An experience letter is a short, signed statement from an employer confirming that you worked there, in what role and for how long. A new employer, a visa officer or a licensing body reads it to check one thing: that the work history on your CV is real. That is why the format matters more than the wording. A letter that is missing a date, a signature or a job title can be sent back, however warm its tone.
Below is an illustrative experience letter, followed by notes on each part, what changes by country, and what to check before you accept a letter from HR.
An annotated experience letter
The example below is illustrative. The company, person and figures are invented to show layout; they are not a real record.
[1] Company letterhead: Example Trading LLC, P.O. Box 0000, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Tel. and email.
[2] Reference: HR/EXP/2026/0147 | Date: 3 November 2026
[3] To whom it may concern
[4] Experience Certificate
[5] This is to certify that Ms Sara Example, holder of passport number X0000000, was employed by Example Trading LLC from 1 March 2021 to 31 October 2026, a total service of five years and eight months.
[6] During this period she held the position of Accounts Executive (March 2021 to February 2024) and Senior Accounts Executive (March 2024 to October 2026) in our Finance department.
[7] Her main responsibilities included preparing monthly management accounts, reconciling supplier and bank accounts, and supporting the year-end audit.
[8] Her last monthly wage was AED 0,000. Her employment ended on resignation.
[9] This certificate is issued at her request.
[10] Signed: Name, HR Manager. Company stamp.
[1] Letterhead
The letterhead is the first sign that the letter comes from the company and not from you. It should carry the registered company name, address and at least one contact channel a reader can use to verify the letter. A plain Word document without a letterhead is the most common reason a reader asks for a replacement.
[2] Reference number and date
A reference number lets the issuing company find its copy if anyone calls to check. The date of issue matters because some readers only accept documents issued within their own validity window, so check the application guidance before you request the letter too early.
[3] Addressee
“To whom it may concern” is normal when you will use the letter more than once. If a specific embassy, university or regulator has asked for it, a named addressee can help, but it limits where else you can use that copy.
[4] Title
Employers use “Experience Letter”, “Experience Certificate”, “Service Certificate” and “Employment Certificate” for broadly the same document. If a form asks for one by name, ask HR to use that exact title. It saves a conversation later.
[5] Identity and dates
This is the core of the letter. It should give your full name as it appears in your passport, the exact start and end dates, and ideally the total length of service. An identity number (passport, national ID or employee number) helps link the letter to you. Match the dates to your CV before you leave HR’s office; a difference of a month is enough to raise questions in a background check.
[6] Job title and progression
List every title you held, with dates, if you were promoted. Readers comparing experience against a job grade or a professional licence often need to see how long you held each level. A single final title hides that history.
[7] Duties
Many experience letters stop at the job title. A short description of duties is worth asking for when you will use the letter for a professional registration, a skilled-migration assessment or a role that requires specific experience, because the reader needs to see the type of work, not just the label. Keep it factual and brief. Achievements belong on your CV, not here.
[8] Last wage and reason for leaving
Whether these appear depends on country and purpose. In the UAE, the law expects both (see below). Elsewhere, employers often leave salary out unless you ask, and some readers prefer a separate salary letter. If you would rather the salary did not appear on a letter you will share widely, ask HR whether they can issue two versions.
[9] Purpose line
“Issued at the employee’s request” is standard. Avoid letters that say they are issued “for visa purposes only” unless that is the only use you need; the phrase can make the same letter look unsuitable for a job application.
[10] Signature and stamp
The letter should be signed by someone with authority to speak for the company, usually in HR or management, with their name and title printed. Many employers also add a company stamp, and some readers expect one. A scanned signature may be accepted for a job application, but an embassy or attestation office may ask for a wet-ink original.
What the UAE Labour Law requires
In the UAE private sector, an experience certificate is a legal entitlement, not a favour. Article 13(11) of Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 requires the employer, when the worker asks at the end of the contract, to provide a certificate of experience free of charge. As published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), the certificate must state:
- the start and end dates of employment;
- the total period of service;
- the job title or type of work;
- the last wage; and
- the reason for termination.
The same paragraph says the certificate must not contain anything that could harm the worker’s reputation or limit their future job opportunities. In other words, a UAE experience certificate is meant to be neutral. Comments on conduct or performance belong in a reference, if anywhere.
