A transfer certificate (TC) is the document your school or college issues when you leave, confirming your class or course, dates of study, conduct and that no dues are pending. Your next school or college needs it before it can admit you. You apply to the principal in writing, clear your dues, and collect the signed and sealed TC.
Many schools call it a school leaving certificate, and colleges often call it a leaving or transfer certificate. The name changes; the job does not. It closes your record at one institution so the next one can open yours. Below you will find the fields a TC carries, copy-paste applications for school and college, and what to do when a TC is delayed or lost.
School, college and duplicate-TC applications, plus a 16-point checklist of what to verify on your TC.
When you need a transfer certificate
| Situation | Who issues the TC | What else is usually asked |
|---|---|---|
| Changing school mid-way, for example after a family move | Head of your current school | Report card of the previous class; some boards ask for more, see below |
| Joining Class 11 at a different school after Class 10 | Head of your Class 10 school | Class 10 marksheet |
| Joining college after Class 12 | Head of your Class 12 school | Class 12 marksheet; a migration certificate if you change board |
| Joining a master's at a different university | Your college or university | Degree or provisional certificate, and often a migration certificate |
| Moving to open schooling or a different board | Head of your current school | Check the new board's admission rules for countersignature |
If the new institution falls under a different board or university, ask whether it also wants a migration certificate. They are different documents; our migration certificate guide explains who issues that one and how long it takes.
Transfer certificate format: what a school TC contains
Schools print their own TC forms, usually as numbered fields. The fields below are the ones most school TCs carry. When you collect yours, check each one against your records before you leave the office.
| Field | What it should show |
|---|---|
| TC number, admission number and school code | The serial number of the certificate, your admission number, and the school's affiliation or recognition number |
| Name of the student | Exactly as in the admission register and your Class 10 certificate |
| Mother's and father's or guardian's name | As in school records |
| Date of birth | In figures and in words, as per the admission register |
| Nationality and category | As recorded at admission |
| Date of first admission, with class | When you joined this school and in which class |
| Class in which the student last studied | In figures and words |
| Last examination taken and result | For example, annual examination, passed or failed |
| Subjects studied | The subjects of the last class |
| Whether qualified for promotion to a higher class | Yes or no, and to which class |
| Fee dues | The month up to which fees are paid; any concession |
| Attendance | Total working days and days present |
| General conduct | Usually good, very good or satisfactory |
| Date of application and date of issue | When you applied and when the TC was signed |
| Reason for leaving | For example, family shifting, change of school, completion of Class 10 or 12 |
| Signature | Class teacher, checked by, and the principal, with the school seal |
CBSE's examination bye-laws on admission say a student cannot be admitted to a class higher than the one the TC entitles them to. So the "qualified for promotion" field matters. If it is blank or wrong, the new school may place you in a lower class.
Format 1: Application for transfer certificate to the principal (school)
A parent usually writes this for a school student. Copy the right-hand column, fill in the brackets and hand it to the school office with any fee receipts the office asks for.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| To | The Principal, [School name], [City] |
| Date | [DD Month YYYY] |
| Subject | Application for transfer certificate |
| Salutation | Respected Sir/Madam, |
| Body paragraph 1 | My [son/daughter], [Full name], is a student of Class [Class and section] in your school, Admission No. [Number]. |
| Body paragraph 2 | [Reason, e.g. Due to my transfer to (City), our family is shifting there / We are moving (him/her) to a school closer to home], and [he/she] will join [New school name, if known] from [Month Year]. I request you to issue [his/her] transfer certificate at the earliest. |
| Body paragraph 3 | All fees have been paid up to [Month Year]. [The library books have been returned.] Kindly let me know if anything else is pending. |
| Closing | Thanking you, / Yours faithfully, / [Parent's full name] / [Phone] / [Email] |
Format 2: Application for transfer certificate from college
Colleges usually issue the TC after your final results, through the principal's office or the registrar. Many attach a no-dues form to be signed by the library, hostel, accounts and your department first, so ask for that form at the same time.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| To | The Principal / Registrar, [College name], [City] |
| Date | [DD Month YYYY] |
| Subject | Application for transfer certificate |
| Salutation | Respected Sir/Madam, |
| Body paragraph 1 | I am [Full name], [son/daughter] of [Parent's name], a student of [Course, e.g. B.Com] from [Year] to [Year], Enrolment/Roll No. [Number]. I [have completed the programme and my final results were declared on (date) / am leaving the college during the course because (reason)]. |
| Body paragraph 2 | I have been admitted to [Course] at [Institution] and need my transfer certificate for admission. I request you to kindly issue it, along with my [character certificate / migration certificate application], at the earliest. My no-dues form is attached. |
| Closing | Thanking you, / Yours obediently, / [Full name] / [Phone] / [Email] |
Need a character certificate too? Ask in the same visit. Our character certificate format has a version you can hand to the office.
