How to Get a Migration Certificate in Nepal (2026) NEB, TU and CTEVT

Last Updated: 30 August 2026

A migration certificate in Nepal is the document that officially transfers your academic record from one institution or board to another, and you get it from whichever body issued your most recent qualification, NEB for Class 12, Tribhuvan University for a TU degree, or CTEVT for a diploma. The fee is roughly NPR 1,000 to 1,100 depending on the issuing body, processing generally takes about a week for NEB and TU and around three working days for CTEVT, and in nearly every case you need your original marksheet or degree certificate, your citizenship copy, and a completed application form. Missing this document is one of the most common reasons bachelor admissions get delayed, and it’s also one of the documents NOC applications for studying abroad require.

For more information about the bachelor admission documents in Nepal, our guide on documents required for bachelor admission in Nepal covers where migration certificates fit alongside everything else you’ll need.

What Is a Migration Certificate?

A migration certificate is proof that you’ve left one educational institution or examination board and are eligible to enroll somewhere else. It exists specifically because Nepal’s education system has several separate boards and universities, NEB, TU, Kathmandu University, Purbanchal University, CTEVT, and moving between them requires a formal record that you’re not still enrolled or registered anywhere else under that qualification.

Students need it most commonly when moving from Class 12 under NEB into a bachelor’s program at a university, or when transferring from one university to another mid degree. Without it, the receiving institution has no formal confirmation that you’re free to enroll, and many campuses will not complete your admission without it on file.

It’s frequently confused with a few other documents that serve different purposes entirely. A transcript shows your academic marks and grades, not your eligibility to transfer. A character certificate speaks to your conduct and behavior at your previous institution, not your academic movement. A provisional certificate is temporary proof that you’ve completed a qualification before your final degree certificate is ready, again unrelated to migration. A transfer certificate, which some students mix up with a migration certificate entirely, is generally used for school level transfers rather than the board to board or university to university transfers a migration certificate handles.

What Information Is Included in a Migration Certificate?

A migration certificate typically shows your full name exactly as registered, your registration or symbol number, the name of the institution or board you’re migrating from, the qualification level you completed, and a formal statement confirming you’re eligible to enroll elsewhere. It carries the official seal and signature of the issuing authority, which is what makes it valid for the receiving institution to accept.

Migration Certificate vs Transcript vs Transfer Certificate

Document	Purpose
Migration Certificate	Transfer between institutions or boards
Transcript	Academic marks and grades
Character Certificate	Conduct and behavior
Provisional Certificate	Temporary proof of qualification
Transfer Certificate	Transfer from a school or college

When Do You Need a Migration Certificate?

Changing Universities

If you’re moving from one university to another mid degree, whether that’s TU to Kathmandu University or any other combination, the university you’re leaving needs to issue a migration certificate confirming you’re no longer registered there before your new university will process your admission.

Studying Abroad

For international university applications, and specifically for the NOC (No Objection Certificate) process required before Nepali students study abroad, a migration certificate is one of the standard documents requested alongside your transcript and citizenship copy. It confirms to the foreign institution and to Nepal’s Ministry of Education that your academic record is properly transferred and accounted for.

Joining Another University

Beyond a straightforward transfer, if you’re joining a different university for a new degree level entirely, say moving from a TU bachelor’s to a KU master’s, some programs still ask for a migration certificate from your TU studies as part of your application file, even though you’re not technically transferring mid program.

CTEVT Transfers

Students moving from a CTEVT diploma program into a university bachelor’s program, or transferring between CTEVT affiliated institutions, need a migration certificate from CTEVT’s Office of the Controller of Examinations in Sanothimi.

Higher Studies in Nepal

Many bachelor and master’s admission processes in Nepal explicitly list a migration certificate as a required document at the application or enrollment stage, particularly when you’re enrolling at a different institution from where you completed your previous qualification. Some universities request it only at final enrollment rather than at the initial application stage, so check your specific program’s document checklist for timing.

Who Issues a Migration Certificate in Nepal?

Institution	Where to Apply
NEB	National Examination Board, Sinamangal, Kathmandu
TU	Tribhuvan University Exam Controller’s Office, Balkhu
CTEVT	Office of the Controller of Examinations, Sanothimi
KU	Kathmandu University Office
PU	Purbanchal University Office

The issuing authority always depends on where you last studied, not where you’re going. If your most recent qualification is Class 12 under NEB, you apply to NEB regardless of which university you’re joining next. If your most recent qualification is a TU bachelor’s degree, you apply to TU’s Exam Controller’s Office even if you’re moving to a completely different university system next.

How to Get an NEB Migration Certificate

Eligibility

Any student who has completed Class 12 under NEB and received their official result can apply for a migration certificate. As with the NEB transcript, you generally need to wait at least 15 days after your result is officially published before applying, since NEB needs time to finalize your academic records in their system.

Required Documents

You’ll need a photocopy of your SEE marksheet, your Class 11 marksheet, and your Class 12 marksheet, along with your citizenship certificate or another valid photo ID. Bring originals of everything for verification even though you’re submitting photocopies. If you appeared in a supplementary or grade increment exam, bring those results too.

