Is there a free ESA letter?

One honest path: if you already see a therapist or psychiatrist, ask them. Many will write an ESA letter at no extra charge as part of your care. 'Free ESA letter' websites, though, are lead-generation funnels or unsigned templates. If you don't have a provider, a legitimate letter means paying a real clinician for a real evaluation. Telehealth services with licensed clinicians typically charge $139–$199. We don't sell letters; this page exists so you know exactly what to ask for.

What must an ESA letter say?

In essence: that you have a mental or emotional condition (no diagnosis required on paper), that the animal provides support alleviating symptoms of that condition, and that the professional is licensed in your state. Their license number, signature, and date all appear on professional letterhead.

Does a landlord have to accept a letter that looks like this?

If it's genuine, meaning written and signed by a licensed mental health professional after a real evaluation, housing providers covered by the Fair Housing Act must treat it as reliable documentation. What they're allowed to check is authenticity, which is why the verifiable elements matter most.

Free sample + template

Sample ESA Letter: What a Real One Looks Like

Before you pay anyone, us included, you should know exactly what you're buying. Here's an annotated example of a legitimate ESA letter, and the honest truth about template letters.

Jordan R. Ellis, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker · License #TX-48291-C
Verified at your state licensing board · (512) 555-0100

July 22, 2026

Re: Reasonable Accommodation Request for an Emotional Support Animal

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a licensed mental health professional in the State of Texas. I have completed a clinical evaluation of my client, who is a person with a disability as defined by the Fair Housing Act, meaning a mental health condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

In my professional judgment, my client's animal companion provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms of this condition. I therefore support their request for a reasonable accommodation to keep this animal in their residence, consistent with the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B).

Please contact my office should you require verification of this letter's authenticity.

Sincerely,

Jordan R. Ellis

Jordan R. Ellis, LCSW · #TX-48291-C

① Letterhead + credentials

Real name, real license type, real contact info. It's the first thing a leasing office looks for.

② License number

Verifiable against the state board in about 30 seconds. This is the letter's spine.

③ The clinical statement

Disability + support relationship, stated plainly, with no diagnosis disclosed. Privacy is built into the standard.

④ Date + signature

Current (within ~12 months) and personally signed. Undated PDFs get bounced.

Sample for illustration. The professional shown is fictional. A real letter carries your own provider's verified details.

Free template

Copy this template to bring to your therapist

Bracketed fields are your provider's to fill in. Many clinicians will write an ESA letter at no extra charge as part of your care: this shows them exactly what housing providers expect.

[Provider name], [credentials]
[License type] · License #[number] · [State]
[Practice address and phone]

[Date]

Re: Reasonable Accommodation Request for an Emotional Support Animal

To Whom It May Concern:

I am a licensed mental health professional in the State of [state]. I have completed a clinical evaluation of my client, [client name], who is a person with a disability as defined by the Fair Housing Act, meaning a mental health condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

In my professional judgment, my client's animal companion provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms of this condition. I therefore support their request for a reasonable accommodation to keep this animal in their residence, consistent with the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3604(f)(3)(B)).

Please contact my office should you require verification of this letter's authenticity.

Sincerely,

[Signature]
[Provider name], [credentials] · License #[number]

Want the card to go with it? Registering your emotional support animal takes about 3 minutes. The $39$59$79$99 Digital Kit covers one animal and emails you two print-ready documents, an emotional support animal Certificate of Registration and a wallet ESA Card, both carrying a registration number anyone can check at /verify. Honestly labeled, and never a substitute for the letter above.

About 3 minutes · Instant digital delivery

30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.

Sample letter questions

You can write it, but it won't work. The letter's legal force comes from who signs it: a licensed mental health professional who evaluated you. Landlords verify the license number and the letterhead. A self-signed template fails that check in seconds. Use the template to understand what you're buying, or to hand to your existing therapist.