Last updated: 15 September 2026
A provisional certificate is a temporary document that Nepali educational boards and universities issue to prove you have completed your qualification while your original degree or final certificate is still being prepared. If you finished SEE, Class 12, a CTEVT diploma, or a TU degree and need proof of graduation right away for a job, a scholarship, or a foreign university application, a provisional certificate is usually your fastest, most accepted option. NEB charges NPR 1,100 for it, TU charges NPR 350 for Bachelor’s level and NPR 550 for Master’s level, and CTEVT charges a similar modest fee at its exam controller office.
This guide walks through exactly what a provisional certificate is, when you actually need one, and the complete step by step process for getting it from NEB, TU, and CTEVT, along with fees, documents, processing time, and what to do if something goes wrong.
What Is a Provisional Certificate?
A provisional certificate is an official document your board or university issues shortly after you pass your final exams, confirming that you have completed your qualification, even though your permanent original degree or certificate has not been printed and issued yet. In Nepal’s education system, there is almost always a real gap, often 6 months to a year or more, between the day your result is published and the day your original degree certificate is ready, usually because original certificates are only formally handed out at a convocation ceremony or after a separate, slower printing and verification process.
Students receive a provisional certificate specifically to bridge that gap. Without it, you would have no official proof of your qualification to show a new employer, a university admissions office, or a bank, for months at a time. The provisional certificate is issued as soon as your transcript is ready, which is itself only available after your board or university has finalized and verified your marks.
This is important before receiving your original degree because most institutions, employers, and foreign universities accept a provisional certificate as fully valid proof of qualification in the meantime. It carries your board or university’s official seal and signature, so it is treated as a legitimate academic credential, not just an informal note.
What Information Does a Provisional Certificate Include?
A provisional certificate typically includes your full name exactly as it appears on your marksheet, your registration and symbol number, the name of your program or level (such as Class 12, Diploma in Civil Engineering, or Bachelor of Business Studies), your institution or college name, the year and session you completed, a statement confirming you have satisfied all requirements for the qualification, and the official seal, stamp, and signature of the issuing authority, whether that is NEB, TU’s Office of the Controller of Examinations, or CTEVT’s Exam Controller Office.
Provisional Certificate vs Final Certificate
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Provisional Certificate | Temporary proof of qualification, issued quickly, used to bridge the gap until your original degree is ready |
| Final Certificate | The permanent, formally printed academic qualification, often distributed at a convocation ceremony, sometimes many months or years later |
The core difference is speed and permanence. A provisional certificate can usually be collected within days to a couple of weeks of applying. A final or original certificate takes much longer, since it depends on your institution’s printing and convocation schedule, and for university level degrees, the original is often only distributed at an annual or biennial convocation ceremony.
Is a Provisional Certificate the Same as a Temporary Degree Certificate?
Yes, in practice. Different institutions in Nepal use slightly different labels for the same underlying document. TU and CTEVT commonly say “provisional certificate.” Some international contexts also use the term “temporary degree certificate” or “provisional degree certificate” for the exact same thing, a stopgap document confirming you have completed your qualification while the permanent one is still being processed. If a foreign university or employer asks for a “temporary degree certificate,” your Nepali provisional certificate is what satisfies that request.
When Do You Need a Provisional Certificate?
Applying for Higher Studies
If you are applying to a Bachelor’s or Master’s program in Nepal or abroad right after finishing your previous level, admissions offices almost always need proof that you have actually completed and passed your prior qualification. Since your original certificate is not ready yet, your provisional certificate, alongside your transcript, is what you submit instead. Most Nepali and international universities explicitly accept a provisional certificate for this purpose.
Job Applications
Many employers, especially government offices, banks, and larger private companies in Nepal, require proof of your academic qualification before finalizing a job offer or during document verification after selection. A provisional certificate serves this purpose when your original degree has not been issued yet, letting you start a job or complete onboarding without waiting for your convocation.
Study Abroad Applications
Foreign universities almost universally accept a provisional certificate as valid proof of qualification during the admissions process, since international admissions cycles rarely align with Nepal’s slower original certificate and convocation timelines. That said, some foreign universities and immigration authorities will eventually ask for your original certificate once it becomes available, particularly for final visa processing, so keep pursuing your original certificate even after you have been accepted using your provisional one.
Scholarships
Scholarship applications, both domestic and international, typically require proof of your most recent academic qualification as part of the eligibility and document verification process. A provisional certificate is generally accepted here, especially for scholarships tied to entrance exams or admissions cycles that happen soon after your results are published.