Two practical points for UAE employees, as of November 2026:
- A government-issued alternative. Gulf News reported in February 2024 that the MoHRE app offers a free “Employment History Certificate” for registered employees, issued instantly, and that employers can check it at inquiry.mohre.gov.ae using the letter number. The same report said the certificate is valid for one month. It is useful if a former employer has closed or is slow to respond, though some readers will still want a letter on company letterhead.
- If the employer refuses. You can raise a complaint with MoHRE on 600590000, or call the toll-free labour claims and advisory line on 80084. A 2021 Gulf News article, written under the previous labour law, described the route as a MoHRE complaint first and a court case if that does not resolve it.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your own situation with MoHRE.
How the format differs elsewhere
Outside the UAE, the experience letter often overlaps with what other countries call an employment reference or a confirmation of employment, and there may be no legal duty to issue one.
In the UK, for example, GOV.UK says an employer does not usually have to give a work reference unless there is a written agreement to do so or the employer is in a regulated industry such as financial services. Where a reference is given, it must be fair and accurate, and it can be brief: a basic reference might cover only job title, salary and dates of employment. A UK “experience letter” request will often be answered with exactly that kind of factual confirmation.
If you are using the letter for a visa, follow the guidance for that visa. The UK Home Office’s guide to supporting documents for visitors, updated in October 2026, suggests a letter from your employer on company headed paper detailing your role, salary and length of employment. The same guide says any document not in English or Welsh needs a full translation that includes the translator’s confirmation of accuracy, the translation date, the translator’s full name and signature, and their contact details. Other countries set their own rules, so check the official guidance for the visa you are applying for.
Experience letter, relieving letter, reference: which one do you need?
| Document | What it confirms | Typical reader |
|---|---|---|
| Experience letter or certificate | Dates, job title, often duties; in the UAE also last wage and reason for leaving | New employers, background checks, visa and licensing bodies |
| Relieving letter | That you have been formally released from your duties and handed over | A new employer that wants proof you have left your last job |
| Reference | An opinion on your performance or conduct, from a named person | Hiring managers before or after an offer |
| Salary certificate | Current pay and employment, while you still work there | Banks, landlords, visa sponsors |
Some employers combine the experience letter and the relieving letter into one document. That is fine, as long as the result still shows the dates, title and signature clearly.
Before you accept the letter: a checklist
- Name: spelled exactly as in your passport, including middle names.
- Dates: start and end dates match your contract, your CV and your final settlement.
- Titles: every title you held, with dates if you were promoted.
- Duties: included if the letter is for a licence, assessment or skilled role.
- Signatory: full name and title printed under the signature; stamp if the reader expects one.
- Contact route: a phone number or email on the letterhead that a verifier can actually reach.
- Tone: neutral and factual. In the UAE, nothing that harms your reputation.
- Copies: ask for a signed PDF and, if you may need attestation, at least one original.
Once you have the PDF, keep it with your other career documents. If you need to merge it with certificates into a single upload, or compress it to meet a portal’s file limit, the free PDF tools can do both without retyping anything.
Writing the request to HR
A clear request gets a better letter. State the dates you worked, every title you held, whether you need duties described, whether salary should appear, the addressee, and the deadline. If the reader needs a specific format, attach it. A short, polite email that lists these points usually avoids a second round of corrections.
Then make sure the letter and your CV tell the same story. Readers often compare the two side by side, so the titles and dates on your resume template should match the letter word for word.
Frequently asked questions
Can I write my own experience letter and ask my manager to sign it?
Many employers accept a draft from the employee, especially in small companies. The final letter must still come from the company on its letterhead and be signed by someone authorised to sign. Never sign it yourself or add a stamp you were not given.
My former company has closed. What can I use instead?
In the UAE, the MoHRE Employment History Certificate described above may help. Elsewhere, payslips, your contract, tax records and bank statements showing salary credits can together support your dates. Ask the reader which alternatives they accept.
Does an experience letter have to include my salary?
Under UAE law, the certificate states the last wage. In other countries it is usually optional, and you can ask for it to be left out or put in a separate letter.
Can my employer charge me for an experience letter?
In the UAE private sector, no: Article 13(11) says the certificate is provided without fees. Rules elsewhere vary.
Sources
- Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 and its amendments (Article 13(11)), Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
- Get your UAE job experience certificate instantly and for free, Gulf News
- UAE: Former employer refuses to give experience letter, what can I do?, Gulf News
- Progressive workforce interaction channels (MoHRE contact numbers), Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (UAE Labour Market Observatory)
- References: your rights, GOV.UK
- Visiting the UK: guide to supporting documents, UK Home Office (GOV.UK)