A character certificate is a legal document provided by a government authority/police, institution, or individual station certifying that the person has no criminal past, court proceedings, or a negative history in their former institution. Institutions and governments require this document to guarantee that the individual with whom they are communicating will not pose a harm to their surroundings or the institution’s reputation. It’s not the same as a genuine certificate, but it’s just as significant. Because the background check is conducted by the police, it is also known as a Police clearance certificate. Depending on the institution or authoritative body, the document’s form and mechanism of application may differ. Before providing this certificate, it must be cross-verified with necessary papers and financial records, as well as a detailed examination of the person’s actions.

Types of Character Certificate

This document may be required in a variety of circumstances. As a result, several types of certificates exist, such as:

• Character Certificate Used in India
• Police character certificate
• Character certificate for student
• General Character Certificate
• Certificate for job

Uses Of Character Certificate

This certificate can be used in a variety of ways. Below is a list of them.

• College/University: It may be granted by a college/university to guarantee that the student’s records do not taint the university’s reputation.
• Employment : These certificates may be required to be produced in both public and private settings in order to determine the behaviour of the employee in the prior organisation.
• Setting up a business : This document is required when starting a business to ensure that the individual would conduct themselves honestly and with good business ethics.
• During immigration/travel : It is almost mandatory to present a certificate during the visa application procedure in order to verify that the applicant is not involved in any criminal activity.

How To Apply For Character Certificate?

To get a police character certificate one needs to follow the following steps:

• Counsel your nearest DPO Security office branch for “Police Character Certificate” 
• Visit this branch in your city and request that they produce police character testament so they’ll give you an application structure.
• Fill that application structure, connect required records with that structure recorded in a frame and return to the Security Office branch. They’ll presently stamp this structure to your nearest police headquarters for audit.
• Presently you need to take this structure to your nearby police headquarters, where SHO and region DSP will give you freedom in the wake of checking your archives.
• At last, you need to present your structure back to the Security Branch Office.
• Get your Certificate in the next three business days.

Also Read: Relieving Letter Format

Character Certificate : How to Apply Online?

On the individual state website, there are online portals for applying for the document. Anyone who is a citizen of the United States is able to apply. The certificate will be accessible for download on the website once the verification procedure takes around 10-12 working days. The processes for obtaining the certificate are outlined below.

• As a new user, register on the relevant state website. In the “citizens service part,” you’ll discover a character verification report section.
• After you’ve completed your registration, log in to your account using the created ID and password.
• Fill out the Character Certificate Application Form completely and accurately.
• To double-check all of the facts, indicate the nearest police station in the region as well as the district’s name.
• Click ‘Save’ when you’ve uploaded all of the relevant papers.
• In order to finish the process, you must pay a cost of 250 INR.

Character Certificate : Documents Required

If you want to apply for the certificate, you’ll need a few papers. The following are some of them:

• Letter from the company / application for a NOC from the Commissioner / Superintendent of Police
• Size of a Recent Passport White paper with a photo signature
• SSC/HSC certificate, self-attested indemnity bond, birth certificate) as evidence of age
• ID proof (PAN card, driving license, election card, student card)
• Proof of address (ration card, electricity bill, telephone bill, aadhar card, passport, a letter from society)

Character Certificate Format

Like all the other official documents, a character certificate also needs to be written in a defined format. It should be free from any typing or spelling errors.

Character Certificate Format must include the following things:

• The full name of the applicant
• His/her address
• A declaration by the attester about the good character of the applicant and the duration of time he is known to the attester
• Date of attesting or issue
• Sign and stamp of the attesting/issuing authority

Character Certificate Format

(Click Here To Download)

It is certified that Mr./Mrs. _______________________resident of __________________is familiar to me for the past_________________years. To the best of my knowledge and belief, she/he has a good character and bears no negative factors that render him/her of [Service Name] Service. He/she doesn’t also have any cases or penalties pending on him/her.

