Resignation Letter

A short, polite letter that gives notice of your resignation, with your last working day, in the layout used in your country.

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Resignation Letter: infographic with a sketch of the document, when to use it, common mistakes and the country versions.
2 parties, 1 signature.

Country versions

  • International
  • United States *
  • United Kingdom *
  • Korea *
  • Japan *
  • Germany *

* check with local advice

A template, not advice.

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What it is

A resignation letter is the written notice in which you tell your employer that you are ending your employment, and on which day. It is short on purpose: your name, the date, one clear sentence that you are resigning together with your last working day, and a polite close.

This template builds the letter from a few answers. Switch the country to get the layout that is common there: a business letter for the United States, the United Kingdom and the international version, the 사직서 or 사직원 in Korea, the 退職届 or 退職願 in Japan, and the German letter with the wording that goes with the written form. Your saved name and address are filled in for you, and you can change them for this letter only.

When to use it
  • You have decided to leave and your contract or staff handbook asks for notice in writing.
  • You want a record of the day you gave notice, for yourself and for the HR department.
  • Your employer expects the local layout, such as the Korean or the Japanese one.
  • You have already spoken to your manager and now want to confirm the conversation.
How to fill it in
  1. Fill in your name, the employer, and the name and position of the person who receives the letter.
  2. Choose your last working day after you have checked the notice period in your contract.
  3. Pick a reason only if you want to give one; most countries do not require it.
  4. Switch the thank-you and handover sentences on or off and read the preview.
  5. Print and sign the letter, or download it as a Word file to adjust the wording.
Common mistakes
  • Leaving out the last working day, so the letter does not say when the employment ends.
  • Writing in anger or listing complaints; raise those in an exit interview instead.
  • Forgetting to sign a printed letter, or to keep a copy with the day you handed it over.
  • Sending it to the wrong person; address it to the manager or HR contact your contract names.
  • Assuming one country's layout is accepted in another, especially in Germany, where the signed paper letter matters.
Steps at a glance
  1. Fill in
  2. Check the preview
  3. Save as PDF, Word or Excel
Country versions

Pick the country you need. Each version uses the wording and layout commonly found there; a version marked “check with local advice” should be read by someone who knows the local rules before it is used.

  • International (XX): Written in English, Korean, Japanese, German
  • United States (US): Written in English – check with local advice
  • United Kingdom (GB): Written in English – check with local advice
  • Korea (KR): Written in Korean, English – check with local advice
  • Japan (JP): Written in Japanese, English – check with local advice
  • Germany (DE): Written in German, English – check with local advice

Designs

The same form in several designs. The fields and the wording stay the same; only the look changes.

  • Classic
  • Modern
  • Minimal
  • Warm
  • Plain (black and white)
  • Formal
  • Side band
  • Banner
  • Executive
  • Ledger
  • Compact
  • Boxed form

Your details fill it in

Fields that ask for your name, address or company details are filled from My details, so you do not type them again; you can still change any field for one form. Signed in, your details stay in your account; otherwise they stay in this browser only. A passport, identity or social security number is never saved.

Questions

Do I have to give a reason?
In most countries no. In Korea and Japan it is customary to state personal reasons (일신상의 사유, 一身上の都合), which is why the template offers a short list. Choose "No reason given" for a plain letter.
Can I take a resignation back?
That depends on your contract, the local rules and whether your employer has already accepted it. In Japan a 退職願 (a request) is generally treated differently from a 退職届 (a notice), which is why the template offers both. Ask your HR department before you count on taking it back.
Can I send it by email?
Email is common in the United Kingdom and the United States. In Germany a termination needs your handwritten signature on paper (§ 623 BGB), and in Korea and Japan companies usually ask for a signed or sealed paper copy. When in doubt, hand over a signed copy and send a scan as well.
Is the letter legal advice?
No. It is a general template. Notice periods and form requirements depend on your contract and your country, so check them yourself or ask a qualified adviser before you send the letter.
Is this form legal, tax or accounting advice?
No. It is a template: it gives you the usual structure and wording, not advice. Rules differ by country and case, so have someone qualified read anything that matters before you sign, send or file it.
Which countries and designs does it come in?
It comes in 6 country versions: International, United States, United Kingdom, Korea, Japan, and Germany. 12 designs.

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A form is a template, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Rules differ by country and case.