As a student, complicated terms related to important documents can be overwhelming. Today, be deciphering two of those sometimes confusing concepts to understand our important documents better. We will understand the key difference between a Migration Certificate and A transfer Certificate so that we are aware of the terms when the need comes.
It is essential to know these terms as a student since owing to the dynamic nature of a student’s life it is of utmost importance to be aware of the critical certificates and papers for future references.
So, let us begin by understanding these two similar yet very different sets of papers and educate ourselves about their importance.
What is a Migration Certificate?
As a student, when you will be completing the first significant chapter of your life which is finishing school, the need for a migration certificate will come into play. The migration certificate as the name suggests is a document that is issued to a student after completing a course.
Throughout your student life, you will need a migration certificate once you have completed a degree and need to establish the same. A migration certificate in your name states the fact that you have successfully finished your course and are eligible to apply or progress to a different set of degrees or courses.
It helps you not only progress to another course, it also enables you to take admission regardless of the board or university since you are done with the assigned course in the picture.
When and Why It Is Issued?
A migration certificate is very important when it comes to your higher studies. To help you understand when and why it is issued let us consider a hypothetical situation. But before we begin, never forget that only your education board has the authority to issue you a migration certificate.
Now coming back to our hypothetical situation, suppose you are someone who has just finished school, your board exam results will not only suffice during admission. A migration certificate will tell the authorities that you are no longer attached to your board and have completed your twelve years.
But please do remember that you can shift multiple schools, but you won’t need a migration certificate for that. It only comes into play when you are done with your school and no longer attached to the curriculum of ICSE, CBSE, or your local board. Hence, when you finish one degree and proceed to pursue another, you require a migration certificate regardless of the physical entity of your institute.
How to Obtain a Migration Certificate?
The procurement of a migration certificate is more or less the same regardless of the degree you are pursuing. Once the results are announced for your boards or your graduation, you need to follow the below steps.
- The migration certificate in school is usually given with the mark sheet together. But sometimes in the case of a university or college, there is a specific date assigned or a student can collect it on their own accord or apply for it online.
- Typically, the hassle is less when it comes to a student passing out from school, since the school arranges everything. All you have to do is carry your result or your admit card to obtain the result and the certificate.
- The process may be a bit complicated when it comes to universities since you have to not only carry your mark sheet, but the last fee receipt, and maybe various other documents that are university-specific.
It is of critical importance to remember that a migration certificate should be signed by the principal or the dean of the school or university otherwise it is just a piece of paper.
What is a Transfer Certificate?
A transfer certificate is a less complicated version of the migration certificate. It is exactly what the name suggests. It is a piece of paper that allows you to change your school mid-session anywhere in the country or outside of it.
The transfer certificate is given to any student who is no longer attached to a particular school but is continuing their education under the same board.
To give you an example, if a student needs to change their school mid-session or after completing a few years, they need a transfer certificate to get admission in their next school. It is a piece of paper that validates this transfer and says the student is no longer a part of the said school or college.
When and Why It Is Issued?
A transfer certificate is regardless of the board and focuses on the physical entity of the school and whether a student is a part of it or not. Let us understand it hypothetically once again.
Suppose you are someone who is in class nine and is a part of school A, and if you wish to pursue your class 10 from School B you have to get hold of a transfer certificate.
A transfer certificate is important for a student since it acts as a no dues certificate also and is critical during the new admission process. However, it is also essential to keep in mind that a transfer certificate is required along with your migration certificate during your college admission, otherwise, you won’t be allowed to continue your degree.
The key objective of a transfer certificate is to establish the fact that the student is devoid of any financial obligations with the present school and also acts as a character certificate for the student.
How to Obtain a Transfer Certificate?
The process is usually the same for any school when it comes to issuing a transfer certificate. Let us understand it with the below quick steps.
- The transfer certificate is issued automatically by the school once you pass class XII, however, if you are changing your school mid-session you need to request it with the principal.
- No school can deny you a transfer certificate, and if you are changing your school mid-session, a guardian or parent has to apply for one in your behalf.
- It is important to carry necessary documents like the fee certificate and sometimes the last session’s report card to obtain a transfer certificate. However, this may vary from school to school, and typically the students who apply for one are informed of the procedure.
- However, many schools now have an online portal that has the step by step directions in case a student wishes to get a transfer certificate.
Key Differences Between Migration And Transfer Certificates
We have seen the difference between the two in detail. Let us now quickly understand it through a few key points to remember them by.
Migration Certificate:
- The migration certificate is Issued after completing a degree, regardless of the institute.
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- A student can apply for the certificate directly.
- It Is usually issued with the final mark sheet for many schools.
- The student needs to collect their migration certificate after finishing their graduate degree to pursue higher studies.
- Depending on the university a student must submit a fee to get their migration certificate.
- Your education board ( CBSE, ICSE, or Univeristy Board) issues the migration certificate.
Transfer Certificate:
- A transfer certificate is necessary for a student during changing school, regardless of the time.
- Typically, a parent is required to apply for a transfer certificate.
- It is a mandatory certificate in the case of changing the institute, be it school or sometimes college.
- A student is not required to collect any transfer certificate after their graduation degree and usually, most colleges do not have any such provision.
- A transfer certificate is usually free of cost.
- The head of the school or college issues the transfer certificate.
Conclusion
Now you know how similar yet how strikingly different these two certificates are. The certificates may sound the same but are used to validate different things for a student.
It is important to keep this difference in mind to ensure you do not miss out on important documents that are required for your admission. Furthermore, you are also aware of the formalities that are required for you as a student to adhere to.
I hope this article has helped you with your confusion. Please do let us know what you would like to read next.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I use a transfer certificate in place of a migration certificate?
A transfer certificate is required for your admission to any new institute, but it won’t be complete without the migration certificate. Hence, both are necessary if you are planning to pursue a new degree.
2. Who issues a migration certificate?
A migration certificate is issued by the board of your education.
3. Who issues a transfer certificate?
A transfer certificate is issued by the principal of your school.
4. Is a migration certificate required for transferring schools within the same city?
No, a migration certificate is only required when you have passed your school and are planning to pursue higher studies.
5. How long does it take to obtain a migration certificate?
The process of obtaining the migration certificate depends on the university and hence the time period is also university or board-specific.
6. What documents are needed to apply for a transfer certificate?
A student must provide the last fee receipt along with personal details like admission number, roll number, and a no-dues certificate to apply for a transfer certificate.
7. Can a student apply for a migration certificate after graduating?
A student must apply for the migration certificate in order to pursue higher studies.
8. Is there a fee for obtaining a migration or transfer certificate?
A student is required to pay a nominal fee to obtain the migration certificate but a transfer certificate is usually free.
9. How do I apply for a migration certificate if I lost the original one?
If you have unfortunately lost your migration certificate you can apply for a new one by contacting the office of your education board.