In Delhi University alone, around 70,000 migration certificates are issued every year. Anecdotally, 10-20% are subject to delays (printing batch cycles, dispatch ping-pong between college and university CoE). RTI is the most reliable single tool to break the deadlock — because it forces the office to commit a date and dispatch register entry in writing.

A migration certificate (MC) is an official document issued by your university (the body that conferred your degree, not the affiliated college) certifying that:

• You completed the course / cleared the exam.
• The university has no objection to your joining another university or institution.
• You are not bound by any continuing requirement (e.g., bond, ongoing exam) at this university.

It is essentially a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for academic mobility.

The legal framework:

• UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations 2020 — recognises MC as standard.
• UGC Migration Certificate format and process — circular dated 1989 (still cited; no successor) prescribes the basic format.
• Affiliating university statutes / ordinances — every university (DU, JNU, Anna, Calcutta, MAKAUT, BHU, AMU, MDU, Mumbai, etc.) has its own ordinance on MC issuance + fee + timeline.
• State Higher Education Acts — establish state universities and their examination/migration powers.
• Right to Service Acts (RTSA) — most states (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, MP, Bihar, UP — 19 states by 2025) prescribe 30-day SLA for educational documents, with penalty on the dealing officer for delay.

You typically need an MC when:

• Joining postgraduation in a different university (the new university won't admit you without an MC from the old one).
• Applying to a foreign university (most international admissions require an “official transcript + proof of completion” — MC fits this).
• Applying for government / PSU jobs that require verification of your academic credentials.
• Registering with professional regulators — Bar Council of India (BCI), Medical Council of India (NMC), Council of Architecture, ICAI, ICSI.
• Higher studies abroad — apostille/attestation chain often starts with MC.

You don't need an MC when:

• You are joining further studies within the same university (e.g., DU graduate joining DSE under the same DU).
• You only need a transcript (some foreign universities accept transcript without MC).
• You are applying for a job that only requires marksheets + degree certificate.

There are two common workflow models, depending on your university:

Model A — College handles application, university issues: You submit application at your college's Examination Section. College forwards to university Controller of Examinations (CoE). University prints MC, sends back to college, you collect from college.

• Examples: most affiliated colleges of DU, Mumbai University, Calcutta University, Madras University, Punjab University.

Model B — Direct from university CoE: You apply directly to the university CoE (online or in person), university issues to you (postal dispatch or in-person collection).

• Examples: Anna University (anna.in MC portal), MAKAUT (makautwb.ac.in), IGNOU (ignou.ac.in), JNU, BHU, AMU, most central universities, deemed universities (BITS, Manipal, VIT).

If unsure, ask your college's Examination Section: “Do you forward MC applications to the university or do I apply directly?”

You can only apply for MC after:

• Final semester / year exam result is declared and you have passed all subjects.
• No backlog / re-exam / re-evaluation pending.
• No college dues (library books, lab equipment, hostel charges, fines, photocopies).
• No ongoing disciplinary proceedings against you.

Get a “No Dues Certificate” from your college. This is usually a one-page form circulated through library, lab in-charges, hostel warden (if applicable), and accounts office. Each signs to confirm no dues. Mostly automatic if you've been a regular student.

• College office: ask Examination Section for the MC application form (often a single sheet, sometimes printed locally).
• University portal: check your university's website. Look under “Examination” / “Students” / “Forms & Downloads” / “Migration”.
• Online portals: most central + state universities now have e-MC portals — register, fill, upload documents, pay fee online.
  • Delhi University: examination.uod.ac.in
  • Anna University: coe1.annauniv.edu
  • Calcutta University: caluniv.ac.in / cuexam.in
  • MAKAUT: makautwb.ac.in (for West Bengal technical universities)
  • IGNOU: ignou.ac.in → “Forms” → “Migration Certificate”

Standard checklist:

• Application form (filled, signed).
• Last semester / final year admit card (proof of having appeared in final exam).
• All semester marksheets (photocopies; originals shown for verification).
• Provisional / Degree certificate (if already issued).
• Photo ID (Aadhaar / PAN / passport).
• 2 passport-size photos (some universities require 4).
• Self-addressed stamped envelope (₹50 Speed Post stamp) — if you want MC posted to you instead of in-person collection.
• Caste certificate / minority certificate (only if you availed reservation in admission — for cross-checking).
• No Dues Certificate (if separately required).

• Range: ₹100 - ₹500 typically. Some universities charge ₹1,000+ for “tatkal” / urgent issuance (3-7 days).
• Payment modes: demand draft (in favour of “Registrar, [University]”), online portal payment, college cashier cash receipt.
• Get a receipt — keep it carefully for any follow-up.

• In person: at college Examination Section or university CoE. Insist on a stamped acknowledgement with date and a token / file number.
• Online portal: download submission acknowledgement; note application ID.
• By post: Speed Post the application set; keep tracking number.

