An NOC format is the standard layout of a No Objection Certificate: a short letter in which your employer, college or office confirms who you are and states that it has no objection to a specific thing, such as studying, a PhD, a passport, foreign travel or an internship. It goes on letterhead, names the purpose and is signed by an authorised officer.
The wording changes with the purpose, and some bodies prescribe their own format. A university admitting you to a part-time PhD and the passport office both have rules on what the NOC must say. Below are copy-paste formats for each common use, with those rules built in.
Six NOC formats, a request email and a checklist. Every [field] to replace is highlighted, and each format starts on a new page.
What every NOC must include
Letterhead of the issuing office, with a reference number and date
Title: No Objection Certificate
Your details: full name, and employee ID, roll number or designation
Your link to them: since when you have worked or studied there
The purpose: exactly what they have no objection to, and for whom it is issued
Any condition, such as "provided it does not affect official duties"
Signature block: the authorised officer's name, designation, seal and contact details
Which NOC you need, and who issues it
| Purpose | Who issues it | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Online, distance or part-time degree while working | Your employer's HR or reporting authority | Some universities and many government offices ask for it at admission |
| Part-time PhD | Your employer's competent authority | UGC's PhD Regulations 2022 prescribe three things it must state; see Format 2 |
| Passport, for a government employee | Your controlling or administrative authority | Passport Seva prescribes Annexure G; see Format 3 |
| Foreign travel or a visa | Your employer | The embassy's own checklist decides what it must say |
| Internship during your course | Your college principal, head of department or placement officer | Some companies ask for it before you join |
Format 1: NOC from employer for higher studies
Use this when you are joining an online, distance, part-time or weekend programme while you keep your job. Copy the right-hand column onto company letterhead.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Letterhead and date | [Company or office name] | [Address] | [Official email] | Ref. No.: [Number] | Date: [DD Month YYYY] |
| Title | NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE |
| Paragraph 1 | This is to certify that [Mr./Ms. Full name], Employee ID [ID], is working with [Company name] as [Designation] in the [Department] department since [Date of joining]. |
| Paragraph 2 | We have no objection to [his/her] pursuing [Course name, e.g. MBA (online)] at [University or institute name] in [online / distance / part-time / weekend] mode during the academic years [YYYY-YY to YYYY-YY], provided it does not affect [his/her] official duties. |
| Purpose line | This certificate is issued at [his/her] request for submission to [University or institute name]. |
| Signature block | For [Company name] / [Signature] / [Name] / [Designation, e.g. HR Manager] / [Official email] | [Phone] / [Company seal, if used] |
Planning to study while you work? Our guide to MBA for working professionals compares online, distance, executive and blended routes.
Format 2: NOC for a part-time PhD (UGC format)
This is the one NOC where the wording is set by regulation. Clause 13(2) of the UGC PhD Regulations 2022 says a part-time scholar must submit an NOC from the appropriate authority of their organisation, and it must state three things.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Title | NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE |
| Opening | This is to certify that [Mr./Ms. Full name], [Designation], Employee ID [ID], is a [permanent / regular] employee of [Organisation name] since [Date of joining]. |
| Condition 1 | [He/She] is permitted to pursue a PhD in [Subject] at [University name] on a part-time basis. |
| Condition 2 | [His/Her] official duties permit [him/her] to devote sufficient time for research. |
| Condition 3 | If necessary, [he/she] will be relieved from duty to complete the coursework. |
| Purpose line | This certificate is issued for submission to [University name] with [his/her] PhD application. |
| Signature block | [Signature of the competent authority] / [Name] / [Designation] / [Official email] | [Phone] / [Office seal] |
Ask HR early: missing NOCs hold up more part-time PhD applications than entrance tests do. Our part-time PhD guide explains eligibility, duration and why a PhD cannot be done online in India.
Format 3: NOC for a passport (government employees)
Government, public sector and statutory body employees use the forms Passport Seva publishes on its annexures page: an Identity Certificate (Annexure A), a No Objection Certificate (Annexure G) or a Prior Intimation Letter (Annexure H). Ask your office which one it issues. If it is the NOC, it follows the official Annexure G, reproduced below.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Heading | MINISTRY / DEPARTMENT / OFFICE OF [Name] | No. [Number] | Dated: [DD-MM-YYYY] |
| Photo | [Applicant's photo, attested by the issuing officer with signature and stamp half on the photo and half on the certificate] |
| Title | NO-OBJECTION CERTIFICATE |
| Body | Shri/Smt/Miss [Full name], [s/o / d/o / w/o] [Parent's or spouse's name], who is an Indian national, is employed in this office as [Designation] from [Date] till date. This Ministry/Department/Office has no objection to [his/her] obtaining a passport. |
| Signature block | (Signature of Controlling/Administrative authority) / [Name and stamp] / Telephone/email: [Contact details] / Address: [Office address] |
Annexure G's own notes say the issuing officer must sign with name and stamp and give contact details so the Passport Authority can verify it, and that the NOC is valid for six months from the date of issue. Apply within that window.
