Application for Bonafide Certificate: Format and Samples
Updated
How to write an application for bonafide certificate to your school or college, with 8 samples for common purposes and the documents to attach.
An application for bonafide certificate is a short, formal request to your principal, head of department or registrar asking the institution to certify that you are a genuine, currently enrolled student. Mention your name, class or course, roll or enrolment number and the exact purpose, such as a scholarship, bank account or passport, because the certificate is usually issued for one stated purpose.
This guide explains what a bonafide certificate is, gives the format, a fill-in letter, eight samples for common purposes and the documents offices usually ask for.
Key Takeaways
- Address the principal for school and the principal, HOD or registrar for college.
- Write the subject “Application for bonafide certificate”.
- State your class or course, section and roll or enrolment number.
- Name the purpose clearly, for example “to apply for a National Scholarship Portal scholarship”.
- Attach an ID card copy and fee receipt if your institution asks for them.
What Is a Bonafide Certificate?
A bonafide certificate is an official document from a school, college or university. It confirms that a student is enrolled there during the current session. “Bonafide” comes from Latin and means “in good faith” or “genuine”. The certificate carries the institution’s letterhead, the head’s signature and a seal.
Where you may need it
| Purpose | Who asks for it |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | State portals and the National Scholarship Portal, through the institution |
| Opening a bank account | Banks, for student or minor accounts |
| Passport | Passport office, as supporting proof for students in some cases |
| Student bus or rail pass | Transport department or railway concession counter |
| Internship or training | Company or organisation offering the internship |
| Education loan | Bank processing the loan |
| Exams and competitions | Organisers who restrict entry to students |
Requirements change from office to office. Therefore, check the exact document list with the bank, portal or authority before you apply.
Application for Bonafide Certificate Format
| Part | What to write |
|---|---|
| To, | The Principal / Head of Department / Registrar, institution name, city |
| Date | Date of writing |
| Subject | Application for bonafide certificate |
| Salutation | Respected Sir/Madam, |
| Paragraph 1 | Name, class or course, section, roll or enrolment number, session |
| Paragraph 2 | Purpose of the certificate and any deadline |
| Request | Kindly issue the certificate at the earliest |
| Closing | Thanking you. Yours obediently, name, class/course, roll number |
Write Your Application for Bonafide Certificate
Type your details on the right. You can then copy the letter, print it or save it as a PDF.
To,
[The Principal],
[School or college name],
[City]
Date:
Subject: Application for bonafide certificate
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am [your name], a student of [Class X-B] in your [school], with roll number [roll number], for the session [2026-27].
I need a bonafide certificate [to apply for a scholarship]. [The last date for submission is 31 October 2026.] Kindly issue the certificate at the earliest.
Thanking you.
Yours obediently,
[your name]
[Class X-B], Roll No. [roll number]
8 Samples for Common Purposes
1. Application for bonafide certificate for scholarship
To,
The Principal,
Government Senior Secondary School,
Rohtak
Date: 10 October 2026
Subject: Application for bonafide certificate for scholarship
Respected Sir,
I am Pooja, a student of Class XI-A (Roll No. 18) in your school for the session 2026-27. I am applying for a scholarship on the National Scholarship Portal, which requires a bonafide certificate from the institution.
Kindly issue the certificate at the earliest, as the last date to apply is near.
Thanking you.
Yours obediently,
Pooja
Class XI-A
2. For opening a bank account
To,
The Principal,
Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2,
Bhubaneswar
Date: 10 October 2026
Subject: Request for bonafide certificate to open a bank account
Respected Madam,
I am Soumya Das of Class IX-C, Roll No. 27. I wish to open a student savings account to receive my scholarship amount. The bank has asked for a bonafide certificate from my school.
Therefore, kindly issue the certificate at the earliest.
Thanking you.
Yours obediently,
Soumya Das
Class IX-C
3. For passport
To,
The Principal,
St. Xavier’s College,
Ahmedabad
Date: 10 October 2026
Subject: Application for bonafide certificate for passport
Respected Sir,
I am Harsh Patel, a student of B.Sc. (Physics) second year, Enrolment No. SXC2025114. I am applying for a passport and need a bonafide certificate as supporting proof of my student status.
Kindly issue the certificate on the college letterhead.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully,
Harsh Patel
4. For a bus or railway pass
To,
The Principal,
Sarvodaya Vidyalaya,
Nagpur
Date: 10 October 2026
Subject: Bonafide certificate for student bus pass
Respected Sir,
I am Yash Wankhede of Class XII-B, Roll No. 9. I travel 18 km to school every day by city bus. To apply for a student concession pass, I need a bonafide certificate from the school.
