Career Tools / Relieving Letter Generator
Relieving Letter Format Generator
Fill in the details and the letter builds itself in the format Indian HR departments and background verification agencies expect.
Your letter
A relieving letter is a formal document issued by an employer on or after an employee’s last working day, confirming that the employee has been released from their duties and that the exit was completed properly. It is issued by the outgoing company, not requested from the new one.
In India it matters mainly at one point: background verification. Most organised employers ask for it before confirming a joining date, because it is the document that proves you left cleanly rather than abandoning the role.
What a relieving letter must contain
There is no statutory format, but background verification agencies check for the same set of elements. The generator includes all of them.
- Company letterhead details — registered name and address of the issuing employer.
- Date and place of issue — normally on or shortly after the last working day.
- Employee identification — full name, employee ID, designation and department.
- Employment period — date of joining and last working day, stated explicitly.
- The relieving statement — a clear sentence confirming release from services with effect from a specific date.
- Handover and dues position — confirmation that responsibilities were handed over and that no dues remain outstanding.
- Authorised signature — name, designation and signature of the HR or reporting authority.
The sentence that carries the legal weight is the fifth one. A letter that thanks you for your service but never states that you were relieved with effect from a date is not a relieving letter, and verification agencies will reject it.
Worked example
Employee: Priya Sharma, Senior Software Engineer, Digital Engineering
Employer: Infosys Limited, Bengaluru · Employee ID: INF20214578
Joined: 12 June 2021 · Resigned: 1 June 2026 · Last working day: 30 August 2026
With a 90-day notice period served in full, the relieving letter is dated 30 August 2026 and states a tenure of 5 years and 2 months. If the notice had been bought out instead, the last working day would be earlier and the letter would still be issued, provided the recovery amount was settled.
Not sure of your own date? The notice period calculator works it out in either direction.
Relieving letter compared with the other exit documents
Four documents get confused with each other during an Indian exit. They are issued at different times and prove different things.
| Document | Issued when | Proves | Needed for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relieving letter | On or after the last working day | You were formally released and left cleanly | Background verification at the next employer |
| Experience letter | On or after the last working day | Your role, tenure and responsibilities | Proving experience for future applications |
| Service certificate | On request, during or after employment | That you are or were employed there | Visa, loan and rental applications |
| Full and final settlement | Usually 30–45 days after exit | Final dues, leave encashment and recoveries | Your own records and tax filing |
Some employers combine the first two into a single “relieving cum experience letter”. That is acceptable to most verification agencies as long as it states both the release date and the employment period. If you need the second document separately, use the experience letter generator.
Before you ask for it
- Resign in writing. A verbal resignation leaves nothing to reference. The resignation letter generator produces a dated letter you can send by email.
- Complete the handover formally. Most delays in issuing a relieving letter trace back to an incomplete asset return or knowledge transfer, not to any dispute.
- Ask for it in writing on your last day. A polite email to HR on the final working day, referencing your resignation date and last working day, creates the record that makes follow-up straightforward.
Frequently asked questions
What is a relieving letter?
A relieving letter is a formal document issued by an employer confirming that an employee has been released from their duties with effect from a specific date, that responsibilities were handed over, and that the exit was completed properly. It is issued by the company you are leaving.
What is the difference between a relieving letter and an experience letter?
A relieving letter confirms that you were formally released on a particular date and left without pending obligations. An experience letter certifies your designation, tenure and responsibilities. Background verification usually asks for the relieving letter; future job applications rely on the experience letter.
Is a relieving letter mandatory in India?
No law compels an employer to issue one, but in practice most organised employers require it from new hires during background verification. Refusing to issue it without cause is often challenged as unreasonable, particularly where the notice period was served or bought out.
Can I join a new company without a relieving letter?
Some employers accept alternatives such as a resignation acceptance email, the full and final settlement statement, or a signed undertaking explaining the situation. Startups and smaller firms are usually more flexible than large IT services companies, where it is often a hard requirement.
What if my company refuses to give a relieving letter?
Start with a written request to HR referencing your resignation date, last working day and completed handover. If that fails, escalate in writing to the HR head, and keep every email. Employees also commonly approach the labour commissioner in the relevant state where a letter is withheld without cause.
Can a relieving letter be issued before the last working day?
It is normally dated on or after the last working day, because it certifies a release that has already taken effect. A letter dated before the exit is inconsistent on its face and can be queried during verification.