Last updated: 15 September 2026
If you have lost, damaged, or destroyed your educational certificate in Nepal, here is what to do right away. Confirm the certificate is genuinely lost and not just misplaced. Contact the institution that originally issued it, whether that is NEB, TU, CTEVT, or another university, since each has its own duplicate certificate process. Ask whether a police report or newspaper notice is needed for your specific case, since this differs by institution and sometimes by circumstance. Then apply for the duplicate certificate at that same office with whatever supporting documents you have. Most duplicate certificates in Nepal can be issued within about a week once your application is complete, and the fee is generally a modest few hundred to just over a thousand rupees.
This complete process for NEB, TU, and CTEVT, covers the police report and newspaper notice question properly instead of guessing, and answers the practical edge cases students actually run into, a lost registration number, a damaged rather than lost certificate, using a duplicate for NOC or study abroad, and what happens if you find your original certificate later.
What Is a Duplicate Certificate?
A duplicate certificate is an official replacement copy of your original academic certificate, issued by the same institution that awarded your original qualification, when that original has been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. The institution issues it based on your academic records still held in their system, so it carries the same official status as your original, it is not a lesser or informal version.
You can request a duplicate certificate once you can genuinely confirm your original is unusable or unrecoverable, whether that means it is missing entirely, was stolen, got torn or water damaged beyond legibility, or was destroyed in a fire or similar incident.
The main difference between a duplicate and your original certificate is usually just a notation. Many institutions print the word “Duplicate” somewhere on the reissued document, or note in their internal records that this copy was issued as a replacement. Functionally, though, a duplicate certificate is generally treated as a full and valid replacement for the original, accepted for the same purposes, jobs, further study, verification, and official processes, since it comes from the same authoritative source with the same academic details.
When Can You Get a Duplicate Certificate?
You can apply for a duplicate certificate if your original was lost somewhere and cannot be found despite a genuine search, if it was stolen, if it was damaged in a way that makes it illegible or unusable, such as torn, water damaged, or badly faded, if it was destroyed entirely, for instance in a fire or flood, or if it has simply become unusable for any other legitimate reason your issuing institution accepts.
Is a Duplicate Certificate Valid?
Yes. A duplicate certificate issued through the official process by NEB, TU, CTEVT, or another university is a legitimate, valid academic credential. That said, it is smart practice to keep every supporting document from the replacement process itself, your application receipt, any police report, and any newspaper notice, since some employers, foreign institutions, or verification processes may occasionally ask to see the full paper trail behind a duplicate, not just the duplicate certificate on its own.
What Should You Do If You Lose Your Educational Certificate?
Confirm That the Certificate Is Actually Lost
Search thoroughly first, including any files, folders, or storage where you might have placed it, since a genuinely misplaced certificate that turns up later saves you the entire replacement process. Only move forward with a formal loss report once you are reasonably confident it is actually gone.
Report the Loss if Required
Depending on the institution and your specific situation, you may need to file a police report documenting the loss before you can apply for a duplicate. This is not universal across every case, but it does come up often enough, particularly at TU, that you should check this early rather than discovering it as a surprise requirement partway through.
Check Whether a Newspaper Notice Is Required
Some institutions, or some situations, require you to publish a public notice in a newspaper declaring your certificate lost, especially when the loss involves a higher stakes original degree certificate rather than a marksheet or transcript. This requirement is not consistent across every institution or every case, so confirm with your specific issuing office before assuming you need one.
Contact the Institution That Issued the Certificate
Reach out to the exact office that originally issued the certificate, NEB, TU’s Office of the Controller of Examinations, or CTEVT’s Exam Controller Office, rather than the school or college where you actually studied. They can tell you the current, specific requirements for your situation.
Apply for a Duplicate Certificate
Once you know what your specific institution requires for your specific case, submit your application along with the supporting documents, whatever combination of police report, newspaper notice, remaining copies of your original documents, and identification the office asks for.
Not every institution always requires a police report or a newspaper notice for every situation. Requirements genuinely differ by institution and sometimes by the specific circumstances of your loss, so treat the steps above as things to check, not things to assume.
