How to Apply for Duplicate CBSE Passing Certificate Online: Step-by-Step DADS Guide

October 3, 2026

Losing or damaging your school certificates can be stressful, especially when they are required for higher education admissions, job applications, or passport verification. To simplify this process, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Government of India, has introduced an online platform called the Duplicate Academic Document System (DADS). This digital initiative aims to enhance the ease of doing business and eliminate the need for students or parents to make physical visits to CBSE regional offices.

Through the DADS portal, candidates who completed their Class 10 or Class 12 examinations under CBSE can request duplicate passing certificates. Applicants can choose between two formats: legally valid digital copies linked to DigiLocker or physical printed documents securely dispatched directly to their home address via India Post.

Eligibility Criteria and Requirements

Before initiating your online application on the DADS portal, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and have the necessary academic details on hand. The service is strictly for:

Students (or parents of students) who have completed their Class 10 or Class 12 education under a CBSE-affiliated school.
Individuals whose original academic certificates have been misplaced, lost, or physically damaged.

To successfully query the CBSE database and retrieve your records, you must know the following specific information exactly as it appears in the school records:

The exact Class of study (Class X or Class XII).
The candidate’s roll number.
The passing year.
The candidate’s full name.
The candidate’s father’s name.

Documents and Information Needed for the Application

To ensure a smooth, uninterrupted online application process, keep digital copies of the following documents ready on your device:

Identity Verification: A scanned soft copy of your Aadhaar Card or any other valid Government-issued ID card.
Address Proof: A valid address proof document matching the destination where you want the physical certificate to be dispatched.
Optional Academic Reference: A scanned copy of the lost certificate or marksheet (if available). While optional, this highly assists CBSE officials in verification.
Payment Method: A digital payment mode to pay the fee online. The system accepts Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Net Banking, and UPI.

CBSE Duplicate Certificate Fee Structure

The application fee for obtaining a duplicate CBSE certificate is structured dynamically based on the number of years that have elapsed since you passed your exams. The board strictly prohibits any physical cash handovers; all fees must be paid digitally through the portal.

Up to 5 years from the passing year: ₹250
More than 5 years and up to 10 years from the passing year: ₹500
More than 10 years and up to 20 years from the passing year: ₹1,000
More than 20 years from the passing year: ₹2,000
Digital Copy fee (specifically for candidates who passed prior to 2017): ₹100

Step-by-Step Process to Apply for Duplicate CBSE Passing Certificate Online

Follow these steps on the official DADS portal to submit your application and complete your payment:

Go directly to the official CBSE DADS portal at https://cbseit.in/cbse/web/dads/home.aspx.
On the homepage, click on the Continue button to proceed to the main application interface.
Select your preferred document format: select either Digital Document or Printed Document depending on your requirement.
Select your Class (Class X or Class XII) from the drop-down menu, and enter your Roll Number, Name, Passing Year, and Father’s Name exactly as recorded.
Click search and verify the student details fetched automatically by the system from the CBSE central repository.
If you selected the physical delivery option, fill in your complete dispatch address, ensuring the Pin Code is accurate.
Upload the scanned PDF or JPEG copy of your Aadhaar card or valid address proof.
Pay the applicable fee using your preferred online payment mode (UPI, Debit/Credit Card, or Net Banking).
Once the transaction is successful, download and save the generated receipt containing your unique Acknowledgement Number.

Tracking Your Application & Delivery Timelines

Once your application is submitted, you can monitor its progress directly through the DADS portal. The system offers real-time tracking of both document generation at the regional office and shipment status via India Post using your unique Acknowledgement Number.

Dispatch Method: Physical certificates are officially printed by respective CBSE regional offices and securely dispatched to your address via Speed Post.
Standard Timelines: It typically takes 15 to 20 working days for the physical certificate to be processed, printed, and dispatched.
Subsequent Requests: If you lose your duplicate copy and require a triplicate copy, CBSE requires strong, verifiable documentary evidence proving the loss of the duplicate copy before processing.

Exceptional Cases, Limitations, and Warnings

While the DADS portal has made the process highly convenient, keep the following exceptions, technical rules, and warnings in mind:

Pre-2001 Passing Years: Candidates who passed their board examinations prior to the year 2001 may not have their records fully digitised on the portal. In such cases, you may need to submit a physical application form along with a bank draft offline.
Search Failures: Ensure all spelling, spacing, and credentials perfectly match the school database. Any mismatch will cause the online portal search query to fail.
Server Issues: In case of portal downtimes or payment transaction failures, you are advised to access your digital certificates via DigiLocker or contact your respective CBSE regional office directly.
Address Bounces & Non-Delivery: If a physical certificate is printed and dispatched but returns undelivered due to an incorrect address or remains uncollected for 3 months, the application will be cancelled. In such instances, you must submit a fresh application and pay the fee again.

DigiLocker Integration and Digital Documents

For urgent academic admissions or verification purposes, physical delivery timelines may be too slow. CBSE addresses this by integrating with Parinaam Manjusha (CBSE’s Academic Repository) and DigiLocker. This system provides legally valid, digitally signed academic certificates that are accepted everywhere.

Availability: Digital copies are easily accessible for examination years 2004 onwards.
Instant Access: Students can access their digitally signed certificates instantly on DigiLocker using their registration details or by utilizing a 6-digit school PIN provided during board registrations.

Official Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I track my duplicate certificate after applying?

Yes. You can track the real-time status of your document printing and postal shipment directly on the DADS portal using your unique Application or Acknowledgement Number.

How much does it cost if I passed my exams 12 years ago?

It will cost ₹1,000. Under the current CBSE fee structure, applications for duplicate documents for exams passed between 10 and 20 years ago fall into this specific fee bracket.

What if my application is cancelled?

If physical documents are printed but returned undelivered due to incorrect address details, or if they remain uncollected, they may be cancelled after 3 months. If this happens, you must submit a fresh application and pay the fee again.

Conclusion

The online Duplicate Academic Document System (DADS) provided by CBSE makes obtaining your lost Class 10 or 12 certificates simple, secure, and completely transparent. By eliminating manual paperwork and physical regional office visits, you can easily apply online and receive digital or physical copies. Make sure to keep your downloaded payment receipt and Acknowledgement Number safe until your certificate is successfully delivered.