Step by Step Process

Visit the NEB office at Sinamangal, Kathmandu, during office hours, Sunday to Thursday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Collect the application form at the counter and fill it in accurately, your name must match your marksheet exactly, and your symbol and registration numbers need to be correct down to the last digit, since a single wrong digit can cause rejection. Submit your form along with your photocopies and pay the fee at the counter. Keep your payment receipt safely, since you’ll need it to collect your certificate.

Processing Time

NEB migration certificates typically take a minimum of 7 working days to process, the same standard timeline as an NEB transcript. During peak season immediately after Class 12 results, roughly August through October, processing can stretch to 2 to 4 weeks because of the volume of applications NEB receives at once. If you’re applying for multiple documents together, a transcript, migration certificate, and provisional certificate, you can request all three in a single visit and pay separately for each, which saves you multiple trips.

Common Mistakes

Applying before the 15 day waiting period is the single most common mistake, NEB simply won’t process applications submitted too early. Name mismatches between your marksheet and your citizenship certificate cause real delays, so resolve any discrepancy before you go. Losing your payment receipt means you can’t collect your certificate when it’s ready, so keep it safe from the moment you pay. Forgetting to bring your Class 11 marksheet alongside your Class 12 one is a frequent oversight that forces a second trip.

How to Get a Tribhuvan University Migration Certificate

Eligibility

Any student who has completed a level at TU, Intermediate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s, and needs to transfer to a different institution or university can apply. You need your registration to be in order and your studies at that level formally completed.

Required Documents

You’ll need a formal request letter from your college, carrying the college’s stamp and signature, your original TU registration slip, and your bank voucher confirming payment of the fee. Some processes also ask for your transcript alongside the migration application, so check with your specific campus what they require in their recommendation letter.

Application Process

Get the migration form either by visiting TU’s Exam Controller’s Office at Balkhu or by downloading it from TU’s official website. Pay the fee, roughly NPR 1,000 for Intermediate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s levels alike, at the bank counter inside the Exam Controller’s office premises, and keep the bank voucher stamped as proof. Submit your documents at the designated room in the administrative building, where staff will guide you through the rest of the process. TU has also been rolling out online services through student.tuexam.edu.np, which already handles transcripts and provisional certificates, with other services including migration applications gradually moving online too, so check whether online submission is available for your case before making the trip in person.

Processing Time

Unlike some smaller documents that can be issued the same day, a TU migration certificate typically takes about a week to process, not same day service. If you have a genuine emergency, you can request expedited handling, and staff may be able to move your timeline up by a few days, but not to the same day.

Important Tips

Procedures can differ slightly depending on your faculty or campus, so confirm the exact document list and process with your own college before heading to Balkhu. Go in the early afternoon if possible, since mid morning hours tend to be the busiest at the Exam Controller’s office. Double check that your request letter from your college has both the correct stamp and an authorized signature, since an improperly signed letter is a common reason for applications getting sent back.

How to Get a CTEVT Migration Certificate

Eligibility

Students who have completed a CTEVT affiliated diploma or TSLC program and passed their final board examination are eligible to apply for a migration certificate through CTEVT.

Required Documents

You’ll need your CTEVT marksheet and certificate, your SEE marksheet and certificate, and your citizenship copy. Bring originals for verification alongside your photocopies.

Where to Apply

CTEVT migration certificates are handled through the Office of the Controller of Examinations in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, the same office that handles CTEVT transcripts and other certificate services.

Processing Time

CTEVT generally processes certificate requests faster than NEB or TU, official service timelines published for CTEVT’s Diploma and PCL level certificate services point to around 3 working days for standard processing, similar to CTEVT’s transcript turnaround. Always confirm the current timeline with the Sanothimi office directly, since published timelines can shift.

Documents Required for a Migration Certificate

Across NEB, TU, and CTEVT, most migration certificate applications draw from the same core set of documents, though the exact combination varies by institution.

You’ll generally need your citizenship certificate, your transcript if one is requested alongside the migration application, your marksheet from the relevant level, your registration card, passport sized photos, the completed application form specific to that institution, and your fee receipt as proof of payment.

What If You Don’t Have Your Registration Number?

If you’ve lost your registration card or don’t have your registration number handy, most offices can still process your application, though usually with an additional fee. At TU, for example, applying without a registration slip means paying a higher voucher amount than the standard fee. Bring whatever documentation you do have, your marksheet and citizenship certificate at minimum, and ask the counter staff how to proceed, since institutions generally have a workaround process for exactly this situation rather than refusing the application outright.

Which specific documents you need does vary meaningfully by institution, NEB’s list centers on your marksheets and citizenship, TU’s centers on your college’s request letter and registration slip, and CTEVT’s centers on your board certificate and citizenship, so always confirm the exact list with your specific issuing office before your visit.