Who Issues Duplicate Certificates in Nepal?
| Certificate | Where to Apply |
|---|---|
| SEE / NEB Certificate | National Examination Board |
| TU Certificate | Tribhuvan University / relevant office |
| CTEVT Certificate | CTEVT / Controller of Examinations |
| University Certificate | Relevant university |
| Other Academic Certificate | Issuing institution |
Always apply to the body that originally issued the certificate, not the college or school where you studied. Your college can often help point you in the right direction or provide a supporting letter, but the actual duplicate certificate comes from the awarding institution itself, since that is the only body with the authoritative academic record on file.
How to Get a Duplicate NEB Certificate
Who Can Apply?
You are eligible if you originally received your certificate from NEB, whether for SEE (Class 10) or Class 12, and you can confirm the original is lost, damaged, or destroyed.
Documents Required
Generally, you need photocopies of whatever original marksheets or certificate pages you still have, your citizenship certificate or another valid photo ID, and a character certificate from your school if requested. If you no longer have any physical copy at all, your symbol number and registration number become essential, since NEB uses these to locate your record in their system.
What to Do if Your SEE Certificate Is Lost
If it is specifically your SEE certificate that is lost rather than your Class 12 certificate, the same general NEB process applies, contact the NEB office, confirm current requirements for that specific certificate, and apply with whatever documentation you have, including your symbol number from your SEE exam.
Application Process
Visit the NEB office at Sinamangal, Kathmandu, and explain your situation at the counter, since staff there will confirm the exact current requirements for your case. Bring whatever documents you have from the list above. Fill out the relevant application form, submit your documents, and pay the applicable fee.
Police Report or Newspaper Notice
Whether these are required depends on your specific circumstances and NEB’s current policy at the time you apply. This has not always been consistently documented in public guides, and NEB’s exact requirement can vary, so ask directly at the office rather than assuming either one is or is not needed.
Fee
Fees for NEB documents, including transcript and certificate reissuance, have generally run around NPR 1,100 per document in recent NEB practice, though a specific duplicate certificate fee can differ from a standard transcript fee. Confirm the current exact figure at the counter.
Processing Time
NEB document processing has generally taken a minimum of about 7 working days for related services like transcripts, and duplicate certificate processing tends to follow a similar general timeframe, though it can take longer if your case requires additional record verification.
Where to Collect the Duplicate Certificate
You collect your duplicate certificate in person at the NEB office at Sinamangal, Kathmandu, using your payment receipt and application slip from when you submitted your documents.
How to Get a Duplicate Tribhuvan University Certificate
Who Can Apply?
You are eligible if TU originally issued your transcript, provisional certificate, or original degree certificate, and you can confirm it is lost, damaged, or destroyed.
Required Documents
You generally need your TU registration card, photocopies of your marksheets for each year or semester you completed, and your citizenship certificate or valid photo ID. For a lost transcript specifically, TU’s documented process asks for your registration card along with photocopies of your mark sheets.
Application Process
Fill out a bank deposit slip and pay the applicable fee at Global IME Bank near the Office of the Controller of Examinations at Kirtipur or Balkhu. Collect the relevant replacement application form at the OCE in Balkhu and fill it out completely. Submit your form along with your bank deposit slip and supporting documents at the designated room, and collect a voucher slip telling you when to return.
Lost TU Certificate
For a genuinely lost original certificate rather than just a transcript, TU’s process has in practice been reported by students as noticeably stricter, sometimes requiring a letter from the Chief District Officer’s (CDO) office, a police report, and a newspaper notice, following a pattern similar to replacing a lost passport. This is a more involved process than replacing a lost transcript, so budget more time and expect to gather more supporting paperwork if it is your actual original certificate, not just a transcript, that is missing.
Damaged TU Certificate
If your certificate is damaged rather than fully lost, bring the damaged original itself to the OCE along with your other documents, since TU staff may want to see the physical damaged certificate as part of processing your replacement request, rather than treating it purely as a loss case.
