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- What is APS for India?
- Is APS mandatory?
- Eligibility for Bachelor's
- University recognition
- How to apply for the APS?
- Documents required
- APS Costs
- Submitting the application
- Processing times
- Interviews
- When to apply?
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As per the directive from German diplomatic representatives in India, Indian students applying for a German student visa must submit an Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) certificate. The APS office in India has been processing applications since October 1, 2022. This guide provides all essential details on the certification process.
Disclaimer: This guide is for information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify information directly with the APS office in India.
What is APS for India?
The Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) at the German Embassy in New Delhi verifies the academic qualifications of Indian students wishing to study in Germany. APS offices also exist in other countries (such as China and Vietnam), but APS India is specifically responsible for applicants who hold Indian school or university qualifications. The APS certificate confirms document authenticity and is a key prerequisite for both German university admission and the student visa application submitted via VFS. Once issued, the certificate is valid indefinitely.
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Is the APS Certificate Mandatory for Indian Students?
Yes, in most cases! Indian students cannot apply for a student visa without an APS certificate. However, there are exceptions:
- Scholarship Holders: Students funded by Germany- or EU-based public funds (e.g., DAAD scholarships).
- PhD or PostDoc Candidates: If their dissertation supervisor or host institution does not require APS certification.
- International Qualification Holders: Students whose highest qualification is a non-Indian degree (e.g., A-Levels, IB, foreign Bachelor's from outside India).
- Non-German Degree in Germany: Students who obtained a non-German degree (e.g., a UK degree) while studying in Germany.
- Short Courses: Applicants attending a course in Germany that lasts less than 90 days (e.g., short German language programs). APS is not required in this case.
Eligibility: Class XII Score Requirement for Bachelor's Studies
According to the evaluation criteria published in the Anabin database, Indian applicants seeking admission to a Bachelor's program in Germany must achieve a minimum overall score of 70% of the maximum achievable marks in the Class XII certificate, regardless of which board issued it (CBSE, ICSE, or any state board). This requirement applies to admissions starting from Winter Semester 2026/2027.
Two admission pathways are available:
- Studienkolleg pathway: Class XII (≥70%) + APS Certificate → eligibility for subject-restricted admission via Studienkolleg.
- Direct subject-restricted admission: Class XII (≥70%) + APS Certificate + at least one successfully completed academic year in a recognized Bachelor's program → direct admission to the same field of study or a closely related subject.
Completing one academic year does not automatically guarantee direct admission — German universities still make the final call.
Recognition Status of Your University
If you graduated from a private Indian university, confirm that your institution holds "H+" status in the Anabin database before applying. Following the University Grants Commission (UGC) accreditation update, APS cannot issue a certificate to graduates of private universities listed as "H+/-" or "H-" — i.e., those not fully accredited by the UGC.
Note: For distance or online programs, both the institution and the specific course must be recognized by the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) for the entire duration of the course. APS does not accept distance/online qualifications in disciplines such as medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, law, architecture, hotel management, agriculture or sports — among others. The full list is published on the APS India News page, and applications in these disciplines will not be processed regardless of the year of enrolment or graduation.
How to Apply for the APS Certificate in India
As an Indian student, you can apply for the APS certificate in 5 simple steps:
1
Review the requirements relevant to your case.
2
Gather all necessary documents.
3
Register online and fill out the application form.
4
Pay the processing fee (18,000 INR) — preferably online via CCAvenue.
5
Submit your application package by courier (printed, signed, and complete).
Documents required by the APS India
Depending on whether you want to do your Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in Germany, the documents required to obtain the APS certificate vary. Always check the official checklist for your specific category on the APS India Checklists page.
Here is the list of documents for those who want to do their Master's in Germany:
- Complete application form (printed and signed) with passport-size photo;
- Copy of the verification fee receipt;
- Copy of Aadhaar card with linked mobile number;
- Copy of the first and last pages of your passport;
- Copy of 10th class certificate and transcript of records;
- Copy of 12th class certificate and transcript of records;
- Copy of 12th class admit card (upon availability);
- Copy of the Bachelor's certificate and transcript of records;
- Copy of signed Student Authorization Letter
- Copy of language certificate.