Position:__________________
Signature:________________
Name:_______________________

Character Certificate Format In India

The following is the format of the character certificate in India which is used to show all the criminal records in the name of the individual. this is needed to be clear forehand so that an organization can take appropriate actions of whether to select the aspirant or not.

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Character Certificate Application

One has to request the head of the organization to issue a character certificate. To do so, an application must be written and submitted to the authorized personnel.

The following things must be mentioned in the application –

• Reason for leaving the current organization.
• State the purpose of the character certificate.

Sample Application:

Application for Issuing Character Certificate from College

The Principal

ABC School

XYZ City

Subject: Application for Character Certificate

Respected Sir/Mam,

With due respect, I beg to submit that I have been a student of your institution for the last two years from 2000 to 2003. I passed my intermediate Examination in July 2002 as it is known to the entire teaching staff that I have been a very decent student of this institute. My teachers know me as a very disciplined student.

Apart from studies, I have actively participated in extracurricular activities (Debates, Dramas, Athletics, and others). I am seeking admission to a college for my higher studies. And for that reason, a character certificate is required.

Kindly issue me a Character Certificate at an early date.

Thanking You.

Yours Obediently

Name……..
Roll Number……

Character Certificate For Students

As a student, there can be a need to change school or seek admission to a college for higher education. In such cases, a student is required to provide a character certificate to substantiate his good conduct in the past.

All the educational institutes have a set of norms that have to be followed by all the students. Therefore, it is mandatory to provide this certificate for a student.

Here is a sample of a character certificate for students:

(Click Here to Download)

CHARACTER CERTIFICATE
From the Institution last attended

It is to certify that __________________________________________ S/o / D/o_________________________________________ who has studied in this Institution from ________ to ________ bears a good moral character. His/her behaviour was good with teachers and students. He/she has neither displayed persistent violent of or aggressive behaviour nor any desire to harm others.

Name of Institution last attended: ___________________


Signature of Head of the Institution with Seal
Date: __________________

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Check Out: GAP Certificate- Sample, Format, Documents Required

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Character Certificate Online

The State governments have now brought the service of issuing character certificates online. There are online portals established by the state governments for the same. Any citizen is eligible to apply for a certificate online.

The online payment has to be made while applying for the character certificate. And then after investigating the records, the government issues the certificate in about 10-12 working days. The certificate is available for download on the online portal.

Steps to apply for this certificate online:

1. Log on to the citizen portal of your respective state.
2. Register yourself as a new user.
3. Enter the required details like name, gender, phone number, DOB, etc.
4. Then log in to your account on the citizen portal.
5. Under the Citizen Services section, select character certificate requests.
6. Enter the required details and upload an image of any of your government-issued ID.
7. And finally, submit the application online. You will receive the character certificate in 2 weeks on the same portal.

Character Certificate Template

Character Certificate Template looks like:

Also Read: Experience Letter

Character Certificate for Job

A character certificate for a job is required when an individual applies for a new job. This certificate testifies the good moral character and conduct of the applicant. This serves as evidence of professional, obedient, and good conduct of the employee during his/her term of job in the last organization he/she worked in.

The last employer is authorized to issue a character certificate for Job. This serves as a reference point of good behavior as an employee in the applicant’s career.

Other than switching jobs, the following can also be the purposes of Character Certificate for Job.

1. An employee willing to apply for a visa or immigration will need a character certificate.
2. Admission in universities or colleges requires a character certificate. Therefore, an employee willing to apply for higher studies will need it.
3. An employee who has to undergo some government procedures will also need this certificate, as the government authorities ask for it.
4. In case an employee is involved in a legal case and he needs to prove his innocence in court, he would seek help from his employer in providing a certificate of good character.

Here is a sample of a character certificate for the job:

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Sample 1

Samples 2

Sample 3

How to Get a Character Certificate?

