A character certificate format is a short, signed statement from your school principal, college head or employer confirming who you are, how long they have known you, and that your conduct was good. It goes on letterhead with a date, seal and signature. Below are copy-paste formats with [fill-in] fields for school, college, employers and more.
Colleges ask for it at admission, hostels ask for it at check-in, and some employers and government forms ask for it with your application. The wording barely changes between them, but the signatory does. Get that part right and the rest is filling in blanks.
What a character certificate must include
Letterhead of the school, college or company, with address and contact
Serial or reference number and date of issue
Title: Character 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 with roll, admission or enrolment number, or job title with employee ID
Period: the years or dates you studied or worked there
Conduct statement: that your conduct and character were good, and, where true, that no disciplinary action is on record
Signature block: signatory's name, designation, signature and the official seal
Keep it short. A character certificate is not a recommendation letter, and long praise makes it look less official, not more.
Who issues it, and when you need one
| Your situation | Who usually signs | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Joining college after Class 10 or 12 | Principal of your school | Ask for it along with your TC so you do not have to go back |
| Applying for a master's or a job after graduation | Principal of your college, or head of department | Some forms want it from the institution you last attended |
| Changing jobs or applying while employed | HR head, manager or director at your current employer | Ask for it on letterhead with an official email for verification |
| Hostel, scholarship or exchange programme | Head of your current institution | Check whether the form has its own format |
| Government or research body recruitment | Whoever the notification names | Use the printed format if the form gives one |
Read the form before you ask anyone. The ICAR Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology candidate form, for example, asks for character certificates from both your present employer and the institute you last attended. Other forms name a different authority or print their own wording. Whatever the form says beats any character certificate format on the internet, including ours.
Format 1: School character certificate format (Class 10 or 12)
This is a standard character certificate format for a student leaving school after Class 10 or 12. Copy the right-hand column onto school letterhead, fill in the brackets and delete what does not apply.
| 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 | CHARACTER CERTIFICATE |
| Body | This is to certify that [Full name], [son/daughter] of [Father's or mother's name], was a bonafide student of this school from [Year] to [Year]. [He/She] passed the Class [10/12] examination of [Board name] in [Month Year] with Roll No. [Roll number] (Admission No. [Number]). |
| Conduct | To the best of my knowledge, [he/she] bears a good moral character. [His/Her] conduct and behaviour during [his/her] stay in this school were [good / very good], and no disciplinary action was taken against [him/her]. |
| Closing | I wish [him/her] every success in life. |
| Signature block | [Signature] / [Principal's name] / Principal / [School seal] |
Format 2: Character certificate from college
Colleges usually issue this through the principal's office or the head of department. Ask for it in your final semester, while staff still know you and before the office gets busy with exit formalities.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Letterhead | [College name] | [Affiliating university] | [Address] | [Phone] | [Email] |
| Reference and date | Ref. No.: [Number] Date: [DD Month YYYY] |
| Title | CHARACTER CERTIFICATE |
| Body | This is to certify that [Mr./Ms. Full name], [son/daughter] of [Parent's name], was a regular student of [Course, e.g. B.Com] in this college during the session [Year] to [Year], with Enrolment No. [Number]. [He/She] [has completed / is currently in the final year of] the programme. |
| Conduct | During [his/her] time here, [his/her] character and conduct were [good / excellent]. To the best of our knowledge, [he/she] has not been involved in any activity against the rules of the college. |
| Purpose line (optional) | This certificate is issued on [his/her] request for [purpose, e.g. admission to a postgraduate programme / employment]. |
| Signature block | [Signature] / [Name] / [Principal / Head of Department] / [College seal] |
If you are moving to a different university for your master's, you will probably need a migration certificate as well. Our guide on how to get a migration certificate covers the board and university steps.