Government and Bank Requirements
Government service applications, certain licensing processes, and some bank account or loan requirements that ask for proof of educational qualification will generally accept a provisional certificate, since it carries the same official institutional backing as your final certificate, just issued earlier and marked as provisional.
Who Issues Provisional Certificates in Nepal?
| Institution | Where to Apply |
|---|---|
| NEB | National Examination Board office, Sinamangal, Kathmandu |
| TU | Office of the Controller of Examinations, Balkhu or Kirtipur, Kathmandu |
| CTEVT | Office of the Controller of Examinations, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, or your relevant provincial CTEVT office |
| KU | Kathmandu University Examination Office, Dhulikhel |
| PU | Purbanchal University Examination Office |
How to Get a Tribhuvan University Provisional Certificate
TU’s provisional certificate process is one of the most commonly needed in the country, since TU produces by far the largest number of graduates every year across its constituent and affiliated colleges.
Eligibility
You are eligible once you have received your official TU transcript for your completed level, whether that is Proficiency Certificate Level (Intermediate), Bachelor’s, Master’s, M.Phil, or PhD. Your transcript is the prerequisite document, since the provisional certificate is issued based on the academic record already confirmed on that transcript.
Required Documents
You need the original and a photocopy of your TU transcript, and a photocopy of your TU registration card. Some processing points also ask for recent passport sized photographs, so bring a couple along just in case.
Steps Application Process
Visit the Office of the Controller of Examinations at Balkhu or Kirtipur and collect the provisional certificate application form. Fill out the form completely and accurately, matching your name and details exactly as they appear on your transcript and registration card. Take your completed voucher to Global IME Bank, located near the OCE at Balkhu or Kirtipur, and deposit the required fee. Return to the OCE with your bank deposit slip, your completed application form, and your documents, and submit everything at the designated counter. Collect your receipt and wait for the processing period to complete before returning to collect your provisional certificate.
Can You Apply Online?
TU has been expanding its online services for some academic documents, including parts of the transcript application process through its official portal, but provisional certificate applications at most TU offices still generally require an in-person visit to submit your physical documents and collect the certificate. Always check the current status on the Office of the Controller of Examinations’ official channels before assuming an online option is available for your specific level.
Processing Time
TU’s provisional certificate is generally available within a short processing window after submission, often just a few working days, though this can vary depending on how busy the OCE is at the time you apply, particularly right after a large batch of results is published.
Important Tips
Double check that your name, registration number, and other details match exactly across your transcript, registration card, and application form before submitting, since mismatches are one of the most common causes of delay. Keep your bank deposit receipt safe until you have collected your certificate, since you may need to show it again. If you are applying for TU’s Bachelor’s or PGD level, the fee is NPR 350. If you are applying at Master’s or M.Phil level, the fee is NPR 550.
How to Get an NEB Provisional Certificate
NEB issues the provisional certificate together with your transcript and migration certificate as part of what is commonly called the TMP process, short for Transcript, Migration, and Provisional certificate.
Who Can Apply?
You are eligible if you passed both Class 11 and Class 12 with at least a D grade in every theory subject and a minimum C grade in every practical or internal subject, under NEB’s current grading system.
Required Documents
You need a photocopy of your SEE (Class 10) marksheet, a photocopy of your Class 11 marksheet, a photocopy of your Class 12 marksheet, your grade increment or supplementary exam result slip if applicable, a photocopy of your citizenship certificate or another valid photo ID such as a passport, and a character certificate from your school, which you should collect from your school office separately before your NEB visit, since most schools take one to three days to issue it.
Application Process
You must wait a minimum of 15 days after your official Class 12 result publication date before applying, since NEB needs that time to finalize and verify academic records. Once that window has passed, visit the NEB office at Sinamangal, Kathmandu, during office hours, Sunday to Thursday, generally 10 AM to 5 PM, avoiding the lunch hour around midday. Collect the TMP application form at the counter, fill it in carefully with your name exactly as it appears on your marksheet along with your symbol and registration number, submit your documents along with the completed form, and pay the fee at the counter. Keep your payment receipt safe, then return after the processing period to collect your provisional certificate.
Processing Time
NEB’s standard processing time for the provisional certificate, along with the transcript and migration certificate, is a minimum of 7 working days from submission. The fee is NPR 1,100 per document, so if you apply for all three TMP documents together, expect a combined fee around NPR 3,300.
