APS Certificate- The Complete Guide for Indian Students 2024-2025

What is APS Certificate?

It is a certificate issued by the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) to prove the authenticity of academic documents for enrolling in German Universities. 

From 1st Nov 2022, the German Embassy and Consulate made it mandatory for all students from India, Vietnam, Mainland China, and Mongolia to verify their educational documents before applying to the universities. The main motive behind this is to speed up the procedure of University Admissions and Visa applications. 

However, this certificate is not required for students who have received German or Europe-funded Scholarships. The Ph.D. students are exempted from APS Certificate if their thesis mentor does not need admission. If the course duration is less than 90 days, they don't need to obtain an APS Certificate. 

Quick Analysis

What is the Validity of the APS Certificate?

The APS Certificate has no expiry date; hence it has a lifetime validity once issued. In case of a change in Eligibility criteria, they must apply for an updated APS Certificate under the new category. You must contact the APS India office to know the charges and further process. 

What is the processing time for the APS Certificate?

To process your APS application, APS India will take 3-4 weeks to evaluate your submitted documents and issue the certificate if found authentic. They will start working on your application as soon as they receive it. The updates related to your APS application will be shared in your account on the APS India website. 

What are the documents required for APS Certificate in India?

The following are the common documents that must be submitted to the APS India Office via Courier or in person. 

1. Printed and Duly Signed application form with a recent passport-size photo (not older than six months)
2. Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
3. Copy of Passport (first and last page)
4. Copy of Aadhar Card with a linked mobile number
5. Copy of Class X Marksheet and Certificate
6. Copy of Class XII Marksheet and Certificate. The Provisional Certificate (not older than 3 months) issued by the School is acceptable if an official certificate is not issued yet.
7. Copy of Language Certificate - German or English
8. Printed and Signed Consent Form (Download)

How to apply for APS Certificate in India?

The procedure to apply for APS Certificate is Online, and an applicant has an option to send documents via Courier or in person at APS India Office. 

1. Register Online at APS India's website
2. Print and sign the completed application form. (Kindly ensure that the data entered is correct and that the applicant personally signs the form. Incomplete and incorrect information will invalidate your application.)
3. Transfer the APS procedure fee of 18,000/- INR to the APS bank account. Keep the transaction receipt for future reference.
4. Submit the required documents, including the printed and signed application form, via Courier or in person at the reception desk of APS India. Kindly keep a record of your courier tracking details.
5. The APS will conduct document verification. Only complete applications will be processed.
6. The interview may be conducted by APS India, depending on the application's profile.
7. On completion of the document verification, your online profile will be updated automatically with the verification outcome. Successful candidates will receive five original APS certificates via Courier. You can choose to request more certificates by paying Rs 500 per certificate. 

What is APS Certificate Timeline

The timeline for APS certificates in India is short but time-consuming due to the heavy rush at APS India. Here are the stages of the application

1. Application Creation - This is the first step where you apply for the certificate on the official website, and they acknowledge your application. 
2. Document Received - Confirmation of documents received if sent via courier or submitted in person. 
3. Payment Confirmation - They will confirm your payment using the transaction reference number shared by you.
4. University/College Document Verification - They will validate your submitted documents online, if available, or by emailing the University/College. If, for any reason, the university/college is not reachable. They will call you and ask you to contact the university/college to complete the verification. 
5. Verification Done & Certificate Dispatch - You will receive an email that your documents have been verified and the certificate has been issued. You will receive five certificates through courier (usually DTDC) in a few days.

What is the fee for APS Certificate?

The fee for APS Certificate in India is Rs 18,000, which is non-refundable. These fees need to be transferred to the bank account of APS India OR pay online via Debit/Credit Card, Net-Banking or UPI. It is recommended to pay Online for faster processing. By default, only 5 copies of the certificate will be sent by Courier, and if you need more copies, you have to pay Rs 500 per copy extra. 

What are the required documents for Class 12th Graduates?