Format 4: NOC from employer for foreign travel or a visa
Embassies often ask employed applicants for a letter confirming leave and return to work. Follow the embassy's checklist if it lists specific points.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Addressee | To, The Visa Officer, [Embassy or consulate of (Country)], [City] |
| Paragraph 1 | This is to certify that [Mr./Ms. Full name], holding passport No. [Number], is employed with [Company name] as [Designation] since [Date of joining], with a current annual salary of Rs [amount] (include only if the embassy asks). |
| Paragraph 2 | [He/She] has been granted leave from [Start date] to [End date] to travel to [Country] for [purpose, e.g. tourism / a family visit / a conference]. We have no objection to this travel, and [he/she] will resume duties on [Date]. |
| Signature block | For [Company name] / [Signature] / [Name] / [Designation] / [Official email] | [Phone] / [Company seal, if used] |
Format 5: NOC from college for an internship
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Letterhead and date | [College name] | [Affiliating university] | [Address] | [Official email] | Date: [DD Month YYYY] |
| Title | NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE |
| Paragraph 1 | This is to certify that [Mr./Ms. Full name], Roll/Enrolment No. [Number], is a bonafide student of [Course and year, e.g. B.Com 2nd year] in this college. |
| Paragraph 2 | The college has no objection to [his/her] undertaking an internship at [Organisation name] from [Start date] to [End date]. [The internship will not clash with (his/her) classes or examinations. / The internship counts towards (credit or course requirement).] |
| Signature block | [Signature] / [Name] / [Principal / Head of Department / Training and Placement Officer] / [College seal] |
Some companies ask for a bonafide certificate instead, which simply confirms you are enrolled; our bonafide certificate formats cover that one. When the internship ends, ask for an internship letter that names your project, as in our experience letter formats.
Format 6: Email asking for an NOC
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| Subject | Request for NOC: [Full name], [Employee ID / Roll No.] [ID] |
| Greeting | Dear [Name], |
| Body | I need a No Objection Certificate for [purpose, e.g. admission to an online MBA at (University) / a part-time PhD at (University) / a passport / an internship at (Organisation)] by [date]. [The university requires it to state the three points in the attached format.] I have attached a draft for your convenience; please edit it as you see fit. |
| Sign-off | Thank you, / [Full name] / [Designation or course] / [Phone] |
NOC vs bonafide certificate vs relieving letter
| Letter | What it says | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| No Objection Certificate | The issuer has no objection to a specific thing you plan to do | Before studying, travelling, applying for a passport or interning |
| Bonafide certificate | You are currently a student or employee there | Scholarships, loans, bank accounts, concessions |
| Relieving letter | You have left and been released from duties | When you join a new employer |
Moving jobs rather than staying? You need a relieving letter, not an NOC; see our relieving letter formats.
Checks before you submit an NOC
It is on the issuing office's letterhead, with a reference number and date.
Your name and ID match your other documents exactly.
It names the purpose and the body it is issued for.
If that body prescribes a format, such as a university's PhD NOC or Passport Seva's Annexure G, the NOC follows it word for word.
It is signed by the authority the form asks for, with name, designation, seal and contact details.
It is still valid. A passport NOC under Annexure G is valid for six months from the date of issue.
Frequently asked questions
What is an NOC?
A No Objection Certificate is a letter in which your employer, college or office states that it has no objection to something specific you plan to do, such as studying, a PhD, a passport, travel or an internship.
Who signs an NOC from an employer?
HR or the competent authority named in the receiving body's rules. For a part-time PhD it is the appropriate authority of your organisation; for a government employee's passport NOC it is the controlling or administrative authority.
What must an NOC for a part-time PhD say?
Under clause 13(2) of the UGC PhD Regulations 2022, it must state that you may study part time, that your duties leave enough time for research, and that you will be relieved from duty if needed to complete the coursework. Format 2 above has the text.
How long is a passport NOC valid?
Passport Seva's Annexure G says the NOC is valid for six months from the date of issue.
Do I need an NOC from my employer for an online degree?
Many private employers do not require one, but some universities, government offices and public sector employers ask for it. Check your employer's policy and the university's admission checklist.
Is an NOC the same as a relieving letter?
No. An NOC permits something while you stay with the employer or college. A relieving letter confirms you have left and been released from duties.
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