A relieving letter is issued when someone leaves a company, confirming that they served or settled their notice period and that the employer has no outstanding claim on them. In India it is a routine part of changing jobs.
Why the next employer asks for it
Indian employers commonly ask new hires to produce a relieving letter from their previous company before confirming a start date. Without one, the incoming employer cannot be confident the candidate left cleanly rather than abandoning a notice period, which could expose them to a dispute. Onboarding is often held up until it arrives.
How it differs from related documents
- A relieving letter confirms release from obligations on a specific date
- An experience letter describes the role held and the period worked
- A full and final settlement statement accounts for the money owed in both directions
The three are frequently issued together at the end of employment, and are sometimes combined into a single document.
Why it matters when hiring internationally
A company employing in India without local HR support often does not know this document is expected until a departing employee asks for one, or until a new hire cannot start because a previous employer has not issued theirs. Where an Employer of Record is the legal employer, the relieving letter comes from them, so it is worth confirming that they issue it promptly as part of offboarding.