GAP Certificate in 2024: Meaning, Format and Samples

Planning to resume your studies after a certain duration of the break?  Then, draft a perfect GAP certificate for you. GAP year certificate or GAP affidavit are various other names of the same document. And the only purpose of it is to explain the duration and cause of the interval taken by you from regular college/school.

A GAP certificate is a self-declared certificate made on a non-judicial stamp paper. It usually takes 2-3 days to obtain a GAP certificate. You can obtain the certificate from educational institutions or courts. 

The reasons GAP certificate is issued are health concerns, to retake an exam and earn higher grades, to prepare for competitive exams, to apply abroad, or to establish their own company. While you apply to study abroad in countries like the USA, UK, or Australia.

You might wonder what the benefits of a GAP certificate are. The uses and benefits of the GAP certificate are to provide clarification behind your educational gap. It helps in your job search and eliminates the issues related to your educational institutions. 

What Does a Standard GAP Certificate Look Like?

A GAP certificate doesn’t have a standard format; it will depend on the basis of the institution, country, or specific requirements. However, it includes the overall information about the student and the duration of the interval and verifies the reason behind the academic or professional GAP. 

The list of details included in the GAP certificate is as follows:

👩‍🎓Applicant Information

• Name 
• Age 
• Permanent Address of the student

📘Education Qualification

• Name of the institution from where the student has received the last qualification.
• The recent/newest qualification of the student

⌚GAP Duration

• The start and ending dates of the interval were taken by the student.

💭Reason for GAP 

• Mention the reason for taking a GAP, and it can include health issues, travel, preparing for certain exams etc.

🎓Desired Institution

• Name the university/institution you want to get admitted to.

📅Application Date 

• The date you applied for the GAP certificate.

🖊️Signatures

• Applicants Signature
• The advocate’s signature.

Documents Required to Apply for a GAP Certificate

To apply for a legal GAP certificate, you are required to submit the supporting documents along with the GAP application to validate your identity. The documents required are listed below:

• ID Proof: It is required to prove your identity and can include any one official document such as a PAN card, Aadhar card, Voter ID or Driving License.

• School/College leaving certificate: A certificate issued by the last attended school or college which proves that the student has taken a break from studies.

• A letter from last attended school: It should state the last duration of the gap and be able to validate the gap.

• Proof of residential address: A document verifying your address. It can include utility bills, rental agreements, or any other documents.

• Proof of citizenship: A document reflecting your citizenship or birthplace. It can include a passport, birth certificate, or nationality certificate.

• Last test mark sheet: A copy of your last mark sheet or most recent qualification certificate, such as the final exam or degree obtained before the exam.

Are you applying for universities and gathering your documents to meet the eligibility criteria? Then you might also need the following documents:

1. Work Experience Certificate
2. Backlog Certificate

Step-to-step instructions on how to apply for the GAP certificate

A GAP certificate is a simple document to apply for. Overall, the process of applying for a GAP certificate includes completing an affidavit form and submitting it to the specific authorities for approval. Once you get the approval, you will receive the GAP certificate.

Here is the step-by-step guide to drafting the affidavit-

Step 1: Write your affidavit in Word format.

Step 2: Purchase a non-judicial e-stamp paper from a nearby cooperative bank, register office or court. (The stamp value varies per school, institution or organisation between INR 20 to INR 200.)

Step 3: Print the content of the affidavit created in Word format on the e-stamp paper.

Step 4: Collect all the required supporting documents for the application of GAP year.

Step 5: Take the printed affidavit to the nearby notary public for affidavit attestation. 

Step 6: Sign the affidavit in the presence of the notary public.

Step 7: The notary public will carefully check and vary all the documents.

Step 8: Once the verification is complete, the notary public will sign the document and seal it. Then will carefully hand it over to you.

How to write an application for a GAP certificate?

When you are applying for a GAP certificate, you can either self-attested or can get it from school or college. In this case, you will need to write an application to the school or college to obtain a GAP certificate.

Format for application for GAP certificate

To The Principal [Name of College/ School] [City – Pin Code] Subject: Request for Gap Certificate Respected Sir/Madam, I am writing to request the issuance of a gap certificate, which is required for future educational goals. I took a gap year after completing my intermediate/graduation to focus on learning a new foreign language German. I am now planning to continue my studies and pursue a bachelor’s/master’s degree. I kindly request you to assist in providing me with the necessary gap certificate. Your support in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Thanking you in anticipation. Yours sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Student ID/ Enrollment Number] Enclosures: 1. Marksheet 2. Proof of Gap Year 3. Birth Certificate (or any other requested document, if applicable)

You can always alter and tailor the application according to the purpose of the GAP certificate. 

Samples of GAP certificate

In case you need to submit a gap certificate to the university or institution, then you should keep in mind to strictly adhere to the format that the institution has provided. You should keep checking the official website for the format. 

Here we have mentioned a format for a general GAP affidavit for college applications

Sample for College Admission

GAP Certificate Affidavit (on stamp paper of INR XXX) I, [YOUR NAME] [D/o or S/o] [YOUR FATHER’S OR MOTHER’S NAME], currently residing at [YOUR PRESENT COMPLETE RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS WITH PINCODE], do solemnly declare and affirm that: I presently live at the address above I have completed [COURSE DETAILS WITH PASSING YEAR, INSTITUTION NAME, AND AGGREGATE MARKS] I further state that I could not attend any [COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY] after completing my [DEGREE] because [REASON BEHIND THE GAP] I took a gap of [DURATION, MENTIONING THE BEGINNING AND ENDING YEAR]I was neither engaged in any criminal activities nor punished by the court of law, and no case is pending against me in any criminal court. Declared on [DATE] [APPLICANT’S SIGNATURE] Verification: [VERIFICATION DETAILS CONFIRMING THAT NO INFORMATION OR DOCUMENT IS FALSE][VERIFICATION DATE] Signature Solemn affirmation and signature in my presence on [DATE] after reading the contents of this affidavit. Signature of Oath Commissioner

Character Certificate for GAP Year Students

Character certificate is essential for examining the relevance of the GAP certificate. This certificate reflects your moral character and personal qualities. It is usually issued by the educational institution or by employers. The character certificate should include:

The character certificate strengthens credibility and enhances prospects for professional and educational purposes.

Bottom Line

A gap certificate is one of the essential documents necessary when students enroll in colleges after a one-year or longer break. Providing a gap affidavit can help students gain admission and continue their education following an interruption in their academic years. When writing their gap affidavits, students must adhere to a specified structure. Depending on the university, this format may differ. You must provide proof to back up your decision to take a break, and the process might take 2-3 days.

Leap Scholar experts can guide you through the university application process and the preparation of required supporting documents.

Frequently Asked Questions