Your IVA completion certificate

Once you've successfully finished your IVA, you’ll receive a completion certificate from your insolvency practitioner (IP). This is official proof that you’ve met the obligations of your IVA and are no longer bound by its terms. 

It’s important to keep this document for your records in case you have any disputes with creditors or you need to prove to credit reference agencies that your IVA has finished.

You’ll usually get your completion certificate within three months of making your final IVA payment, provided you’ve met all the terms and conditions.

But sometimes it can take up to six months. If you haven’t received your certificate and you want to know when you can expect it, get in touch with your IP.

Your IVA completion certificate will usually be sent to you in the post by your IP. 

When they send it, they’ll also tell the Insolvency Service you’ve completed your IVA so your details can be removed from the public insolvency register. Having your details removed can take up to three months.

Your IVA will show on your credit file for six years from the date it was approved. It won’t be removed if you finish your IVA earlier, but it should be marked as ‘complete’.

This should happen automatically. But if it doesn’t ask the credit reference agencies to update it. If they ask for proof, you can use your IVA completion certificate.