There are various ways to get the character certificate:

• If you are a student who is leaving the current school/college and applying for admission to a different college/university, you can request the principal to issue this certificate.
• If you are an employee switching your job, then you can request your current employer to issue a certificate.
• You can also request a gazetted officer of central or state government, MP, MLA, DSWO, Scientist service for government, Research person of government to issue your character certificate.
• Online portals are also set up by the state government where you can apply for a certificate. You will receive the issued certificate which will be available for download on the portal.

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School Character Certificate

A Character certificate from school substantiates an individual’s conduct or behavior (good or bad) during the period he/she was in school. This certificate helps when a student seeks admission to a university or college other than the current school for further studies.

(Click Here It Download)

Character Certificate

Certified that Mr./Ms____________________S/D of____________________ bears a good moral character and he /she has passed/appearing the________________________examination from__________________board/university with______________(% age of marks) in year______________ and his/her university/board registration number is_______________________

Place: ……………………………..
Signature of Principal: ………………………………………                                 
Date: ………………………..
Name of the Principal: ………………………………………
(Official Seal)

Police Character Certificate

An official document issued by the police department testifying the background of an individual to be free from any criminal record is called a Police Character Certificate. Criminal records include pending cases, arrests, involvement in any legal offense, association with any criminal group, etc.

A Police Character Certificate serves the following purposes –

1. While applying for a visa for a foreign trip, or a long-term stay, police character certificate is needed to substantiate a crime-free background.
2. Applying for some government scholarships.
3. Seeking admission in a college.
4. Applying for a job.

Application for Police Clearance Certificate

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Responsible Citizens of the locality knowing the applicant:

I solemnly declare that all the above particulars are true and I do not have any criminal records and there is no case pending against me in the last 6 months or before.

Uses of Character Certificate

Character certificate is used for various purposes including admissions in universities, jobs, etc. one should have a clear background to get a job and admission in foreign universities.

Here is the uses of the character certificate:

• As an organization or a working firm, one needs to know about their employees and if they have any previous criminal record or not, this can be cleared by character certificate given by either the previous organization or the government authority.
• In the scholastic field, a character authentication is given by your past school show that the individual had perfect behavior during their conduction in that flowing institution. This helps the organization to get a clear certificate of the individual and their background.
• Also, in the business field, a declaration shows that you have shown splendid direct and execution in the midst of the working time.
• This certificate is a good way of getting the documents to check by the police personnel which helps the authorities to be sure of the aspirant and thus works impressively for them.
• A police character certificate may be needed if you want to apply for a scholarship.

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Also read : Matriculation Certificate

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Need Of Character Certificate

4 reasons why we need a character certificate:

1. In the field of education, students must follow the rules and regulations set by the school/college. This develops discipline among the students. To testify the obedience and discipline of a student, a character certificate is issued with the stamp and sign of the principle of the institution.
2. Similarly, when a candidate applies for a job, the employer needs to ensure the conduct of the applicant. Good behavior is expected from all the employees, for the smooth functioning of the company. Character certificate is proof that the applicant has a record of good conduct, which develops the faith of the employer in the applicant.
3. A character certificate is also required in the immigration process. This is to trace the criminals or anti-social elements.
4. At times, a character certificate issued by the Police is required. This is a general police verification, which is done to prevent an individual with a criminal record from entering the organization. 

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Check Out: Experience Letter/Certificate – Formats and Samples

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FAQs

The Principal

ABC School

XYZ City

Subject: Application for Character Certificate

Respected Sir/Mam,

With due respect, I beg to submit that I have been a student of your institution for the last two years from 2000 to 2003. I passed my intermediate Examination in July 2002 as it is known to the entire teaching staff that I have been a very decent student of this institute. My teachers know me as a very disciplined student.

Apart from studies, I have actively participated in extracurricular activities (Debates, Dramas, Athletics, and others). I am seeking admission to a college for my higher studies. And for that reason, a character certificate is required.

Kindly issue me a Character Certificate at an early date.

Thanking You.

Yours Obediently

Name……..
Roll Number……