Kindly issue it at the earliest.
Thanking you.
Yours obediently,
Yash Wankhede
5. For internship
To,
The Head of Department,
Department of Computer Science,
PES University,
Bengaluru
Date: 10 October 2026
Subject: Request for bonafide certificate for internship
Respected Madam,
I am Aditi Rao, a B.Tech (CSE) third-year student, SRN PES1UG23CS045. I have been selected for a summer internship, and the company has asked for a bonafide certificate.
Kindly issue the certificate addressed “To whom it may concern”.
Thanking you.
Yours sincerely,
Aditi Rao
6. For education loan
To,
The Registrar,
Anna University,
Chennai
Date: 10 October 2026
Subject: Application for bonafide certificate for education loan
Respected Sir,
I am Karthik S., an M.E. (Structural Engineering) first-year student, Register No. 2026ME017. I have applied for an education loan, and the bank requires a bonafide certificate with the fee structure for the course.
Kindly issue the certificate along with the fee details.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully,
Karthik S.
7. Written by a parent for a young child
To,
The Principal,
Little Flower School,
Varanasi
Date: 10 October 2026
Subject: Request for bonafide certificate for my daughter
Respected Madam,
My daughter, Anvi Mishra, studies in Class III-A (Admission No. 4512). I need her bonafide certificate for my office’s children education allowance claim.
Kindly issue the certificate at the earliest.
Yours sincerely,
Rakesh Mishra
Father of Anvi Mishra
8. For a sports or quiz competition
To,
The Principal,
Modern School,
Chandigarh
Date: 10 October 2026
Subject: Bonafide certificate for state-level chess tournament
Respected Sir,
I am Arjun Bedi of Class VIII-D, Roll No. 3. I have registered for the state-level junior chess tournament. The organisers need a bonafide certificate to confirm my age and student status.
Kindly issue it before 20 October 2026.
Thanking you.
Yours obediently,
Arjun Bedi
Documents to Attach
Most institutions issue the certificate on the same day or within two working days. However, some ask for supporting documents first.
| Document | Why it is asked |
|---|---|
| Copy of student ID card | Confirms identity and enrolment |
| Latest fee receipt | Confirms you are enrolled in the current session |
| Form from the requesting body | Some scholarships and banks use their own format |
| Passport-size photo | Some colleges attach it to the certificate |
If the scholarship portal or bank gives its own format, attach it with your application for bonafide certificate. The office will then fill that format instead of its standard one.
Bonafide Certificate vs Other Certificates
| Certificate | What it proves | When issued |
|---|---|---|
| Bonafide certificate | You are a current student | Any time during the course |
| Transfer certificate (TC) | You have left the institution | When you leave |
| Character certificate | Your conduct was good | Usually when you leave |
| Migration certificate | You can join another board or university | When you change board or university |
Mistakes to Avoid
- No purpose. Many offices refuse to issue the certificate without a stated purpose.
- Missing roll or enrolment number. The office cannot find your record without it.
- Wrong session. Write the current academic year, for example 2026-27.
- Last-minute request. Apply at least three working days before your deadline.
Related Guides
For other requests to the head of your school, see our application to principal samples. If you are leaving the school, you need the application for TC instead. The formal letter writing guide explains the general layout, and the application to bank manager guide helps once you have the certificate for your bank account.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write an application for bonafide certificate?
Address it to the principal, HOD or registrar. Write the subject “Application for bonafide certificate”, then your name, class or course, roll number and session. State the purpose and any deadline, and close with “Yours obediently” and your details.
What is a bonafide certificate used for?
It proves you are a current student. Students use it for scholarships, bank accounts, passports, bus or rail passes, internships, education loans and competitions.
How long does it take to get a bonafide certificate?
Many schools and colleges issue it within one to three working days. Apply early if you have a deadline.
Is a bonafide certificate valid for a whole year?
It usually confirms enrolment for the current session. Some offices accept only a recent certificate, so check their requirement.
Can a parent write the application for bonafide certificate?
Yes. Parents usually write for young children. They sign as parent and include the child’s class and admission number.
Is there a fee for a bonafide certificate?
Most schools issue it free. Some colleges charge a small fee. Ask the office when you apply.
Can I apply for a bonafide certificate online?
Many universities now accept requests through their student portal. If yours does, you may not need a paper letter.
Before You Submit
Check your application for bonafide certificate for the correct name spelling, roll number, session and purpose. More school and college formats are in our school letters section, and the Letter Generator builds other letters in seconds.
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