Fees
Fees for replacing a lost TU transcript generally follow the same tiered structure as ordinary transcript fees, varying by level. Reported figures have included NPR 350 for Intermediate level, NPR 450 for Bachelor’s level, and NPR 550 for Master’s level, though always confirm the current amount at the counter since related original certificate fees run notably higher, in the range of NPR 800 to 1,800 depending on level.
Processing Time
Processing for a replacement transcript at TU has generally taken from a few working days up to a couple of weeks, depending on office workload. A lost original certificate case, if it requires the fuller police report and newspaper notice process, will generally take longer than a straightforward transcript replacement.
Collection or Delivery
You collect your duplicate TU document in person at the Office of the Controller of Examinations, using your voucher slip along with your original citizenship or ID document for verification.
How to Get a Duplicate CTEVT Certificate
Who Can Apply?
You are eligible if CTEVT originally issued your diploma, PCL, or TSLC certificate, transcript, or migration document, and it has since been lost or damaged.
Required Documents
CTEVT’s documented process for a lost transcript and certificate asks for a copy of your marksheet and certificate from SEE/SLC and CTEVT, along with a police report confirming the loss.
Where to Apply
Visit the Office of the Controller of Examinations at CTEVT’s head office in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, or check whether your relevant provincial CTEVT office now handles this service, since CTEVT has been extending certificate and transcript services to its provincial offices so graduates do not always need to travel to Bhaktapur.
Application Process
Submit your application form along with your supporting documents, including the police report, at the counter, and pay the applicable fee.
Fees
CTEVT’s documented fee for a lost transcript and certificate replacement is NPR 1,020.
Processing Time
CTEVT’s documented processing time for this specific service is 7 working days from submission.
Documents Required for a Duplicate Certificate
As a general checklist across institutions, gather your citizenship certificate, your registration number or registration card, a copy of your original certificate if you still have one in any form, your marksheet or transcript, passport size photographs, a completed application form, your fee receipt once you pay, a police report if your specific institution requires one, evidence of a newspaper publication if required, and any recommendation or verification letter your institution may ask for, along with any other identification documents requested.
Not every institution asks for every item on this list. Treat it as a starting checklist to bring with you, then confirm the exact required subset with your specific issuing office.
What If You Don’t Have a Copy of the Lost Certificate?
If you have no copy of your certificate at all, your registration number, symbol number, the year you completed your exam or program, and your institution or school name become the key details that let the issuing body locate your record in their system. Bring whatever supporting evidence you can gather, an old admit card, a school leaving certificate that references your exam details, or even your citizenship certificate showing your name and date of birth clearly, and explain your situation at the counter. Institutions generally have a workaround process for exactly this kind of case rather than refusing outright, since lost records are a common enough situation.
Do You Need a Police Report for a Duplicate Certificate?
There is no single answer that applies to every certificate or every institution. A police report may be requested specifically as evidence that your certificate was genuinely lost or stolen, rather than, for instance, still being in your possession while you try to obtain an extra copy. Institutions ask for this because a certificate is a valuable, sometimes financially or professionally significant document, and a police report creates an official record supporting your claim of loss.
Whether the requirement applies to you differs by issuing authority and by which specific document you are replacing. Based on documented cases, CTEVT’s process for a lost transcript and certificate explicitly requires a police report. TU’s process for a fully lost original certificate has similarly been reported to require one, though a straightforward lost transcript replacement at TU has not always required this same level of documentation. NEB’s exact requirement is less consistently documented and can depend on your specific situation.
Before preparing a police report, contact your issuing institution first and ask exactly what they require for your specific case, since preparing one unnecessarily wastes time, while being unprepared when it genuinely is required delays your application.
Do You Need a Newspaper Notice for a Lost Certificate?
Why Is a Newspaper Notice Sometimes Required?
A newspaper notice serves a similar purpose to a police report, creating a public record that gives anyone who might have found your certificate, or who might try to misuse it, a chance to come forward, while also documenting your good faith effort to declare the loss publicly before receiving a replacement.
What Information May Need to Be Published?
Where required, a newspaper notice typically needs to include your full name, your certificate type and level, your registration or symbol number, and a statement that the original has been lost, along with the date.
Is It Required for Every Certificate?
