- What Does A Bonafide Certificate Mean?
- Why Is It Important?
- What Are The Different Types Of Bonafide Certificates?
- 1. For Employees:
- 2. For Students:
- 3. Temporary Bonafide Certificate:
- 4. Permanent Bonafide Certificate:
- What Are The Documents That Are Required For Bonafide Certificate Application?
- For Students:
- For Employees:
- How To Apply For A Bonafide Certificate?
- 1. For Students:
- 2. For Employees:
- Bonafide Application Format:
- For Students:
- For Employees:
- And It’s A Wrap!
- More Resources:
How To Apply For A Bonafide Certificate?
An organization issues bonafide certificates as evidence to certify that an individual is associated with the same organization. Generally, academic institutions issue this particular certificate to their students. Moreover, companies can do the same for any of their employees.
Key Takeaways:
- Bonafide certificates are necessary for opening bank accounts, applying for passports, applying for loans, obtaining a visa extension, or a passport.
- Applying for bonafide certificates can take place from the institution or an office via the head of the said place.
- Also, it takes nearly 10-15 days to obtain this certificate after you have applied for it.
What Does A Bonafide Certificate Mean?
Bonafide means ‘in good faith.’
A Bonafide Certificate is a type of proof or evidence to show that a person belongs to a specific class or course of a school, college, or an institute. It is basically a credible identification document that is issued by an employer or college.
Moreover, a recognized school or academic institution issues these certificates to attest that a person has enrolled in their programme to seek the mentioned degree. Moreover, it is an officially legitimate certificate that a student can utilize for admission to another university, college, or school.
In addition, employees can get this certificate too. In this case, the employer issues the certificate to highlight that the said individual works for the employer. These certificates are supporting evidence that you can use for requesting any financial aid, applying for a visa, etc.
Moreover, you can use these to confirm as well as validate an employee or a student’s identity, making it possible for them to enjoy specific benefits.
Also, a bonafide certificate’s contents can vary on the basis of who needs it – for a student and an employee, it cannot be the same. As a result, the format of the same also varies for employees and students.
Why Is It Important?
These certificates are important because they serve as evidence for employees and students that they are working or studying in a specific organization or institution, respectively. Typically, colleges, companies, or schools can issue these 10 to 15 days after application.
So, students usually apply for this certificate for various purposes, including:
- Getting educational aid.
- Applying for a visa extension or a passport.
- Obtaining a public library’s membership.
- Getting a metro or bus pass.
- Attending academic seminars, conferences, or workshops happening in a different college.
Similarly, employees can ask for this certificate at all stages of their careers. The primary cases include:
- Opening bank accounts.
- Changing jobs.
- Getting loans.
- Attending official conferences or seminars.
What Are The Different Types Of Bonafide Certificates?
Depending on specific uses and duration, let’s check out the different types of bonafide certificates:
1. For Employees:
Companies or employers issue a bonafide certificate to their employee to validate the employee’s identification as well as position in the organization. These certificates are important documents that can protect the company in case of any identity theft or fraud.
2. For Students:
Colleges, schools, and universities issue these certificates for their students to verify that a student is actually enrolled in a specific academic institution.
Moreover, these certificates also include vital details about the student, including their names, roll numbers, and the duration of the course. Also, academic institutions can issue this certificate to students enrolled for a temporary period or pursuing a work-study program off-campus.
3. Temporary Bonafide Certificate:
Any bona fide certificate issued for a period of 6 months or less and renewable after the end of that period is temporary in nature.
4. Permanent Bonafide Certificate:
Any bonafide certificate that is valid throughout the length of the employment period or academic program is permanent – naturally, there’s no need to renew these certificates.
What Are The Documents That Are Required For Bonafide Certificate Application?
I have mentioned the documents needed to apply for a bonafide certificate. Of course, the documents required for a student and an employee are the same.
For Students:
You will need a copy of the following documents:
- ID Card.
- Proof of Residence.
- Official ID.
- Fee Receipt.
- Programme or Course details.
- Marksheet.
- Admission Receipt.
For Employees:
You will need a copy of the following documents:
- Employee ID.
- Pan Card.
- Pay Slip.
- Proof of Residence.
- Official ID.
How To Apply For A Bonafide Certificate?
Again, the process of application is different for both students and employees, and I have laid out the process separately for both:
1. For Students:
Students can obtain their bonafide certificates from their institution or university’s administrative office by following the steps mentioned below:
- Fill out your application with all necessary details.
- Then attach the necessary documents along with your application.
- Now you just need to submit the documents and application to the official department or office.
- Also, you have to pay a certain fee to the institution or college to process the certificate.
- Once the department processes your certificate, you will be able to collect it from the relevant department or the institution’s administrative office.
Thus, students will have to apply in writing to their principal or head of the institution/college. Also, some academic institutions might require a specific format for the application that students must follow to obtain the certificate.
Additionally, some academic institutions may ask first and second-year students to provide leaving certificates from past institutions along with their application forms.
2. For Employees:
Employees have to apply for this certificate from the head of the department or organization in writing. Generally, in such cases, employees have to write or email a simple letter asking the HR department for their bonafide certificates. Also, they have to attach the necessary documents to their email or application form.
Bonafide Application Format:
The application format is different for students and employees. And I’ve laid out the two formats separately below:
For Students:
School or college students should apply for their bonafide certificates in writing from the head of the academic institute. The requested letter should include the reasons for the certificate.
Here’s an application format for a student:

For Employees:
Employees have to submit their application in writing or by email to the HR Department to obtain their bonafide certificates. The said application should include all employee details and the reasons for which the certificate is needed.
Here’s an application format for an employee:

And It’s A Wrap!
Bonafide certificates are just paper, but it is worth a good deal since they signify whether an employee or student belongs to a specific organization or institute, respectively. You can use it for different purposes.
Moreover, it is used widely while switching jobs, applying for loans, travel-related matters, etc. So, it’s just a way of allowing employees and students to expand their prospects – it helps people to opt for a better job, travel abroad, and enroll in higher education.