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Experience Letter & Relieving Letter Format

An experience letter certifies that someone worked with you — their role, tenure and conduct — and is addressed “to whomsoever it may concern”. A relieving letter is addressed to the departing employee and confirms they were released on a specific date, with notice served and no dues pending. Most employers issue both at exit. Copy either template below and fill the brackets.

Experience vs relieving letter — the difference

They are often confused, but they do different jobs. One proves experience to a future employer; the other formally closes the employment relationship.

Aspect	Experience letter	Relieving letter
Purpose	Certifies that the person worked with you, in what role, and for how long.	Formally releases the employee from duties after they resign or exit.
Addressed to	“To whomsoever it may concern” — usable with any future employer.	The specific departing employee, by name.
Issued when	On or after the last working day; can be requested later too.	At exit, once notice and handover are complete.
Confirms	Designation, tenure and conduct.	Relieving date, completed notice, and no pending dues.
Needed for	Proof of work experience in future job applications.	Onboarding at the next employer, who often asks for it before joining.

Experience letter template

Keep it factual and warm. It travels with the employee to their next role, so an accurate, positive tone genuinely helps them.

Experience letter — full formatSelect all & copy

[Company Letterhead]

[Date]

TO WHOMSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN

This is to certify that [Mr./Ms. Full Name], bearing Employee ID [EMP-0000], was employed with [Company Name] as [Designation] from [DD-MMM-YYYY] to [DD-MMM-YYYY].

During this tenure, [he/she] was responsible for [one line on key responsibilities] and consistently discharged [his/her] duties with dedication and professionalism. [He/She] worked most recently in the [Department] department.

We found [him/her] to be sincere, hardworking and a valuable member of the team. We wish [him/her] success in all future endeavours.

For [Company Name],

[Signatory Name]
[Designation]
[Contact / Email]

What an experience letter must include

Company letterhead and issue date
Employee’s full name and, ideally, employee ID
Designation(s) held and department
Exact dates of employment (from and to)
A brief, positive note on responsibilities and conduct
Authorised signatory with designation and contact

Relieving letter template

Issue it once notice and handover are complete. The next employer often asks for it before onboarding, so prompt release matters.

Relieving letter — full formatSelect all & copy

[Company Letterhead]

[Date]

[Employee's Full Name]
[Employee ID]
[Designation, Department]

Subject: Relieving Letter

Dear [First Name],

This is with reference to your resignation dated [DD-MMM-YYYY]. We confirm that you have been relieved from your duties and responsibilities as [Designation] at [Company Name] with effect from the close of business on [DD-MMM-YYYY].

We confirm that you have completed the required notice period and handover formalities, and that no dues remain pending against you as per our records. Your full and final settlement will be processed as per company policy.

We thank you for your contribution during your tenure with us and wish you the very best for your future career.

For [Company Name],

[Signatory Name]
[Designation]
[Contact / Email]

What a relieving letter must include

Company letterhead and issue date
Reference to the resignation date
The effective relieving date
Confirmation that notice and handover are complete
A no-dues / full-and-final settlement note
Authorised signatory with designation and contact

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an experience letter and a relieving letter?

An experience letter certifies that a person worked with you — their role, tenure and conduct — and is addressed “to whomsoever it may concern” for use with any future employer. A relieving letter is addressed to the departing employee and formally confirms they have been released from duties on a specific date, having completed notice and handover with no dues pending. Many employers issue both at exit.

What should an experience letter contain?

An experience letter should carry the company letterhead and date, the employee’s full name and ID, the designation and department, the exact from-and-to dates of employment, a short positive note on responsibilities and conduct, and an authorised signatory with designation and contact details. Keeping it factual and warm makes it genuinely useful to the employee’s next application.

Is a relieving letter mandatory in India?

There is no single statute that compels every employer to issue a relieving letter, but it is standard practice and many employers ask new joiners for one from their previous company before onboarding. Withholding it without cause can create friction and disputes. Issuing it promptly once notice and handover are complete is the cleaner, more professional approach.

Can the experience letter and relieving letter be combined?

Yes. Some employers issue a single combined document that both relieves the employee and certifies their experience. It works, but a separate experience letter addressed “to whomsoever it may concern” is more flexible for the employee, since they can share it with any future employer without disclosing the relieving-specific details. Where possible, issuing both is best.

When should these letters be issued?

The relieving letter is issued at exit, once the notice period is served and handover formalities and dues are settled — typically on the last working day. The experience letter can be issued at the same time or requested later. Prompt issue matters, because the next employer frequently makes onboarding conditional on receiving the relieving letter.

General guidance, not legal advice. Adapt these templates to your company policy and have HR or legal review your standard versions.

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