No. This requirement is not universal. It has been reported specifically in connection with TU original certificate replacements, following a process similar to a lost passport, but is not consistently documented as a requirement for every NEB, CTEVT, or transcript level replacement. Confirm directly with your specific issuing office whether this applies to your situation before assuming you need one or skipping it and being caught off guard later.
How Much Does a Duplicate Certificate Cost in Nepal?
| Institution | Duplicate Certificate Fee |
|---|---|
| NEB | Check latest official fee, historically around NPR 1,100 for related documents |
| TU | Check latest official fee, historically NPR 350 to 550 for transcript level replacement depending on level, higher for original certificate replacement |
| CTEVT | NPR 1,020 for lost transcript and certificate, per CTEVT’s documented fee schedule |
| Other Universities | Varies, confirm directly with the relevant university |
Beyond the institution’s own fee, budget for possible additional expenses. A police report may carry a small administrative cost depending on your local station. A newspaper notice, where required, involves a publication fee that varies by the newspaper you use. Photocopies and additional photographs add a modest cost. And if you cannot collect your certificate in person, postal or delivery charges may apply where that service is offered.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Duplicate Certificate?
| Institution | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| NEB | Generally around 7 working days for related documents, can vary |
| TU | A few working days for transcript replacement, longer for a full original certificate case requiring police report and newspaper notice |
| CTEVT | 7 working days for documented lost transcript and certificate service |
| Other Universities | Varies, confirm directly with the relevant university |
Why Can a Duplicate Certificate Be Delayed?
An incomplete application missing one of the required documents is one of the most common delays. Missing academic records, particularly if your institution cannot immediately locate your file using the details you provided, can add significant time. Incorrect registration information on your application form, causing a mismatch with the institution’s records, is another frequent cause. Verification requirements, especially for a fully lost original certificate rather than a transcript, naturally extend processing time since the institution is confirming your loss claim, not just reprinting a document. High application volume during busy periods at the office can slow things down regardless of how complete your application is. And missing supporting documents, whether that is a police report, a newspaper notice, or a required photograph, will hold up your application until you provide them.
Can You Apply for a Duplicate Certificate Online?
Which Institutions Offer Online Services?
TU has been expanding some online services connected to its transcript and academic document system, but a full duplicate certificate application, especially for a genuinely lost original certificate, generally still requires an in-person visit at some stage of the process. NEB and CTEVT’s duplicate certificate processes remain primarily in-person as of current practice.
Which Applications Require an Office Visit?
In practice, most duplicate certificate applications across NEB, TU, and CTEVT still require visiting the issuing office directly, at minimum to submit your original supporting documents for verification and to collect your finished duplicate certificate.
Can Someone Else Apply or Collect It for You?
Often yes, using a signed authorization letter along with your original documents or clear photocopies, though the specific policy on this varies by office. Confirm directly with your issuing institution before sending a representative in your place, especially for a case involving a police report or newspaper notice, since additional verification may be required.
What Happens After an Online Application?
Where an online component exists, it typically only covers the initial submission or form completion stage. You should still expect to visit the office in person at some point, either to submit original documents for verification or to collect your finished duplicate certificate. Do not assume that starting a process online means the entire replacement is complete without any office visit.
What If Your Certificate Is Damaged Instead of Lost?
A torn certificate, a water damaged certificate, a faded certificate that has become hard to read, or a certificate that is only partially damaged all fall under this category rather than a genuine loss. The distinction matters because the institution generally wants to physically examine your damaged original as evidence, rather than relying purely on a police report or newspaper notice the way a fully lost certificate case might require.
Keep the damaged original certificate rather than discarding it, and bring it with you to the issuing office when you apply for a replacement. Explain clearly that the certificate is damaged, not lost, since this can shift what supporting documentation the office actually asks for.
Can You Get a Duplicate Certificate Without Your Registration Number?
Your registration number matters because it is the primary key institutions use to quickly locate your academic record in their system. Without it, staff have to search using alternative information instead, which takes longer and is not guaranteed to succeed depending on how their records are organized.
Alternative academic information that may help includes your symbol number from the relevant exam, your full name exactly as it appeared on your academic documents, your year of completion, and your school, college, or institution name. Bring any old document that references these details, even something like an old admit card, an old school report, or a reference in another official document.