1. Printed and Duly Signed application form with a recent passport-size photo (not older than six months)
2. Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
3. Copy of Passport (first and last page)
4. Copy of Aadhar Card with a linked mobile number
5. Copy of Class X Marksheet and Certificate
6. Copy of Class XII Marksheet and Certificate. The Provisional Certificate (not older than 3 months) issued by the School is acceptable if an official certificate is not issued yet.
7. Proof of participation in a Pre-University Entrance Exam (if applicable)
8. Copy of TestAS Results (Core and Subject-specific) 
9. Copy of Language Certificate - German or English
10. Printed and Signed Consent Form

What are the required documents for Class 12th Graduates with Jee Mains or Advanced?

1. Printed and Duly Signed application form with a recent passport-size photo (not older than six months)
2. Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
3. Copy of Passport (first and last page)
4. Copy of Aadhar Card with a linked mobile number
5. Copy of Class X Marksheet and Certificate
6. Copy of Class XII Marksheet and Certificate. The Provisional Certificate (not older than 3 months) issued by the School is acceptable if an official certificate is not issued yet.
7. Proof of passing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and Advanced along with the Admit Card
8. Copy of Language Certificate - German or English
9. Printed and Signed Consent Form

What are the required documents for Undergraduate Students with a minimum of 2 semesters?

1. Printed and Duly Signed application form with a recent passport-size photo (not older than six months)
2. Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
3. Copy of Passport (first and last page)
4. Copy of Aadhar Card with a linked mobile number
5. Copy of Class X Marksheet and Certificate
6. Copy of Class XII Marksheet and Certificate. The Provisional Certificate (not older than 3 months) issued by the School is acceptable if an official certificate is not issued yet.
7. Copy of all Bachelor mark sheets for the first year of studies
8. Copy of TestAS Results (Core and Subject-specific score) 
9. Copy of Language Certificate - German or English
10. Printed and Signed Consent Form

What are the required documents for Students with Bachelors or Masters?

1. Printed and Duly Signed application form with a recent passport-size photo (not older than six months)
2. Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
3. Copy of Passport (first and last page)
4. Copy of Aadhar Card with a linked mobile number
5. Copy of Class X Marksheet and Certificate
6. Copy of Class XII Marksheet and Certificate. The Provisional Certificate (not older than 3 months) issued by the School is acceptable if an official certificate is not issued yet.
7. Copy of the bachelor's degree. If the degree has not yet been issued, the provisional certificate issued by the College is acceptable. (Not older than 1 year)
8. Copy of the Master’s degree and transcripts. (if applicable)
9. Copy of Language Certificate - German or English
10. Printed and Signed Consent Form

If it is mandatory to submit Language documents such as IELTS/TOEFL?

No, it is not required to submit your Language documents. However, if you submit it, then its authenticity will be verified by APS India. Please note for the visa process, only language certificates approved by the German government are acceptable. The supported language tests are Goethe Institute, Max Mueller Bhavan, ÖST, DSD, IELTS, and TOEFL.

If I have to submit Original documents?

No, you should not submit your original documents along with the application. You must submit colored copies on A4-sized sheets of both sides of each document. If possible, please inform your School/University/College that you have submitted your academic documents for evaluation at APS India. They may receive queries regarding your educational history. This might expedite your document's verification process. 

If APS India can request additional documents?

Yes, APS India may request additional documents depending on the applicant's case. 

Is an interview mandatory for all candidates?

In General cases, Candidates studying in bachelor programs at Indian Universities and who have not completed their studies may be called for an interview. However, they might call any candidate for an interview. The representative from APS India will inform you at least 2 weeks earlier via Email or Phone about your interview date. The interview will be conducted by APS India once in English or German. It will check if the candidate has basic knowledge about the studied subjects at Indian University. Once scheduled, the interview cannot be rescheduled to a later or earlier date. The interview does not attract any charges, and the APS certificate will be issued within 2 weeks of the interview date. 

Online Payment failed; how to retry?

If you are trying to pay the APS Certificate Fee online and it fails due to an error, don't worry. You can make a payment again by logging into your APS account. Here are the step-by-step. 

1. Log into your account by following the APS website's Login and entering your username and password. Once logged in, please click the My Account to be taken into your user portal.
2. In your user portal, please click on the Payment Details link.
3. Select the Document Verification Registration in the payment details section.
4. You will see your submission data after clicking on the Document Verification Registration. Here, you have to choose the Payment Details, and when you scroll down, you will get a PAY NOW button.
5. You will see the online payment form when you click on the PAY NOW button. Here, you can pay the fees and complete the application process.