• Online portals show status updates: “Received”, “Under Process”, “Printed”, “Dispatched / Ready for Collection”, “Issued”.
• In Model A (college handles): check with college Examination Section every 2-3 weeks. The clerk maintains a register; ask politely to check the dispatch entry from university.
• In Model B (direct from CoE): check the portal; if dispatched, track the postal AWB.
• Timeline: 15-30 days for online portals, 30-60 days for traditional Model A workflows. Some universities print in batches (every 2-4 months) — major source of delay.

For use abroad, MC may need to be:

• Notarised by a Notary Public.
• State Home Department attested (also called HRD attestation).
• MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) attested — at MEA Patiala House, New Delhi or via an authorised agency.
• Apostilled (if the destination country is a Hague Convention signatory) — done by MEA.
• Embassy / consulate attested (for non-Hague countries).

Apostille is now done online via MEA's e-Sanad portal: esanad.nic.in.

+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Delhi University (DU)             | Fee: ₹500 normal, ₹1,000 tatkal.     |
|                                   | Apply at college; printing in batches|
|                                   | every 3-4 months. Online portal:     |
|                                   | examination.uod.ac.in.               |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Anna University                   | Fee: ₹250. Online MC portal. Within  |
|                                   | 15 working days. coe1.annauniv.edu.  |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Calcutta University               | Fee: ₹200. Apply at college; CU      |
|                                   | issues. 30-45 days. cuexam.in.       |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| MAKAUT (W. Bengal technical)      | Fee: ₹400. Online apply. 15-30 days. |
|                                   | makautwb.ac.in.                      |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| IGNOU                             | Fee: ₹250. Direct apply at IGNOU     |
|                                   | regional centre or online. 30 days.  |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Mumbai University                 | Fee: ₹300. Apply at college; MU      |
|                                   | issues. 30-60 days. mum.digitaluniv. |
|                                   | ac.in.                               |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| BHU / JNU / AMU                   | Fee: ₹200-500. Direct at university  |
|                                   | CoE. 15-30 days.                     |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Tatkal / urgent (where available) | Fee: ₹1,000-2,000. 3-7 working days. |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Postal dispatch (additional)      | ₹50-100 for Speed Post envelope.     |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| Apostille / MEA attestation       | ₹50 / document at MEA + courier fee. |
| (for foreign use)                 | Via esanad.nic.in.                   |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| RTI fee (PIO at college / univ.)  | ₹10 by IPO. BPL = free.              |
+-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------+

• College dues pending (library books not returned, lab equipment, hostel charges, fines). Settle immediately and ask for No Dues Certificate.
• Semester re-exam / re-evaluation pending. University will not issue MC until your final result is fully closed (no pending challenge / no pending re-exam date).
• University printing backlog. Many universities print MCs in batches (quarterly / half-yearly). If you fall just after a batch cycle, you wait until next batch.
• Name mismatch between college admission record and university examination record. Common when middle name / spelling differs. Get a name correction before applying.
• ID-card / hall-ticket missing (you've lost the original). File an indemnity affidavit + duplicate request first.
• College-to-university dispatch lying in transit / lost. Mismatch between college's “we sent it” and university's “we never received”. RTI breaks this ping-pong.
• University-to-college dispatch lying in college's mail room. (Meera's case.) RTI to both college and university PIOs reveals the truth.
• Online portal showing “issued” but you haven't received — physical dispatch problem. Ask university for AWB / dispatch register entry.
• Wrong fee paid (you paid the old fee; university revised). Pay the differential and resubmit.
• Caste certificate not produced — universities sometimes ask for verification of reservation status before MC. Submit caste certificate again if asked.

If college Examination Section is dragging, write to the Principal with a one-page note: “Application date, file number, weeks elapsed, what each office said when asked, attach the application acknowledgement copy.” Most principals act because their college's reputation is at stake. Most issues resolve at this stage.

If the issue is at university level (printing not done, MC not dispatched to college):

• Registrar: the chief administrative officer; email available on university website.
• Controller of Examinations (CoE): in charge of exam-related certificates including MC.
• Most universities have dedicated grievance portals (DU has dean.uod.ac.in, Anna University has its own portal, etc.).

For prolonged delays (60+ days), write to the VC's office. VCs are accountable to the chancellor (Governor for state universities, President for centrals). A polite, factual escalation works.

• UGC helpline: 011-23604446 / 23236351.
• Email: ugcgrievanceinfo[at]gmail[dot]com.
• Online: ugc.ac.in → “Grievance Redressal”.
• UGC has authority over all UGC-recognised universities under §12 of UGC Act 1956.

• For state-funded universities, the state's Higher Education Department is the parent ministry.
• If your state has a Right to Service Act, MC is typically a notified service with 30-day SLA. Beyond 30 days, the dealing officer is liable for daily penalty (₹250 / day in many states, capped at ₹5,000-10,000).
• File RTSA complaint with the District Designated Officer.

• https://pgportal.gov.in → “Department of Higher Education” (for centrals + UGC) or your state's department.
• 30-day SLA, government-tracked.

For MC delays, RTI is one of the most effective tools. All government, government-aided, and UGC-funded universities (and their affiliated colleges) are public authorities under §2(h) of the RTI Act 2005.

