Application for Leave: Leave Letter Format and 13 Samples

13 ready samples Copy, Word or print Checked 9 Oct 2026

An application for leave is a short formal letter asking your principal, warden or manager to excuse you for a fixed number of days. This page explains the leave letter format and gives 13 ready samples for real situations: a family function, your own wedding or a relative's, urgent work, two days off, a hostel visit home, paternity leave and a long leave of absence.

Enter your details in the boxes at the top one time, and all thirteen letters update with them. Edit the dates and reason to suit you, and the letter is ready to copy, print or save as a Word file.

Letter

Leave Application for Family Function

For a school student who will miss classes for a family event such as a housewarming or a grandparent's birthday celebration.

To
The Principal
School Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Application for leave to attend a family function
Respected Sir/Madam,

I am Your Name, a student of Class Class, Section Section. My family is holding a housewarming ceremony at our new home on start date, and all our relatives are coming for it.

My parents want me to be there and help with the arrangements, so I will have to miss school from start date to end date. I will collect the notes from my class teacher and finish all pending homework.

Kindly grant me leave for number of days days.

Thanking you,
Yours obediently,
Your Name
Class: Class, Section: Section
Roll No.: Roll No.
Letter

Application for Marriage Leave (Own Wedding)

For an employee asking for leave for their own wedding. Send it three to four weeks before the date.

To
Recipient Name
Designation
Company Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Marriage leave application from start date to end date
Dear Recipient Name,

I am happy to share that my wedding has been fixed for wedding date. I request marriage leave from start date to end date, a total of number of days days, to cover the ceremonies and the travel involved.

I am applying early so that the team can plan around my absence. Before I go, I will close my open deliverables and write a handover note for Colleague's Name, who has agreed to look after my daily tasks.

If part of this leave has to be adjusted against my earned leave as per company policy, please let me know. I will check my email once a day during the first week in case something urgent comes up.

Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Employee ID: Employee ID
Letter

Leave Letter for Marriage Function (Relative's Wedding)

For a student travelling out of town for a cousin's, uncle's or aunt's wedding.

To
The Principal
School Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Leave application for my cousin's marriage
Respected Sir/Madam,

With due respect, I wish to inform you that my elder cousin is getting married on wedding date in Place. Our whole family is travelling there two days before the wedding.

For this reason I will be absent from start date to end date. Please grant me leave for these number of days days. I will study the missed lessons on my return and submit my project on time.

Thanking you,
Yours obediently,
Your Name
Class: Class, Section: Section
Roll No.: Roll No.

Application for Leave Format (Leave Letter Format)

Every leave letter in English follows the same formal pattern. Only the receiver, the reason and the closing change. The parts go in the sequence below.

PartDetails
To"To", then the receiver on separate lines: The Principal, The Warden or your manager's name and designation, then the school or company name and city.
DateThe day you write or send the application.
SubjectOne line under 10 words, such as "Application for leave to attend a family function".
Salutation"Respected Sir/Madam" for a principal or head of office. "Dear" with the manager's name, or "Dear Sir/Madam" when you write to HR.
BodyWho you are, the reason, the exact dates and number of days, and how your work or studies will be covered.
Closing"Thanking you" with "Yours obediently" for students. Adults use "Yours faithfully" after "Sir/Madam" and "Yours sincerely" after the person's name.
SignatureName with class and roll number, or designation and employee ID.

An email uses the same body, but the "To" line becomes the email address and the subject goes in the subject field. Leave out the address block and the date.

Letter

Leave Application for Urgent Work

For an employee who needs a day off at short notice for urgent personal work, such as a property registration or a passport appointment.

To
Recipient Name
Designation
Company Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Leave for urgent personal work on start date
Dear Recipient Name,

I need to take leave on start date for urgent personal work. I must be present in person at the Office Name for document verification, and the appointment slot was given to me only yesterday.

I am sorry for the short notice. My tasks for that day are not time bound, and I have briefed Colleague's Name about the client query that may come in. I will keep my phone on and reply to anything urgent by evening.

I will clear any pending work the next morning. Kindly approve one day of casual leave for this.

Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Employee ID: Employee ID
Letter

Application for 2 Days Leave (Job)

For an employee who needs two working days off, for example to shift house.

To
Recipient Name
Designation
Company Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Application for two days leave
Dear Recipient Name,

I request two days of leave on start date and end date, as my family is shifting to a new house in City. The packers arrive on the first day, and we need the second day to set up the new place.

I have finished this week's reports in advance and shared the status of my open tasks with the team by email. My colleague Colleague's Name will attend the weekly review on my behalf and take notes for me.

I will rejoin on the next working day. Please adjust these two days against my casual leave balance.

Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Employee ID: Employee ID
Letter

Application for Leave of Absence

For an employee who needs a long break, partly unpaid, for example to care for a parent after an operation.

To
The HR Manager
Company Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Request for leave of absence from start date to end date
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to request a leave of absence of number of days days, from start date to end date. My father is recovering from a major operation, and I need to stay with him in City and manage his care during this time.

My paid leave balance does not cover this period, so I request that the remaining days be treated as leave without pay, as per company policy. I understand that the final decision rests with the management.

Before I leave, I will prepare a detailed handover for my reporting manager and stay available by phone for questions about my projects. I plan to rejoin on end date and will tell you at once if this changes.

Thank you,
Yours faithfully,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Employee ID: Employee ID
Phone: Phone
Email

Short Leave Application (Few Hours)

For an employee who needs to leave early or come in late by two or three hours on one day.

To: Recipient Email
Subject: Short leave request for leave date
Dear Recipient Name,

I would like to request a short leave of about number of hours hours on leave date. I need to leave the office at time to attend a parent teacher meeting at my child's school.

I have checked that no meetings are planned for me after time, and my work for the day will be complete before I leave. If anything is still pending, I will log in from home in the evening and finish it.

Please let me know if this works for you.

Regards,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Phone
Letter

Hostel Leave Application (To the Warden)

For a hostel student asking the warden for permission to go home for a few days.

To
The Warden
College Name Hostel
City
Date: Date
Subject: Application for hostel leave to go home
Respected Sir/Madam,

I am Your Name, a student of Course Name, staying in Room No. Room No. of the hostel. I wish to go home from start date to end date because my parents have asked me to come for reason.

I will travel by bus with my cousin, who lives in the same town, and I will report back before time on end date. Please allow me to leave the hostel for these days. A consent letter from my parents is attached.

Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Your Name
Room No.: Room No.
Phone: Phone
Enclosure: Parent's consent letter
Letter

Paternity Leave Application

For a father asking for leave around the birth of his child. The number of days allowed depends on company policy.

To
Recipient Name
Designation
Company Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Paternity leave application
Dear Recipient Name,

My wife is expecting our first child, and the expected delivery date is due date. I request paternity leave from start date to end date so that I can support her and the baby in the first weeks.

I understand that the number of paternity leave days depends on company policy. If my request is longer than the allowed limit, please adjust the extra days against my earned leave.

Before going on leave, I will brief Colleague's Name on my accounts and keep all files on the shared team drive. I can be reached on Phone for urgent matters, though I may not reply at once.

Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Employee ID: Employee ID
Letter

Child Care Leave Application

For a working parent, often a teacher or government employee, asking for leave to be with a child during board exams. Rules on this leave depend on your employer.

To
The Head of Office
Organisation Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Application for child care leave
Respected Sir/Madam,

I request child care leave for number of days days, from start date to end date. My son is appearing for his Class 10 board examinations in this period, and he needs my support at home.

Please check my eligibility for this leave under the rules that apply to my post. In my absence, the duties assigned to me will be handled by Colleague's Name, and all pending files have been updated and handed over.

Kindly sanction the leave and let me know if any further document is required.

Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Your Name
Designation
Employee ID: Employee ID
Email

Leave Application Mail for One Day

For an employee sending a simple leave request by email a week or more in advance.

To: Recipient Email
Subject: Leave request for start date
Dear Recipient Name,

I would like to take one day of casual leave on start date to attend my younger brother's graduation ceremony in City.

