valid?
There is no single national validity period. It speaks for the academic year or date on it, so most offices expect one issued for the current year. Ask for a fresh one when your form or the year changes.
How do I write an application for a bonafide certificate?
Address it to the principal, give your name, parent's name, class or course, roll number and the purpose, and attach a copy of your ID card or fee receipt. Format 6 above has the full text.
Can a bonafide certificate be rejected?
Yes. Missing details, options not struck off, or no signature and seal of the head of the institution are common reasons. AICTE's Pragati scholarship FAQ says an incomplete or unsigned and unstamped certificate leads to rejection of the application.
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