Migration Certificate Fees in Nepal

Institution	Fee
NEB	Around NPR 1,100
TU	Around NPR 1,000, higher without a registration slip
CTEVT	Official fee available at the Sanothimi office, generally in a similar range

These figures reflect recent notices and can change, institutions in Nepal periodically revise their fee structures, so always verify the current fee directly with the issuing office, on their official website, or by phone before you go, rather than relying on a number from an old post.

How Long Does It Take?

Institution	Typical Time
NEB	Minimum 7 working days, longer during peak season
TU	About one week
CTEVT	Around 3 working days

Delays commonly come from three sources, incomplete documents that force a second visit, name or number mismatches between your application and your original records, and simply applying during peak season when the issuing office is processing a high volume of requests at once. Applying with everything correctly prepared the first time is the single biggest factor in getting your certificate on the fastest possible timeline.

Can You Apply Online?

Online availability varies significantly by institution. TU has been expanding online services through student.tuexam.edu.np, which already covers transcripts and provisional certificates, with other services from the Balkhu office, migration certificates included, gradually moving online as well. NEB, by contrast, does not currently offer online applications for migration certificates, everything has to be submitted in person at the Sinamangal office. CTEVT’s process is also primarily handled in person at the Sanothimi office.

Where an online option exists, you’ll still typically need to have your original documents ready for verification at some point in the process, either through document upload or a follow up physical visit, since Nepal’s certificate issuance generally requires original document verification somewhere in the chain even when the application itself is submitted online.

If you can’t be present yourself, whether you’re already abroad or simply unavailable, most offices will accept a properly authorized person collecting or submitting on your behalf, provided you’ve given them a written authorization letter along with your documents and payment receipt. Policies on this vary by office, so it’s worth confirming directly before assuming someone else can act for you.

What If Your Migration Certificate Is Lost?

Losing a migration certificate isn’t the crisis it might feel like, but it does mean going through a specific replacement process rather than simply requesting another copy casually.

File a Police Report

Start by filing a police report documenting the loss. This report becomes part of your application for a duplicate certificate and is generally required by every issuing institution as proof that the loss was genuine rather than, say, an attempt to hold multiple valid copies.

Publish a Newspaper Notice

Some institutions and situations require you to publish a public notice in a national newspaper declaring the certificate lost, particularly for higher stakes documents or when the certificate will be used internationally. Check with your specific issuing office whether this step applies to your case, since not every situation requires it.

Apply for a Duplicate Migration Certificate

With your police report, and newspaper notice if required, submit an application for a duplicate certificate at the same office that originally issued it. You’ll generally need to provide whatever supporting documents you still have, your marksheet or certificate, your citizenship copy, and pay a fee for the duplicate, which can run somewhat higher than the original issuance fee.

Processing Time for a Duplicate Certificate

Duplicate certificates generally take longer to process than a first time application, since the office has to verify your original record and confirm the loss circumstances before reissuing. Build in extra time if you need a duplicate for a time sensitive application like a study abroad deadline.

Common Mistakes Students Make

Applying before results are finalized is a frequent early mistake, particularly with NEB’s 15 day waiting period, going too early just means a wasted trip. Losing the original certificate after receiving it, and not immediately making certified copies, is a mistake many students only realize once they actually need a replacement. Bringing photocopies instead of originals for verification stalls your application at the counter, since staff generally need to see the original even when they’re only keeping the photocopy on file. Confusing a transcript with a migration certificate leads students to request the wrong document entirely, wasting a trip and a fee. Waiting until the NOC application to realize you need a migration certificate is a genuinely costly mistake, since NOC applications have their own deadlines and a delayed migration certificate can hold up your entire study abroad timeline. Missing institution specific requirements, like TU’s request letter needing a specific stamp, or NEB’s exact document list, is easy to do if you assume the process is identical everywhere.

A migration certificate application missing even one required document is one of the most common reasons students end up making two or three trips to the same office instead of one, so confirm your exact document checklist with the specific institution before you go, not after you’ve already been turned away once.

Migration Certificate for Study Abroad

Is It Required for NOC?

Yes, a migration certificate is one of the standard documents required as part of Nepal’s NOC (No Objection Certificate) process, which students need before studying abroad. Your NEB or university transcript and your migration certificate together confirm your academic record is complete and properly transferred, which is exactly what the NOC review checks for. For the complete NOC process, our guide on applying for an NOC in Nepal walks through every required document and step in full.

Which Countries Commonly Ask?

Many destination countries, either directly or through the universities you’re applying to, expect a migration certificate as part of your academic document set, particularly when your prior study was in Nepal’s board or university system rather than an international curriculum. Requirements vary by country and by individual university, so confirm exactly what your target institution needs rather than assuming every country’s process is identical.

Should You Get It Before Applying Abroad?

Yes, getting your migration certificate early, well before you need it for an NOC application or a university deadline, is genuinely one of the smartest moves in the whole process. Processing times of a week or more, combined with potential delays from incomplete documents or peak season backlogs, mean that leaving this until the last minute against a fixed application deadline is a real and avoidable risk.

Frequently Asked Questions