Whether the issuing authority can actually locate your records using this alternative information depends on how their record system works and how much detail you can provide. It is not guaranteed for every case. If both your certificate and your registration details are entirely missing, your best option is to contact your former school or college directly first, since they often retain their own local records, like your original admission or enrollment file, that can help reconstruct enough information for the issuing board or university to search their own system.
Can You Use a Duplicate Certificate for NOC or Study Abroad?
Duplicate Certificate for NOC
A duplicate certificate is generally treated the same as an original for NOC (No Objection Certificate) purposes, since MoEST’s NOC process relies on your academic documents to confirm your qualification, and a properly issued duplicate carries the same official standing. For the full NOC process itself, read our complete guide on NOC Nepal.
Duplicate Certificate for Foreign University Applications
Foreign universities generally accept a duplicate certificate the same way they accept an original, provided it clearly shows the same academic details, your name, program, institution, and result, and carries the issuing institution’s official seal and signature.
Do Foreign Institutions Accept Duplicate Certificates?
Acceptance is not universal by default. Some foreign universities, embassies, or credential evaluators may have their own specific policies about duplicate documents, sometimes asking for additional verification, an explanatory letter, or supporting evidence of the original loss. Always check directly with the specific university, embassy, credential evaluator, or authority requesting the document, rather than assuming a duplicate will be automatically accepted without question in every case.
Can You Use a Duplicate Certificate for a Job?
Government Jobs
Government job applications and the document verification stage generally accept a duplicate certificate as valid proof of your qualification, since it comes from the same official issuing authority as your original.
Private Jobs
Private employers similarly tend to accept a duplicate certificate without issue, treating it as equivalent to an original for verification purposes.
When an Employer May Request Verification
For certain sensitive or highly regulated positions, an employer may ask for additional verification beyond the duplicate certificate itself, such as direct confirmation from the issuing institution, or may request to see your original supporting documents like your police report if one was part of your replacement process. This is not the norm for most positions, but it can come up depending on the role and the employer’s internal policy.
What Happens If You Find the Original Certificate After Getting a Duplicate?
Keep both documents safely rather than discarding either one. Do not misrepresent the duplicate as your original certificate, or vice versa, in any formal process, since institutions and employers generally expect accurate disclosure about which document is which.
Some issuing authorities have specific rules requiring you to notify them if you find the original after a duplicate has been issued, particularly since having two valid copies of the same certificate in circulation can matter for their own record integrity. Contact the issuing authority to ask whether their rules require this kind of notification for your specific case, and follow their instructions regarding what to do with the old, now-duplicate original, whether that means surrendering it, marking it, or simply keeping it on file alongside your duplicate.
Common Mistakes When Applying for a Duplicate Certificate
Applying to the wrong authority, for instance going to your college instead of the actual issuing board or university, wastes time and gets you redirected. Using incorrect registration information on your application form causes mismatches that delay processing. Not checking the latest requirements before you go, and instead relying on outdated information from an old forum post or a friend’s experience from years ago, can mean showing up without something you now actually need. Assuming police reports are always required, when your specific case might not need one. Assuming newspaper notices are always required, when this is genuinely not universal. Losing the fee receipt after paying, which you may need again to collect your finished duplicate. Submitting unclear photocopies that staff cannot properly read or verify. Waiting until an admission or NOC deadline is close before starting the replacement process, leaving no buffer if anything is delayed. And not checking spelling and personal details carefully on the replacement certificate once you receive it, before you leave the counter.
What If the Duplicate Certificate Has an Error?
Name Error
If your name is misspelled or doesn’t match your other official documents on the new duplicate certificate, return to the same issuing office as soon as you notice, bringing the incorrect certificate along with documents that clearly show your correct name, such as your citizenship certificate.
Date of Birth Error
Similarly, if your date of birth is incorrect, bring your citizenship certificate or another official ID showing the correct date, and request a correction at the same office.
Registration Number Error
If your registration or symbol number is wrong on the duplicate, bring whatever original documentation you have showing the correct number, since this is a more sensitive detail tied directly to your academic record and may require a bit more verification to correct.