Note: Notarization is only required for documents translated into English from regional languages. Documents already in English (or bilingual) do not need to be notarized.
Geeky Stuff Box
TestAS is required only for Indian students who wish to pursue their undergraduate studies in Germany and do not yet hold a Bachelor's degree from India. The TestAS requirement does not apply to Class 12 graduates who have cleared both JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
According to APS India, the official rollout details for the TestAS requirement are announced via the News section of the APS India website.
APS India: Costs and Money Transfer
The APS certification fee is 18,000 INR. APS India recommends paying online through CCAvenue (which supports cards, UPI, and net banking), as offline bank transfers result in manual account activation and noticeably slower processing. Payment is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Submitting the application for the APS in India
Once your application package is ready, you must send it by courier to the APS India office. Personal drop-offs are no longer accepted, as APS does not offer public visiting hours.
Be careful: Incomplete applications will not be processed.
APS India: Processing times
The APS verification process takes approximately 3–4 weeks after payment confirmation. APS starts processing only after receiving the fee. During peak admission seasons, processing can extend to 6–12 weeks, depending on the volume of applications and how quickly Indian institutions respond to APS verification queries.
Advice Box
Start checking your online profile regularly around the 3-week mark — once your verification is complete, the status will be updated on your profile and your certificate will be sent by email.
If your application is successful, you will receive a digital certificate (PDF format) via the email address you used to register. These certificates are authenticated by a digital signature and remain valid indefinitely.
Note: Digital APS Certificates have been issued since April 2023. Prior to this, students received paper APS Certificates. If you are one of the students who have the paper version, do not worry — your certificate is still valid and will be accepted by the relevant authorities (e.g., German universities, uni-assist, VFS).
Warning!
Here are some key recommendations from German authorities for Indian applicants:
- Don't rush! Take your time to recheck the correctness of the email address you provide. If you mistype it, the whole APS procedure becomes extremely complicated.
- Check your spam folder regularly. Your APS certificate may land in spam. It's a good idea to check this folder from time to time.
- Do not "bombard" APS India with unnecessary messages. Repeatedly sending the same emails with numerous attachments can result in your address being auto-blocked, cutting off official communication entirely.
- Do not modify your APS certificate. APS India explicitly instructs applicants not to rename, edit, or merge the certificate PDF with other files. It must be submitted as a standalone file to universities, uni-assist, and VFS — any modification can break the digital signature verification and cause delays.
APS India: Interviews
Interviews are not always part of the APS application process for Indians!
Normally, those Indian students who are still pursuing their undergraduate degree at an Indian university MAY be required to go through the interview process after their documents have been successfully verified. This depends on the individual profile of the candidate and the decision of APS India itself. If this is the case, candidates will be contacted by phone or email 10–14 days prior to the scheduled interview to inform them of the location and date of the interview.
Candidates should allow approximately 20 minutes for the interview, during which they will be asked mainly about their academic background. Interviews are conducted in English or German, depending on the candidate's preference (which can be indicated during the online registration process). If the interview is successful, candidates will receive their APS certificate within 14 days of attending the interview.
Note on terminology
Since July 2024, the document issued without an interview has officially been renamed from "Zertifikat" to "Bescheinigung", aligning APS India with the naming used at APS offices in China and Vietnam. Both terms refer to the same valid document and are accepted by all relevant German authorities.
When to apply for the APS in India?
As soon as possible!
Why is this? Because obtaining the APS certificate, the visa appointment and the visa process itself can take several months. To increase your chances of arriving in Germany before the start of the semester, you need to act quickly.
A practical timeline: For a Winter Semester intake (October start), uni-assist deadlines typically fall around mid-July, which means you should aim to have your APS certificate in hand by May. Hence, accounting for 3–12 weeks of APS processing plus time for the visa appointment, applying around 4–6 months before your university deadline is sensible. For a Summer Semester intake (April start), aim to start your APS application in the fall of the previous year.
One important caveat: APS will not hold your application open while you wait for upcoming exam results or additional semester marksheets. Submit your APS application only once you have completed the academic stage that determines your intended admission pathway. If you later complete a higher qualification that changes your admission category, you will need to apply — and pay — again for an updated evaluation.
