How to Write Consent Letter? Format and Samples

A consent letter is a document written by a person or a party, seeking permission from another. Consent letters are important as they are legally required to obtain permission to initiate an action. This article sheds light on the types and format of consent letters.

Guidelines for Writing a Consent Letter

Given below are certain guidelines which will help you write an effective consent letter:

• The letter or email should have a clear heading regarding the consent.
• Clearly describe the requirements (if any).
• Ensure that relevant names and other details such as addresses and contact information of respective parties are included in the letter.
• Mention the duration of the program or participation.
• Explain the rules of the contract.
• The most important part is the signature on the consent letter. This is where the respondent accepts the consent.
• End the letter in a professional tone.

Types of Consent Letter

There are three distinct types of consent an organization may collect:

• Explicit Consent: This type of consent is also known as direct consent. In this type of consent letter, an individual provides a positive indication that they agree to their personal data being shared. This includes option like of ticking an opt-in box, or an action that signifies agreement, such as oral confirmatio, or the provision of contact details where the individual has been clearly informed that by giving these details they agree to their data being shared.
• Implicit Consent: This type of consent is also known as indirect consent. It is described from the action of the respondents. This is when someone gives their contact information (e.g., email address, phone number, etc.) but does not explicitly say they want to receive marketing messages or mail. An example of implicit consent is when a customer makes a purchase and provides their email at checkout.
• Opt-out Consent: Opt-out consent is a method of obtaining consent where organizations provide the choice to decline consent. Businesses use this method of obtaining consent because they recognize that customers do not take the time to read the end-user agreements before signing up.

Format of Consent Letter

The format of a consent letter varies according to the purpose. Let’s have a look at the general format.

Recipient’s Name/ Designation

Name of the Organization

Subject: Consent to (purpose)

Salutation (Dear Sir/Madam,)

Body of the letter: Explain the purpose or reason for which you are providing consent. Mention all the necessary and relevant details, including date, event, place, name, etc.

Mobile Number/ Email ID

Consent Letter Samples

Let us go through the samples of some of the most commonly used consent letters.

Parental Consent Letter to Attend a Field Trip

Whomsoever it may concern,

Indian High School,

Subject: Consent Acceptance Letter for Field Trip

I, Rahul Khanna, am the legal parent of Trevor Fernandes. I hereby acknowledge that I have granted my consent for my son, Rohit Khanna, to join the school’s field trip on September 10th, 2022. I have read and comprehended the school’s terms and conditions. I’ve also instructed my ward to follow all safety precautions to avoid mishaps and to observe the school’s rules and regulations.

Any inquiries regarding this consent can be directed to me via my mobile number.

Consent Form for Credit Report Authorization

XYZ Financial Services,

Subject: Credit Report Authorization Consent Form

I, Rohit Khanna, hereby authorize XYZ Financial Services to do a background check and/or consumer credit report on me. I have attached the necessary documents, including my PAN card number and Bank Account number for the purpose of verification of my credit score.

Consent Letter for Internship Acceptance

Subject: Letter for Internship Acceptance

Dear Rohit Khanna,

We are pleased to offer you internship programme with ABC Bank for a period of 3 months. You will be provided with an honorarium of Rs. 10000 per month.

Please note that any information collected from you during the course of your internship will be kept confidential at all times.

We appreciate your interest in ABC Bank.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the types of Consent letter?

There are many types of consent letters but the majority of those letters are for these four types:

• Parental consent form
• Medical consent form
• Consent form for research
• Consent form for education

What is a consent letter?

A consent letter is a formal letter written to request or provide consent to intitate a particular course of action.

What is opt-out consent?

In this type of consent, organizations provide the option to deny consent. Not choosing to subscribe to newsletters, unticking a previously ticked checkbox, not consenting to save personal details, rejecting the use of cookies, etc. are some examples of opt-out.