Character Reference

How to complete Character Reference

Someone trusted you enough to put your name on the line for their visa, job, or mortgage. Acting as a formal reference means a real institution will read or call you, and your words carry weight in a decision that changes the applicant's life.

1. Confirm exactly what's required: a signed letter, an online form, a phone call, or a certified signature on official paperwork.
2. Ask the applicant for the role, the organization, and the specific qualities the decision-maker wants confirmed.
3. Write or speak to concrete facts you can personally vouch for: how long and in what capacity you've known them.
4. Match the format precisely, including any required ID, professional title, or notarization.
5. Return it before the deadline and tell the applicant it's submitted so they can track it.

Tips

• Only vouch for what you've actually witnessed; a vague but honest reference beats an inflated one that collapses under a follow-up question.
• Keep a copy of what you submitted in case the institution disputes or loses it.
• If asked to attest to character on legal documents, read the declaration you're signing first.

What counts as done

Your reference is formally submitted and acknowledged by the receiving body, and the applicant's process moves forward on it.