What Documents Should You Keep as Proof?
Keep your original application receipt, your fee payment receipt, and any correspondence or reference number from your correction request, since these help establish a clear paper trail if the correction takes more than one visit to resolve.
Duplicate Certificate vs Other Educational Documents
| Document | Main Purpose |
|---|---|
| Original Certificate | Original proof of qualification |
| Duplicate Certificate | Replacement when original is lost or damaged |
| Transcript | Academic marks and grades record |
| Migration Certificate | Transfer from one institution or board to another |
| Provisional Certificate | Temporary proof of qualification before the original is issued |
For more on getting your transcript, read our guide on how to get an NEB transcript.
If you need a provisional certificate rather than a replacement for a lost one, read our guide on how to get a provisional certificate in Nepal. And if you are transferring institutions rather than replacing a lost document, read our guide on how to get a migration certificate in Nepal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a duplicate certificate in Nepal?
Contact the institution that originally issued your certificate, NEB, TU, or CTEVT, confirm their current requirements for your specific situation, and apply with the required supporting documents and fee.
What should I do if I lose my educational certificate?
Confirm it is genuinely lost, contact the issuing institution to check whether a police report or newspaper notice applies to your case, then apply for a duplicate at that same office.
How can I get a duplicate NEB certificate?
Visit the NEB office at Sinamangal, Kathmandu, with whatever documents you have, your symbol and registration number, citizenship copy, and any remaining marksheets, and apply for a replacement.
How can I get a duplicate TU certificate?
Visit the Office of the Controller of Examinations at Balkhu or Kirtipur with your registration card and marksheet photocopies. A lost original certificate, as opposed to a transcript, may additionally require a CDO letter, police report, and newspaper notice.
How can I get a duplicate CTEVT certificate?
Visit the Office of the Controller of Examinations at Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, or your relevant provincial office, with your marksheet and certificate copies and a police report, and pay the NPR 1,020 fee.
What documents are required for a duplicate certificate?
Generally your citizenship certificate, registration number, any remaining copy of your certificate or marksheet, passport photos, a completed application form, and possibly a police report or newspaper notice depending on your institution and case.
Do I need a police report for a lost certificate?
Sometimes. CTEVT explicitly requires one for its lost transcript and certificate service. TU has been reported to require one for a fully lost original certificate. Confirm directly with your specific institution for your case.
Do I need to publish a newspaper notice?
Not always. This has mainly been reported as a TU original certificate requirement, similar to a lost passport process, rather than a universal rule across every institution and document type.
How much does a duplicate certificate cost?
CTEVT charges NPR 1,020 for its documented lost transcript and certificate service. TU’s transcript level replacement has historically run NPR 350 to 550 depending on level. NEB related documents have historically run around NPR 1,100. Confirm current fees directly with your institution.
How long does it take?
Generally around 7 working days for NEB and CTEVT related services. TU transcript replacement can take a few working days, while a full original certificate case with police report and newspaper notice will generally take longer.
Can I apply online?
Mostly no for the complete process. Some institutions have partial online services, but an in-person visit is generally still required at some stage, particularly for document verification and collection.
Can I get a duplicate certificate without my registration number?
Possibly, using alternative details like your symbol number, name, year of completion, and institution name, though success depends on how your institution’s records are organized. It is not guaranteed for every case.
Can I use a duplicate certificate for NOC?
Yes, a properly issued duplicate is generally treated the same as an original for NOC purposes.
Can I use a duplicate certificate to study abroad?
Generally yes, but always confirm with the specific foreign university, embassy, or credential evaluator, since acceptance policies can differ.
Can I use a duplicate certificate for a job?
Yes, for most government and private positions. Some sensitive roles may request additional verification beyond the duplicate certificate itself.
What should I do if my duplicate certificate has an error?
Return to the same issuing office with the incorrect certificate and documents showing your correct details, and request a correction.
What happens if I find my original certificate after getting a duplicate?
Keep both documents safely, never misrepresent which is which, and check with the issuing authority whether their rules require you to notify them about the recovered original.