I will send you the weekly sales summary the day before, so nothing is held up. I have marked the day on the team calendar, and Colleague's Name has the details of my accounts in case a client calls.

Thank you for considering my request.

Regards,
Your Name
Designation, Department
Letter

Leave Letter for Going to Temple (Pilgrimage)

For a student going with family on a pilgrimage or a temple visit out of town.

To
The Principal
School Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Leave application for a family pilgrimage
Respected Sir/Madam,

I am Your Name of Class Class, Section Section. My family has planned a pilgrimage to Place, where we will offer prayers at the temple on my grandmother's birthday.

We leave on start date and return on end date, so I will miss school for number of days days. Please grant me leave for this period. I will complete the chapters taught in my absence with help from my classmates.

Thanking you,
Yours obediently,
Your Name
Class: Class, Section: Section
Roll No.: Roll No.
Letter

Absent Application for School (Family Emergency)

For a student who missed school without asking first, because of a sudden family matter, and gives the application on return.

To
The Principal
School Name
City
Date: Date
Subject: Application for absence from school
Respected Sir/Madam,

I was absent from school from start date to end date because my grandfather fell seriously ill in our village. My parents had to leave at very short notice and took me along.

We could not inform the school before leaving. I am back now and have joined classes today. Please excuse my absence for these number of days days. I have started copying the notes I missed.

Thanking you,
Yours obediently,
Your Name
Class: Class, Section: Section
Roll No.: Roll No.
Parent's signature: Parent's Name

How to Write a Leave Letter

  1. Decide who it goes to. Students write to the principal or class teacher. Hostel students write to the warden. Employees write to their manager and copy HR if the company asks for it.
  2. Put the reason in the first two lines. Say plainly why you need leave: a wedding, a family function, urgent work or illness.
  3. Be exact about the days. Mention when the leave begins, when it ends and how many days it covers. Vague requests like "a few days" get delayed.
  4. Say how things will be covered. A student can mention notes and homework. An employee can name the colleague handling the work.
  5. Apply early when you can. For planned leave such as a marriage or a pilgrimage, send the application at least a week before.

For a letter written for one exact situation, see these pages: leave application for school, sick leave application, leave application for office, leave application for college, maternity leave application and leave application in Hindi.

Subject Lines for a Leave Application

Pick one that matches your reason and change the dates.

  • Application for leave to attend a family function
  • Application for marriage leave from [start date] to [end date]
  • Leave application for urgent work on [start date]
  • Application for 3 days leave
  • Request for leave of absence
  • Short leave request for [leave date]
  • Application for hostel leave
  • Paternity leave application

Tips for Writing an Application for Leave

  • Keep a school application between 60 and 120 words. An office leave letter can run to about 200 words.
  • Write one clear reason. A long story makes the letter weaker, not stronger.
  • For planned leave, apply early and mention the dates in the subject line so the approver sees them at once.
  • In an office, check your leave balance first and name the type of leave: casual, earned or leave without pay.
  • Students below Class 6 should get the leave letter signed by a parent.
  • If the leave is long, attach a supporting paper such as a wedding card, a medical certificate or an appointment slip.
  • Keep a copy or the sent email. It helps if attendance or salary is questioned later.

Questions people ask

How do I write a simple leave application?

Write "To" and the receiver, the date, a one line subject and "Respected Sir/Madam". In two or three short lines give your name, the reason and the dates, then end with "Thanking you" and your name. That is enough for a one or two day leave.

How do I write an application for 3 days leave?

Use the same format and write the three dates clearly, for example "from [start date] to [end date], a total of 3 days". Add one line on how you will catch up on missed work. For illness, attach a doctor's note.

What is the difference between casual leave and a leave of absence?

Casual leave is for one or two days of short personal work and is usually paid. A leave of absence is a longer break, often weeks, that may be unpaid. The rules for both depend on your company or institution.

Can I send a leave application by email?

Yes. Most offices and colleges accept a leave application mail. Put the reason and date in the subject, keep the body short, and send it before the leave starts whenever you can.

Who signs a leave letter for a school student?

Older students sign their own application, often with a parent's signature below. For young children, a parent usually writes and signs the leave letter to the class teacher.

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