Format 3: Character certificate from employer
Employers write this less often than an experience letter, so HR may not have a template. Send them this character certificate format to edit. If you need both documents, our experience letter formats give you the second piece.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Letterhead and date | [Company name] | [Address] | [Official email] | Date: [DD Month YYYY] |
| Title | CHARACTER CERTIFICATE |
| Body | This is to certify that [Mr./Ms. Full name], Employee ID [ID], has been working with [Company name] as [Designation] in the [Department] department since [Date of joining]. / [He/She] worked with us from [Date] to [Date]. |
| Conduct | During this period, [his/her] conduct with colleagues, clients and management has been [good / exemplary]. We have found [him/her] honest and dependable, and no disciplinary proceedings are recorded against [him/her]. |
| Purpose line | This certificate is issued at [his/her] request for [purpose, e.g. submission with an application to (Organisation name)]. |
| Signature block | [Signature] / [Name] / [HR Manager / Director] / [Official email or phone] / [Company seal, if used] |
Format 4: Character certificate from a person who knows you
When a form leaves the choice of signatory open, a respected person who is not your relative, such as a former teacher, a doctor or a senior officer, can write this. If the form says who must sign, follow it instead.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Heading and date | CHARACTER CERTIFICATE Date: [DD Month YYYY] |
| Body | I, [Signatory's full name], [Designation and organisation], certify that I have known [Full name], [son/daughter] of [Parent's name], resident of [Address], for the past [number] years in my capacity as [relationship, e.g. former class teacher / family physician]. |
| Conduct | To the best of my knowledge, [he/she] bears a good moral character and is not related to me. |
| Signature block | [Signature] / [Name] / [Designation] / [Office address and phone] / [Office seal, if any] |
Format 5: Application to the principal for a character certificate
Schools and colleges usually want a written request. This application also works for a former student asking years later. Attach a copy of your TC or final marksheet 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 character certificate |
| Salutation | Respected Sir/Madam, |
| Body paragraph 1 | I am [Full name], [son/daughter] of [Parent's name]. I studied in this [school/college] in [Class or course], [Section, if any], from [Year] to [Year], with Roll No. [Number] (Admission or Enrolment No. [Number]). |
| Body paragraph 2 | I need a character certificate for [purpose, e.g. admission to (College name) / a job application]. I request you to kindly issue it at the earliest. I have attached a copy of my [TC / marksheet] for reference. |
| Closing | Thanking you, / Yours obediently, / [Full name] / [Phone] / [Email] |
Format 6: Email to HR asking for a character certificate
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Subject | Request for character certificate: [Full name], Employee ID [ID] |
| Greeting | Dear [HR name], |
| Body | I need a character certificate for [purpose, e.g. a government job application / a visa file] by [date]. Could you please issue one on company letterhead, signed and dated? I have attached a draft in a standard format to save you time; please edit it as you see fit. |
| Sign-off | Thank you, / [Full name] / [Designation] / [Phone] |
Character certificate vs TC vs police certificate
These three often get asked for together, and people confuse them. A police character certificate, often called police verification or a police clearance certificate, is a different document altogether. Your school or employer cannot issue it.
| Point | Character certificate | Transfer or leaving certificate | Police certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | Head of your school, college or employer | Your school or college | The police |
| What it says | Your conduct while they knew you | You have left the institution and have no dues | Whether any criminal record or case is found against you |
| Typical use | Admissions, hostels, jobs, scholarships | Admission to the next school or college | Some jobs, passports and visas, tenancy checks |
| How you get it | Written request to the office | Usually issued when you leave | Through the police department's own application process |
Checks before you submit it
Your name and your parent's name match your Class 10 certificate letter for letter.
Roll, admission or employee numbers are correct.
It is on letterhead, with a reference number, date, signature and seal.
The signatory is the one your form asks for, not just anyone senior.
The date of issue fits the form. Some forms want a recently issued certificate, so check before you reuse an old one.
You have a few self-attested photocopies and a clear scan ready.
Before you pay any college fee, also confirm that the institution is genuine on our list of UGC recognised universities. And if your marksheet shows CGPA while the form asks for a percentage, use our CGPA to percentage calculator with your board's or university's own rule.
Still choosing a course after Class 12? Our guide to options after 12th Arts can help you pick before the paperwork starts.
Frequently asked questions
Who can issue a character certificate?
Usually the principal of your school or college, the head of your department, or a senior person at your employer such as the HR head or director. If a form names a specific authority, only that person's certificate will count.
Is a character certificate the same as a transfer certificate?
No. A transfer certificate shows you have left the school or college. A character certificate speaks to your conduct while you were there. If you are leaving school or college, ask for both at the same time.
Is a police character certificate different from a school one?
Yes. A police certificate records whether any criminal case or record is found against you and is issued by the police. A school, college or employer cannot issue it.
How do I write an application for a character certificate?
Address it to the principal, give your name, parent's name, class or course, years of study and roll number, state why you need it, and attach a copy of your TC or marksheet. Format 5 above gives you the full text.
Can my class teacher sign my character certificate?
Usually the principal or head of department signs it with the official seal. A letter from your class teacher is a reference, not a character certificate, unless the form you are filling in says it accepts one.
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