What is relieving letter?

A relieving letter is a formal document issued by an employer to an employee who has formally resigned from their position in the organization. Usually, relieving letter is provided in case of a voluntary exit, stating that the resignation has been accepted with terms of exit.

This letter serves as proof that the employee has been officially relieved from their duties and responsibilities and that they have completed all necessary formalities related to their exit. It essentially confirms that the employee no longer has any binding or association with the previous employer.

What are the purposes of a relieving letter?

Proof of employment termination

The letter verifies that the employee has left the previous company and is not holding any position there.

No dues

It confirms that the employee has settled all their dues, completed all assignments, and returned any company assets they had in possession.

Future employment

Many employers require new joiners to provide a relieving letter from their last employer to ensure that the employee has properly ended their previous employment.

Difference between relieving letter and experience letter

Criteria	Relieving letter	Experience letter
Purpose	This letter confirms that the employee has formally resigned and been relieved from all responsibilities with the previous employer. It essentially states that the employee has no outstanding obligations with the previous company.	This letter certifies the duration of employment and the roles and responsibilities handled by the employee during their tenure. It's primarily used as proof of work experience and to give potential employers an idea of the candidate's job profile and competencies.
Timing of Issuance	This is issued after an employee has formally resigned and completed all exit formalities.	This can be issued at any time during the employee's tenure or after they leave. In some scenarios, employees ask for it while they are still employed if they need it for purposes like higher education, immigration, or other personal reasons.
Content	- Employee's name and designation. - Statement confirming the employee has been relieved from their duties. - Confirmation that the employee has completed all the exit formalities and has no pending obligations. - Date of the last working day.	- Employee's name and designation. - Dates of joining and leaving. - Description of the job profile, roles, and responsibilities. - Sometimes, it may also include a brief assessment or remark about the employee's performance or behavior during their tenure.

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Relieving letter format - learn how to write one for employees

Here is a common relieving letter format that you can edit as per your requirements.

[Company Letterhead]

[Company Logo (if available)]

[Company Address]

[City, ZIP Code]

[Date]

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[Employee's Full Name]

[Employee's Address]

[City, ZIP Code]

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Subject: Relieving Letter

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Dear [Employee's First Name],

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This is to acknowledge the receipt of your resignation letter dated [Resignation Date], wherein you've requested to be relieved from your duties as [Employee's Designation] at [Company Name].

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After careful consideration and completion of the notice period, and having settled all the formalities, we accept your resignation, and your last working day with [Company Name] is [Last Working Day Date].

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This letter serves to certify that you have been relieved from all your roles and responsibilities related to your position of [Employee's Designation]. You have complied with all the exit formalities and handed over your obligations to the concerned department/personnel.

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We acknowledge your contributions during your tenure with [Company Name] from [Date of Joining] to [Last Working Day Date]. We wish you the best in your future endeavors and hope you succeed in your professional journey.

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Please note that this letter is being issued to you for the purpose of future reference, and there are no dues pending against your name from the company's side.

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Thank you and best of luck.

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Warm regards,

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[HR Manager's Name]

[HR Manager's Designation]

[Company Name]

[Company Contact Information - Phone Number, Email Address]

What to do if company is not giving relieving letter?

You can do the following:

Request your HR and other people in the management to send it
If you don’t see a valid reason in them delaying or not giving your relieving letter, you can take legal action.

Is relieving letter mandatory?

Relieving letter is not lawfully mandatory. However, most organizations give it upon an employee resigning and also ask for it while hiring an employee. Hence, it is important for companies to give for a smooth transition for employees. It also helps the employer keep a record of resignations.

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