Application for Transfer Certificate (TC)
Ask the principal for your child's or your own transfer certificate when changing schools, moving cities or after passing out, in English or Hindi.
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- Updated October 2026
Changing schools: the TC comes first
A transfer certificate (TC) is the record your old school gives when a student leaves: it confirms the class last studied, the date of leaving and usually conduct and dues. The new school asks for it during admission. Getting it starts with a written application to the principal, normally from a parent.
This page opens the TC letter. Pick the reason, add the admission number, and the letter is ready in English or Hindi.
Three reasons, three wordings
| Reason | What the letter says |
|---|---|
| Family is moving | Our family is moving to Indore, so he needs a Transfer Certificate. |
| Admission in another school | She is taking admission in another school … |
| Passed out | I have completed Class 10 and will continue my studies elsewhere … |
You can also ask for the school leaving certificate or a character certificate in the same letter, which saves a second visit if the new school wants them.
The admission (SR) number matters
Schools keep a scholar register (SR) or admission register, and the TC is prepared from it. Writing the admission number, along with class, section and roll number, lets the office find the record quickly. You will find it on the old admission slip, fee receipts or the report card.
What the RTE Act says about TCs
For elementary classes (1 to 8), Section 5 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 says that when a child seeks admission in another school, the head teacher of the school where the child was last admitted shall immediately issue the transfer certificate. A delay in producing the TC shall not be a ground for delaying or denying admission in the new school, and a head teacher who delays it is liable to disciplinary action under the service rules that apply to them. For Classes 9 to 12, the school's own rules and its board decide the process.
Before you submit
- Clear any pending fees and return library books, sports kit or ID card. The letter confirms this; make sure it's true, or remove the line under Change the wording yourself.
- Ask whether the school has its own TC form or a fee for the certificate.
- If the new school is in another state or under another board, ask the new school whether the TC needs any countersignature or extra attestation.
- Keep a photocopy of the TC before handing the original to the new school.
In Hindi
Choose हिन्दी for "स्थानांतरण प्रमाण-पत्र (टीसी) हेतु प्रार्थना-पत्र". For a parent's letter, pick पुत्र or पुत्री and your own gender, and every verb fits: "हमारा परिवार इंदौर जा रहा है, इसलिए स्थानांतरण प्रमाण-पत्र की आवश्यकता है।"
The letter is a request; the school issues the TC on its own form and letterhead. Your details stay in your browser.
Other school applications
Need more options? Open the full School Application Generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I write an application for a TC from school?
Write to the principal with the student's class, section, roll and admission number, the reason (moving, admission elsewhere, or passed out) and a request to issue the transfer certificate. Mention that dues are cleared. Choose 'Transfer certificate (TC)' here and it writes the letter.
Can a parent apply for the TC?
Yes, and schools usually expect a parent to apply for a minor child. Choose 'Parent' under 'Who is writing'; the letter is written in the parent's name for 'my son' or 'my daughter'.
Can a school hold back the TC?
For children in Classes 1 to 8, Section 5 of the RTE Act, 2009 says the head teacher is to issue the TC immediately, a delay cannot be used to delay or deny admission in the new school, and a delay can lead to disciplinary action. Schools still usually ask for dues to be cleared. For higher classes, school and board rules apply.
What is the difference between a TC and a school leaving certificate?
Many schools use the two names for the same document; some states and boards issue a separate school leaving certificate. If your new school asks for both, choose 'TC + School Leaving Certificate' in the letter.