What is a Character Certificate Affidavit?
A character certificate affidavit (chritra praman patra shapat patra) is a legally sworn declaration in which a person declares their own good character and confirms that they have not been involved in any criminal activity, offence, or misconduct.
It is commonly used during job applications, passport verification, admission to educational institutions, and various government purposes where the applicant's character and conduct must be verified under oath.
Note: A character certificate affidavit is a self-declaration sworn before a Notary Public. It is different from a Character Certificate, which is issued by a competent authority (SDM, Tehsildar, Police, or employer) after official verification.
When is a Character Certificate Affidavit Required?
A character certificate affidavit is commonly required in the following situations:
- Government job verification — During document verification and joining formalities
- Private sector background check — For corporate jobs
- Passport application — As supporting documentation for police verification
- Admission to professional courses — Medical, engineering, law, etc.
- Admission to boarding schools — For students' character verification
- Visa applications — For immigration and travel purposes
- Arms license application — For firearm licensing
- Adoption proceedings — For adoptive parents
- Sports and government schemes — For various programs
- Security agency employment — For jobs requiring verification
- Hostel admission — For student residences
- Legal proceedings — As supporting evidence in court
Documents Required for Character Certificate Affidavit
Keep the following documents ready before you begin:
- Aadhaar card
- PAN card
- Address proof
- Educational certificates (10th, 12th, degree)
- Employment records (if applicable)
- Passport-size photographs (2 copies)
- Two witnesses with valid ID proof
- Non-judicial stamp paper (₹10 / ₹20 / ₹50 / ₹100)
- Police verification copy (if available)
- Previous character certificate (if any)
Character Certificate Affidavit Format — What It Contains
A standard character certificate affidavit format typically includes the following information:
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Deponent Name | Full legal name as per records |
| Father's / Husband's Name | Relation and name |
| Address | Complete residential address with PIN |
| Date of Birth | As per Aadhaar / birth certificate |
| Education | Last qualification and institution |
| Occupation | Present employment or student status |
| Employment History | Previous employers (if applicable) |
| Declaration of Good Character | Sworn statement of good conduct |
| No Criminal Record Statement | Declaration of no criminal involvement |
| Purpose | Job / Passport / Education / Visa |
| Place & Date | Where and when the affidavit is signed |
| Signature | Deponent + two witnesses |
| Notary Verification | Notary stamp, registration number & seal |
How to Make a Character Certificate Affidavit — Step by Step
- Fill the online form on AffidavitFormat.com with your name, father's name, address, and educational/employment details.
- Choose your language — Hindi, English, or bilingual (Dwibhashi).
- Select the correct stamp paper value for your state — ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, or ₹100 non-judicial stamp paper.
- Click Preview to review the affidavit. Cross-check all details carefully.
- Print the affidavit on the selected stamp paper. Use e-stamp paper from the SHCIL portal if needed.
- Sign before a Notary Public along with two witnesses. The notary will verify identity and apply their seal.
- Attach supporting documents — educational certificates, employment records, etc.
- Submit to authority — employer, government department, or institution.
Character Certificate vs Character Affidavit
Understanding the difference helps you submit the right document:
| Feature | Character Certificate | Character Affidavit |
|---|---|---|
| Issued By | Government / employer / institution | Self-declaration |
| Verification | Official background check | Sworn statement |
| Legal Weight | High | Medium |
| Issuing Time | Days to weeks | Instant |
| Cost | Free to nominal | Stamp paper + notary |
| Common Use | Government jobs, passport | Private jobs, preliminary verification |
Tip: For government jobs and passports, an official Character Certificate is usually required. A character affidavit is best used for private sector jobs, preliminary verification, or as a supporting document.
Important Points to Remember
- The declaration must be truthful — false declaration is a criminal offence.
- Any past criminal record must be disclosed — concealment can lead to cancellation of job or admission.
- Use the correct stamp paper value as per your state's rules.
- Attach supporting documents — educational certificates, employment records — to strengthen your case.
- Sign only in front of the Notary with two witnesses present.
- Keep multiple notarized copies for future use.
- Some employers require a police-issued character certificate instead of an affidavit.
- Character affidavit is generally valid for 6-12 months depending on the receiving authority.
Legal Tip: A character certificate affidavit does not replace a police character verification. For government jobs and passport, you must undergo the official police verification process. The affidavit only provides additional support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A character certificate affidavit is a sworn legal declaration in which a person declares their own good character and confirms that they have not been involved in any criminal activity, offence, or misconduct. It is commonly used for job applications, passport, education, and government verification.
A character certificate affidavit is required during government job verification, private sector background checks, passport application (police verification), admission to professional courses, visa applications, and various official purposes where good conduct needs to be confirmed.
Yes. A character certificate affidavit is legally valid in India when it is printed on non-judicial stamp paper, signed by the deponent, witnessed by two witnesses, and notarized by a licensed Notary Public.
You need Aadhaar card, PAN card, address proof, education certificates, employment records (if applicable), two passport-size photos, two witnesses with valid ID proof, and non-judicial stamp paper.
A character certificate is issued by a government authority, employer, or institution after verification. A character affidavit is a self-declaration sworn before a Notary Public. Both confirm good character, but are issued by different parties.
The affidavit format is free on AffidavitFormat.com. You only pay for the non-judicial stamp paper (₹10 to ₹100) and notary charges (usually ₹50 to ₹200).
Most government departments require an official Character Certificate issued by a competent authority (like SDM, Tehsildar, or police). However, a notarized character affidavit may be accepted as preliminary proof or during the document verification stage.
For passport application, a formal police verification is required. A character affidavit may be submitted as supporting documentation, but it does not replace the police verification process.
A character certificate affidavit format includes the deponent's details (name, father's name, address, DOB), educational and employment background, a sworn declaration of good character, statement of no criminal record, place, date, signature, witness signatures, and notary verification.
Yes. AffidavitFormat.com provides the character certificate affidavit in Hindi, English, and bilingual (Dwibhashi) formats, which you can print directly from your browser.
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