Reference Request Letter Template — England & Wales
This is a static, verified master template. AI never generates the clause text below — it only helps you fill in the variable fields after you sign in.
A reference request letter is used by an employer to ask a candidate's previous employer, or another named referee, for a reference during recruitment — after the candidate has named them and given permission to be contacted. It is a faithful, diff-verified reproduction of the ACAS reference request letter template, and lets you ask for a basic, detailed, or character reference depending on what you need to know. It sits within Verstia's Recruitment process pack, the final step after the job offer letter and job application form.
- When to use it
- When you need to request a reference for a candidate from a named referee during recruitment.
- What's included
- Fill-in fields for the referee's and applicant's details, the job applied for, and the type of reference you're requesting.
This document's core is based on a template published by ACAS (inferred to be under OGL-3.0, from ACAS's site-wide licensing notice — not a template-specific statement). Verstia does not claim this text is approved by ACAS — its fidelity to the source is verified by a deterministic diff, not a legal review.
REFERENCE REQUEST LETTER TEMPLATE your name employer name and address letter date Dear referee name, RE: applicant name The person named above has applied for the position of job title. They have given your name as a referee. I would be grateful if you could fill in the following details, so I can assess whether the applicant is suitable for this position: [If reference_is_basic:] Position held at your organisation: position held [If reference_is_basic:] Dates of employment: dates of employment [If reference_is_detailed:] Position held at your organisation: position held [If reference_is_detailed:] Dates of employment: dates of employment [If reference_is_detailed:] Main duties held: main duties held [If reference_is_detailed:] Salary: referee salary details [If reference_is_detailed:] Sickness or absence record – do not include absences related to disability or to parental rights, for example maternity leave: sickness absence record [If reference_is_detailed:] Any current, relevant disciplinary records: disciplinary records [If reference_is_detailed:] Reason for leaving job: referee reason for leaving [If reference_is_character:] Your relationship to the applicant: relationship to applicant [If reference_is_character:] How long you've known them: how long known [If reference_is_character:] Comment on character and strengths: character comment [If reference_is_character:] Suitability for the new role: suitability comment Please also include any other relevant additional comments you have about the employee. To return the reference, please return method. Thank you for taking the time to reply. The information you provide will be kept strictly confidential. Yours sincerely your name signoff
- Your nametextrequired
- Employer name and addresstextarearequired
- Letter datedaterequired
- Referee's nametextrequired
- Applicant's nametextrequired
- Job title applied fortextrequired
- Reference typeselectrequired
- Position held at referee's organisation (basic/detailed)text
- Dates of employment (basic/detailed)text
- Main duties held (detailed)textarea
- Salary (detailed)text
- Sickness or absence record (detailed)textarea
Do not include absences related to disability or to parental rights, for example maternity leave — including these could amount to unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.
- Current, relevant disciplinary records (detailed)textarea
- Reason for leaving job (detailed)textarea
- Your relationship to the applicant (character)text
- How long you've known them (character)text
- Comment on character and strengths (character)textarea
- Suitability for the new role (character)textarea
- How to return the referencetextrequired
- Your name (signatory)textrequired
- Is this template free?
- You can preview the full template and fill it in for free — the preview is watermarked. To download a clean copy you need a paid plan or pack.
- Is it legally accurate?
- It's a faithful, diff-verified reproduction of the ACAS source, checked by a deterministic diff (not a legal review, and not approved by ACAS). It's general information, not legal advice.
- What is a reference request letter?
- A letter an employer sends to a candidate's named referee, asking them to confirm details such as employment dates, role, or character — used to help assess a candidate's suitability during recruitment.
- What should a reference request letter include?
- The referee's and applicant's details, the job applied for, and the type of reference you're asking for — basic (position and dates), detailed (also duties, salary and absence/disciplinary record), or character (relationship, character and suitability). This template covers all three.
This information is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on a specific situation, consult a qualified adviser or Acas (acas.org.uk).