Migration certificate – What is it and how to get it?

India is among the most recognized educational hubs of the world, with 4 primary school education boards – CBSE, ICSE, IB, and State Boards. Once students clears their 10+2 examinations, they require a wide range of documents to seek admission to reputed universities and programs for their higher education. One of the most important of these documents is a migration certificate, without which students cannot go on to pursue their higher studies. The only authorities that can issue these migration certificates are the education board, the college principal, or the dean.

Here are the 3 most important things to know about migration certificates-

1. Migration certificates are issued after your 10+2 exams are complete 

As mentioned above, the educational board which you’re a part of usually issues your migration certificate. Once you’ve successfully cleared your 10+2 examinations, the education board automatically sends your migration certificate is automatically to your school.

In most cases, students can download their migration certificates from the education portal of the school they’re in. Additionally, there may be some institutions that offer physical copies of the certificate. These are usually made available a couple of weeks after the declaration of the 10+2 examination results. 

2. Migration certificates are indicative of a change in school/course 

A migration certificate allows students admission to streams and universities of their choice. It is often supported by other documents which indicate that the student has met the criteria set by the school and is qualified to pursue higher education. 

3. Migration certificates versus Transfer certificates 

Quite often, migration certificates can also be called transfer certificates. There is, however, a clear difference between the two. Migration certificates are only provided when a student has completed and cleared her/his 10+2 examinations from a recognized board. Transfer certificates, on the other hand, are issued when a student chooses to transfer to another university or school during the academic year. 

How to procure a migration certificate

Following the right procedure is important when you’re trying to secure a migration certificate before applying to a university. While different schools and educational institutes have different methods of distributing the migration certificates, some of the common steps in the procedure include- 

1. Migration certificates are issued by the Office of the Council. This decentralization facilitates a smooth distribution of the certificates.
2. The average fee for a migration certificate is around INR 150, which the school submits to the Council.
3. The Council then dispatches the certificates to the registered schools via post.
4. Students receive the migration certificates only after they’ve completed their 10+2 examinations.
5. Until students get their mark sheets, the school keeps these certificates.
6. Post results, students can personally collect the marksheets from the respective school heads.
7. It is important to note that the migration certificate needs to be have the signature of the school principal. Migration certificates are invalid without the principal’s signature.
8. Another integral part of is this process is that there has to be a proper record of it for future reference.

Sample application format 

In some circumstances, it may be likely that the school misplaces a migration certificate or a student requires the same on an urgent basis for a university application. In these situations, submitting an official letter to the school authorities requesting the certificate can help ensure that it is available to you when required. 

Here is a sample application to help you create a compelling request for your certificate-

Respected Sir/Madam, 

My name is _____________ , and I have been a student of this prestigious institution. I successfully cleared _______ class from your school. 

I am currently in the process of continuing my studies and am seeking admission to a new university for my higher education. To be able to submit my application, however, I will require my migration certificate, duly signed by the principal.

I humbly request you to issue my certificate as soon as possible.

Thank you. 

Yours Sincerely, 

(Name) 

(Class) 

(Contact Details) 

FAQs 

Q1. What are the other documents that I will need? 

Answer – A list of the official documents that you will require in addition to the migration certificate will be available on the portal of the university when you apply. 

Q2. Where can I receive my migration certificate from? 

Answer – A soft copy of most migration certificates will be available to download from the school portal. Additionally, students can receive a physical copy directly from the school. 

Q3. What do I do if the details on my migration certificate are incorrect?

Answer – If the details on your migration certificate are incorrect, bring the same to the attention of the school head and they will put in a request for a change. 

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Goodluck!