If the school delays your TC: what the RTE Act says
For elementary education, which is Classes 1 to 8, the law is on your side. Section 5(3) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 says the head-teacher of the school the child last attended shall immediately issue the transfer certificate when the child seeks admission elsewhere.
In practice, put your request in writing and keep a dated copy. If the school still holds the TC back, tell the new school that you have applied, show them the copy, and write to the education officer for your area with the dates. Fee disputes are a separate matter: settle or contest them in writing, but the Act does not let them stop a child in Classes 1 to 8 from joining another school.
Changing board: when the TC needs a countersignature
Moving between boards adds a step. CBSE's circular of 18 July 2019 on admissions to Class 9 and 11 says a transfer certificate issued by a school recognised by another board should be countersigned by the educational authorities of that board. A TC from a CBSE-affiliated school is not sent to CBSE for verification or countersignature.
| Your move | What to do with the TC |
|---|---|
| CBSE school to CBSE school | Take the TC from your old school; no CBSE countersignature is needed |
| State board or other board school to a CBSE school | Get the TC countersigned by the educational authorities of your old board |
| Mid-way into Class 9 or 11 of a CBSE school because a parent was transferred | The 2019 circular also lists the parent's request, the previous report card and an attested copy of the transfer order |
| Any school to any other board | Ask the new school for its board's list before you collect the TC |
Lost your TC? How to get a duplicate
Go back to the school or college that issued it. CBSE's admission bye-laws allow a duplicate copy to be issued if the head of the institution is satisfied that the original is lost, and it is always marked as a duplicate. Other boards and colleges follow similar practice.
| Part | Text to copy |
|---|---|
| To | The Principal, [School or college name], [City] |
| Subject | Application for a duplicate transfer certificate |
| Body paragraph 1 | I, [Full name], [son/daughter] of [Parent's name], studied in this [school/college] in [Class or course] until [Year], Admission/Enrolment No. [Number]. My transfer certificate, No. [TC number, if known], issued on [date, if known], has been lost. |
| Body paragraph 2 | I request you to issue a duplicate transfer certificate. I have attached [a copy of my marksheet / ID proof / an affidavit or police report about the loss, if the office asks for one] and am ready to pay the applicable fee. |
| Closing | Thanking you, / Yours faithfully, / [Full name] / [Phone] / [Email] |
Ask the office what it needs before you go. Some institutions want an affidavit or a police report about the loss and a fee; others only check your record.
Transfer certificate vs migration, bonafide and character certificates
| Certificate | Issued by | What it says | When you get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer certificate | Your school or college | You have left, your last class, conduct and that dues are clear | When you leave |
| Migration certificate | Your board or university | The board or university has no objection to you joining another | When you move to a different board or university |
| Bonafide certificate | Your school, college or employer | You are currently a student or employee there | Any time you are enrolled, on request |
| Character certificate | Your school, college or employer | Your conduct while you were there | Usually when you leave, on request |
Still studying and need proof for a scholarship or a loan? That is a bonafide certificate, not a TC. Our bonafide certificate formats cover school, college and scholarship versions.
Checks before you leave the office with your TC
Your name, parents' names and date of birth match your Class 10 certificate letter for letter.
The class last studied and the promotion field are correct. This decides the class the next school can admit you to.
The date of leaving and the reason for leaving are filled in.
The TC is signed by the principal and carries the school seal and the TC number.
If you are changing board, you know whether it needs a countersignature and from whom.
You have a clear scan and a few self-attested photocopies, and the original stays in a folder, not in your bag.
Moving to open schooling instead? Our NIOS admission guide covers the streams, dates and documents for that route.
Frequently asked questions
What is a transfer certificate?
It is the certificate your school or college issues when you leave, showing your last class or course, dates of study, conduct and that your dues are clear. The next school or college needs it for admission.
How do I apply for a transfer certificate?
Write an application to the principal with your name, class or course, admission or enrolment number and reason for leaving, clear your dues and submit any no-dues form. Formats 1 and 2 above give you the full text.
Can a school refuse to give a TC because of pending fees?
For Classes 1 to 8, Section 5(3) of the RTE Act says the head-teacher shall immediately issue the TC, and a delay in producing it cannot be used to delay or deny admission in the new school. Settle any fee dispute in writing separately.
Is a school leaving certificate the same as a transfer certificate?
In most schools, yes. CBSE's admission bye-laws use the two terms together as "School Leaving Certificate/Transfer Certificate". Colleges may call it a leaving certificate.
Does a TC from a state board need a countersignature for a CBSE school?
Yes. CBSE's 2019 circular says a TC from a school recognised by another board should be countersigned by the educational authorities of that board. A TC from a CBSE school does not need CBSE's countersignature.
What if I lose my TC?
Apply to the institution that issued it for a duplicate. CBSE's bye-laws allow a duplicate if the head of the institution is satisfied that the original is lost, and it is marked as a duplicate.
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