Experience Letter Request to a Previous Company
Requesting an experience letter from a company you left years ago works best if you address HR directly, give your employee ID, and attach a copy of your relieving letter or last payslip as proof. Older records take longer to retrieve, so ask early and allow a few weeks.
Other experience letter request formats
Common questions
What is the difference between an experience letter and a relieving letter?
An experience letter confirms what you did and for how long. A relieving letter confirms that you completed your notice period and were formally released. New employers in India and the Gulf frequently ask for both.
Can a company refuse to give me an experience letter?
Practice varies by jurisdiction. Many employers issue one as a matter of policy, and some labour laws require a service certificate on request. If they refuse, offer letters, payslips and tax records are usually accepted as alternative proof.
Who should I address the request to?
HR or the people operations team, with your reporting manager copied. Managers rarely have the authority to issue letterhead documents themselves.
