Guide
The bonafide certificate: what a school or college certifies and how to word it
A bonafide certificate is a short statement from a school or college that a named person is a genuine student there. The word comes from Latin and means “in good faith”. Students use it to open a bank account, apply for a scholarship, get a passport or a travel concession, or take an education loan. Institutions issue many of them, so a clear format saves the office time. This generator drafts it.
What the form asks for
Enter the institution, its address, the signer’s name and designation, such as Principal, and the date of issue. An optional reference number lets the office record it. Describe the student: name, whether they are the son, daughter or ward of someone, the parent or guardian’s name, the class or course, a roll or admission number, the academic year, such as 2026-27, and an optional date of birth. Then choose what the certificate is for: opening a bank account, applying for a scholarship, a passport application, a travel concession, an education loan or another purpose that you type.
What it says
The certificate has the institution’s name and address at the top right, with a reference and date line, a heading “Bonafide Certificate”, and two paragraphs. The first certifies that the student, son or daughter of the parent, born on a date, is a bonafide student of the institution, studying in the class or course in the academic year, with the roll or admission number. The second says the certificate is issued at the student’s request for the stated purpose and that the student’s conduct and character, as far as the institution knows, are good. At the bottom are the signer’s name, designation and institution, and a box for the seal.
A worked example
The sample is from Sunrise Public School in Kothrud, Pune, signed by Mrs Anjali Deshmukh, Principal, on 10 November 2026 with reference SPS/2026/0412. It certifies that Aarav Kulkarni, son of Ramesh Kulkarni, born on 21 May 2013, is a bonafide student studying in Class 7, Section B in the academic year 2026-27, roll number 27, issued for opening a bank account. The certificate is about 100 words and fits easily on one page, with room for the school’s seal and stamp.
The standard conduct line
Many Indian institutions include “conduct and character good”, and the template includes it as a customary line. If your institution does not use it, or a student’s record does not support it, delete it before printing. Only a signer who can speak for the institution should sign.
Getting the details right
Take the name, date of birth and class from the school’s own records, not from memory, because even a one-letter difference can make a bank reject the form. Choose a purpose that matches the request. Print on the institution’s letterhead and add the seal. Parents should check the dates and the purpose before they take the certificate to the bank or office.
Limits
The tool produces text and a layout, not an official document: the certificate carries weight only when the institution signs, stamps and takes responsibility for it. Different offices ask for different wording, and some require their own forms. This is a general format and not legal advice.
Related tools
- NOC Generator produces the permission letters that colleges and employers issue.
- Letter of Recommendation Generator supports students applying to programmes.
- Internship Offer Letter Generator is what an organisation issues to a student who needs a bonafide certificate for it.
- Leave Application Generator handles absences from the same school.
Checked against the current version of the Bonafide Certificate Generator on .