How to Get a CTEVT Provisional Certificate
CTEVT issues its provisional certificate to diploma and certificate level graduates once their final exam results and marksheet have been confirmed.
Eligibility
You are eligible once you have completed and passed your CTEVT affiliated diploma, PCL, or TSLC program and have your official CTEVT marksheet and registration details confirmed.
Required Documents
You typically need your SLC or SEE certificate, your CTEVT diploma or certificate level marksheet, a copy of your registration slip or admit card, and your citizenship certificate or another valid photo ID. Bring both originals and photocopies, since originals are usually required for verification even when only photocopies are retained.
Application Process
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 offers this service, since CTEVT has been expanding certificate and transcript issuance to its provincial offices so graduates outside Kathmandu Valley do not always need to travel to Sanothimi. Collect the application form at the counter, fill it out completely, submit it along with your documents and the required fee, and collect your receipt.
Processing Time
CTEVT’s related transcript service is generally processed within about 3 working days, and provisional certificate processing tends to follow a similarly short window, though it is worth confirming the current exact timeline at your specific office when you apply, since this can vary by province.
For KU and PU, the underlying principle is the same even though detailed public fee and timeline information is less consistently published. Visit your university’s examination office directly, bring your transcript or marksheet along with your registration proof and citizenship document, and ask for the current provisional certificate application form and fee, since both universities issue this on request following a broadly similar in-person process to TU.
Documents Required for a Provisional Certificate
As a master checklist across NEB, TU, and CTEVT, you generally need the following. Your citizenship certificate or another valid photo ID. Your registration number or registration card from the relevant board or university. Your transcript or marksheet for the completed level. Passport sized photographs, since some offices request these even though it is not universal across all three institutions. A completed application form specific to that institution. Your fee receipt or bank deposit voucher as proof of payment.
Whether the original marksheet is required alongside photocopies varies by institution. TU generally asks for the original transcript along with a photocopy for the provisional certificate application. NEB and CTEVT processes typically work from photocopies of your marksheets, but it is wise to carry your originals with you regardless, since staff at the counter may ask to verify them on the spot even if they only retain the copies.
Provisional Certificate Fees in Nepal
| Institution | Fee |
|---|---|
| NEB | NPR 1,100 |
| TU | NPR 350 for Bachelor’s/PGD level, NPR 550 for Master’s/M.Phil level |
| CTEVT | Varies, generally a modest fee similar to the transcript fee, confirm at your local office |
| KU | Varies by program, confirm directly with the university |
| PU | Varies by program, confirm directly with the university |
Fees at all three main institutions have historically been modest, generally in the few hundred to just over a thousand rupee range, but they are set by official notice and can change, so always confirm the current fee at the counter or on the institution’s official website before you go, rather than relying solely on a figure from an older guide.
How Long Does It Take?
| Institution | Typical Time |
|---|---|
| NEB | Minimum 7 working days |
| TU | Often a few working days, can extend during busy periods |
| CTEVT | Around 3 working days for related documents, confirm current timeline locally |
What usually delays issuance comes down to a handful of recurring, avoidable problems. Incomplete or mismatched personal details between your application form and your academic documents is the single most common cause of delay. Applying during a high volume period right after a large batch of results is published, when offices are handling a surge of applications at once, routinely slows processing. Missing a required document, especially your character certificate for NEB or your original transcript for TU, forces you to make a second trip. And unclear or incorrect bank deposit vouchers can hold up your application until the payment is properly matched to your file.
Can You Apply Online?
Most provisional certificate applications in Nepal still require an in-person visit. NEB’s process is entirely offline, with no online application system currently available for its TMP documents, so you must submit your application and collect your certificate at the Sinamangal office in person. TU has expanded some online services for parts of its transcript and academic document ecosystem, but provisional certificate collection generally still requires visiting the Office of the Controller of Examinations physically. CTEVT similarly requires an in-person visit to Sanothimi or your provincial office, though its move toward provincial-level service has reduced how far many graduates need to travel.
Whether someone else can collect your provisional certificate on your behalf depends on the institution’s current policy, but a common and generally accepted approach across TU and CTEVT is to have a representative apply and collect on your behalf using a signed authorization letter along with your original documents or clear photocopies. If you genuinely cannot visit in person, it is worth asking the specific office directly about their current authorization letter requirements before sending someone in your place.
Can You Use a Provisional Certificate Before Receiving the Original Degree?
For Jobs
Yes. Employers in Nepal routinely accept a provisional certificate as valid proof of your qualification during hiring and onboarding, since waiting for your original degree, which may not be ready for many months, would be impractical for both you and the employer.