For deemed-to-be private universities (BITS, Manipal, VIT, SRM, Amity, etc.), the position is partially settled: Bombay HC and Delhi HC have held many such universities are public authorities to the extent they receive government funding or substantial regulatory benefits. File and let them respond — even if they deny RTI applicability, the act of asking often unblocks the matter.

RTI helps here when:

• Your MC has been pending for 30+ days with vague answers — RTI to PIO of college + parallel to PIO of university CoE (file two on the same day) for: “Status of MC application no. [X], date of submission [DD-MM-YYYY], name [X], course [X], roll [X]. Date of dispatch from university to college (if applicable), dispatch register entry number. Expected date of issuance to applicant. Name and contact of dealing officer.”
• College says “we sent” and university says “we never got” — the parallel RTIs force both to commit dates in writing, exposing the missing link.
• MC was issued but you never received it — RTI for “AWB / Speed Post tracking number / dispatch register entry, date and recipient signature, if any”.
• MC was rejected for reasons not communicated to you — RTI for “internal note recording reasons for rejection of MC application no. [X]; copies of any communications between college and university regarding this application”.
• For transcripts and degree certificates delays — same RTI workflow works.
• For deemed universities — RTI to UGC for “list of deemed universities classified as public authorities under RTI Act, with date of classification” (useful precedent).

RTI does NOT help here when:

• You haven't yet completed the academic requirement (re-exam pending, dues unpaid) — RTI cannot speed up underlying eligibility; resolve the underlying issue first.
• You want the MC to omit something (e.g., year-of-passing on a re-attempt) — that's a substantive request to alter records, not a request for information.
• The university is purely private and not deemed (rare; most private universities are deemed) — they may not be under RTI; use UGC complaint or consumer court.
• You want UGC to direct the university to issue MC — UGC has limited enforcement; RTI gets you status, but the direction has to come from VC / Registrar / High Court writ.

See the dedicated guide: RTI in 12 simple steps — for first-time filers.

Q. What is the difference between MC, transcript, and degree certificate?
MC (Migration Certificate) — university says “no objection to candidate joining another institution”. One-page document. Transcript — full subject-wise marks history across all semesters, on official letterhead, signed and stamped by Controller of Examinations. Multi-page. Degree Certificate — final degree award (BA, B.Tech, MBA), issued at convocation. Most foreign universities want MC + transcript + degree certificate (or provisional). Each is separate; apply for all.

Q. Can I apply for MC online without visiting college?
Depends on university. Anna University, MAKAUT, IGNOU and increasingly DU and Calcutta accept fully online MC applications. For most affiliated colleges of state universities, you still need to physically submit at college Examination Section. Check the university's portal first.

Q. How many MCs can I get? Original is one — what if I lose it?
Original MC is issued only once. If lost, you can apply for a duplicate MC with: (a) FIR (filed at local police station) for loss of certificate, (b) indemnity affidavit on ₹100 stamp paper, © newspaper notification (small classified ad), (d) duplicate fee (typically ₹500-2,000). Duplicate MC carries the watermark “Duplicate” or “Issued in lieu of original”.

Q. Foreign university wants the MC apostilled. How long does that take?
With MEA's online e-Sanad portal: 3-7 working days. Without portal (via authorised agency): 2-4 weeks. Apostille is a single-step process for Hague Convention countries (most of EU, US, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan etc.). For non-Hague countries (China, UAE, etc.), additional embassy attestation is needed.

Q. I'm a transferred student (joined college in 2nd year from another university). Do I need MC from the original university too?
Yes. When you joined the new college in 2nd year, you should already have submitted MC from the original university. If not, you'll need both MCs at the time of next migration. Get the older MC from the original university (Aditya Bandopadhyay-style RTI for old records is useful).

Q. Government job application says “submit MC”. I don't have one yet. What do I do?
First, check if a “Provisional MC” or “Course Completion Certificate” is acceptable. Many government recruitment processes accept provisional documents at application stage with a deadline to produce final MC by joining date. Apply for tatkal MC if available. Failing that, an undertaking + receipt of MC application is sometimes accepted.

Q. The MC has my name spelled wrong. What now?
File a name correction request with the university CoE — submit the MC, ID proof showing correct spelling, affidavit. University will issue a corrected MC (typically free or nominal fee). Don't try to “white-out” or use the wrong-name MC — recipients reject it.

Q. My college has shut down (private deemed-university lost UGC recognition). How do I get MC?
Apply directly to the parent affiliating university (which administered your degree). For closed deemed universities, UGC's “Closed University Records” section maintains archives — write to UGC's Closed Institutions Cell at New Delhi.

• RTI in 12 simple steps — for first-time filers
• All Indian government helplines — one master directory
• RTI forms + state-wise fee chart
• How to challenge exam result + get answer script
• How to apply for govt-funded foreign scholarships

Last reviewed: 26 April 2026 by RTI Wiki editorial team. University fee and timeline norms vary by university and are revised periodically — verify on your university's official portal or write to admin@bighelpers.in if you spot a stale figure.