For Higher Studies
Yes. Nepali and international universities generally accept a provisional certificate for admissions purposes, since it is issued specifically to support exactly this kind of immediate next step after graduation.
For Foreign Universities
Yes, in most cases, for the initial application and even for conditional or full admission offers. Some foreign universities and visa or immigration processes will eventually require your original certificate at a later stage, often closer to your actual enrollment or visa interview, so continue pursuing your original degree collection even after using your provisional certificate to secure admission.
For Scholarships
Yes. Scholarship committees, both within Nepal and abroad, typically accept a provisional certificate as sufficient proof of your qualification during the application and selection stages.
What If There Is an Error on Your Provisional Certificate?
Common mistakes include a misspelled name, an incorrect date of birth, a wrong registration or symbol number, or an incorrect program or level name printed on the certificate. These errors usually happen because of a typo either in your original application form or in how your details were entered into the institution’s system.
The correction process at all three institutions follows a similar pattern. Return to the same office that issued your certificate as soon as you notice the error. Bring the incorrect certificate itself along with supporting documents that show your correct details, such as your citizenship certificate, your marksheet, or your registration card. Fill out a correction request form if the office provides one, and explain clearly what needs to be fixed and why.
Who to contact is the same office and counter where you originally applied, the Office of the Controller of Examinations for TU, the NEB office at Sinamangal for NEB documents, and the Exam Controller Office at Sanothimi or your provincial CTEVT office for CTEVT documents.
The expected timeline for a correction is generally similar to or sometimes shorter than the original issuance timeline, since it is a targeted fix rather than a full new application, but it is not instant, so build in buffer time if you discover an error close to a deadline you need the certificate for.
Common Mistakes Students Make
Waiting until admission or job deadlines are close before starting the application, which leaves no room to recover if there is a delay or an error. Applying with incomplete documents, most often forgetting the character certificate for NEB or the original transcript for TU. Confusing transcripts with provisional certificates, these are two separate documents serving different purposes, a transcript is your detailed marks record while a provisional certificate is your proof of qualification. Ignoring small spelling errors on the certificate at the time of collection instead of catching and correcting them immediately at the counter. And assuming the provisional certificate never expires or is meant to be a permanent substitute for the original degree, when in reality you should still follow up to collect your original certificate once it becomes available, since some formal processes will eventually require it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a provisional certificate?
A provisional certificate is a temporary official document confirming you have completed your qualification, issued while your permanent original certificate is still being prepared.
How do I get a provisional certificate in Nepal?
Visit the relevant office, NEB at Sinamangal for Class 12, TU’s Office of the Controller of Examinations at Balkhu or Kirtipur for university degrees, or CTEVT at Sanothimi or your provincial office for diploma level, with your transcript or marksheet, registration proof, and citizenship document, then submit the application form and pay the fee.
How long does it take?
NEB takes a minimum of 7 working days. TU typically issues it within a few working days, sometimes longer during busy periods. CTEVT related documents generally take around 3 working days, though this varies by office.
Can I apply online?
Mostly no. NEB and CTEVT require in-person applications. TU has some online services for parts of its process but provisional certificate collection generally still requires an in-person visit.
Can I use it for a job?
Yes. Employers in Nepal widely accept a provisional certificate as valid proof of qualification while you wait for your original degree.
Can I use it for higher studies?
Yes. Universities in Nepal and abroad generally accept a provisional certificate for admissions purposes.
Is it valid until convocation?
Yes, effectively. It remains your primary proof of qualification until your original certificate is issued, which for university degrees is often at convocation, so it serves that entire bridging period.
What if there is an error?
Return to the same issuing office with your incorrect certificate and supporting documents showing your correct details, and request a correction. Processing is generally similar to the original issuance timeline.
Can someone collect it for me?
Often yes, with a signed authorization letter and your original documents or clear photocopies, though it is worth confirming the specific office’s current policy before sending a representative.
What’s the difference between a provisional certificate and a final certificate?
A provisional certificate is a quickly issued temporary document proving your qualification. A final certificate is your permanent, formally printed degree, often distributed later at convocation.
Official sources:
- TU Examination Office FAQ – TU provisional-certificate requirements and fees.
- TU Online Application Manual – online application steps.
- TU Student Portal – online application.
- NEB Citizen Charter – NEB fees, documents and processing information.
- CTEVT FAQ – CTEVT certificate requirements and procedures.
