APS Certificate- The Complete Guide for Indian Students 2025-2026

What is an APS Certificate? It is a certificate issued by the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS), Germany, to prove the authenticity of academic documents for enrolling in German Universities and applying for a Student Visa.

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. APS, a dedicated branch of the German Embassy, performs the Verification and Checks before the Digital APS Evaluation Certificate.

The primary purpose of the introduction of the APS Certificate is to speed up the University Admissions and German Embassy Visa Application processing time. Earlier, every institution spent time individually verifying the submitted documents for authenticity and deciding on the application. The same goes for the German Embassy, they have to spend a lot of time verifying the documents and making a decision on the Visa Application, which leads to heavy delays. After the introduction of APS, the concerned Universities and Visa authorities are assured that the submitted documents are authentic and verified by a concerned department before reaching their table for processing. This action improves the Admission and Visa application processing times substantially. 

Let's discuss the APS Evaluation process, required documentation, application process, fees and the exemption criteria. 

Quick Analysis of APS Certificate in India

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 the 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 is the Official Fee for APS Certificate in India?

The Official Fee for the APS Certificate in India is Rs 18,000. In case of Application Rejection or Withdrawal, the application fee is Non-Refundable. The 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. 

How to apply for APS Certificate in India?

The procedure to apply for the APS Certificate in India is a Combination of Online and Offline processes. Let's follow the step-by-step guide.

1. Register online at the Official APS India 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. Pay the Application Fees of ₹18,000 on the APS India via CCavenue or transfer it manually through NEFT at the Bank Branch. Keep the transaction receipt for future reference.
4. Submit the physical coloured copies of the required documents, including the printed and signed application form, via Courier to the APS India Office located in New Delhi. Kindly keep a record of your courier tracking details.
5. The APS will conduct document verification and discard incomplete applications. So, ensure that you have attached all required documents to the pack.
6. The interview may be conducted by APS India, depending on the applicant's profile.
7. The dedicated team at APS will reach out to the Educational Institutions for the verification of documents. You may have to inform the relevant person at the University to reply to the email. The application will be put on hold if no reply is received from the Institution.
8. Once the document verification is complete, your online profile will be updated automatically with the verification outcome. The successful applications will receive an APS Certificate in Digital format at the registered Email Address.

What is APS Certificate Timeline in India

The timeline of processing of APS Certificate is straightforward and fine-tuned to speed up the process of Document Evaluation. It starts with applying for the Certificate on the APS website and ends with receiving the Digital APS Certificate via Email. Let's go through the timeline step-by-step to gain an understanding of the process. 

1. Application Creation: The first step is to apply for the APS Certificate on the Official Website and complete the Application Form.
2. Application Fee Payment: The second step is to make the application fee payment either online via Cards, UPI or offline via NEFT. You have to retain the payment receipt in both scenarios to avoid any issues further. Paying online is recommended to speed up the evaluation process.
3. Documents Submission: The applicant is required to submit the physical copies of the required documents via Courier to the APS India Office in New Delhi. The submission of documents by visiting the Office is no longer allowed to curb the rush and smooth processing.
4. Documents Verification: The documents will be verified by a dedicated team at APS India. They will contact the concerned University or College for Document Verification via Email if required.
5. Issuing APS Certificate: Once the team has verified the submitted documents, they issue a Digital APS Certificate via the registered Email address. The delivery of the Certificate via Courier is no longer supported.

What are the documents required for APS Certificate in India?

To apply for an APS Certificate in India at the German Embassy, students must collect the following standard documents and some additional documents based on the Level of Education. 

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.
7. Copy of Language Certificate - German or English (Optional)
8. Printed and Signed Consent Form (Download)
9. TestAS Score Report (For Class 12th Graduates)
10. JEE Main and Advanced Report (For Class 12th Graduates with JEE Passouts)
11. First-Semester Bachelor Marksheets (For Class 12th Graduates with 2 Semesters)
12. Bachelors Degree & Marksheets (For Bachelor Graduates)
13. Masters Degree & Marksheets (For Master Graduates)

Next, we have the Specific Document Checklist based on the student's current education level. 

Required Documents for Class 12th Graduates

The Document Checklist is applicable for students who have passed Class 12 from an Indian School, whether CBSE, ICSE, or a State Board, and are planning to pursue a Bachelor's Degree from German Universities. They do have to submit the TestAS Scorecard and a Pre-University Entrance Exam result if applicable. Here is the required document checklist for an Indian Student with JEE results. 

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.
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. Copy of Signed Student Authorization Letter.

Here is the Downloadable Checklist for APS Certificate - Students who passed Class 12th.  

Required documents for Class 12th Graduates with Jee Mains and Advanced

The Document Checklist is applicable for students who have passed the cutoff in JEE Mains and Advanced Exam in India, regardless of National Ranking, and are planning to pursue a Bachelor's Degree from German Universities. They do not have to submit the TestAS Scorecard. They are eligible for Direct Entry into German Universities. Here is the required document checklist for an Indian Student with JEE results. 

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.
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. Copy of Signed Student Authorization Letter.

Here is the Downloadable Checklist for APS Certificate - Students who passed JEE Mains and Advanced Exam. 

Required Documents for Undergraduate Students with atleast 2 semesters in India

The Document Checklist is applicable for students who have completed at least 2 semesters at an Indian University and are planning to pursue a Bachelor's Degree from German Universities. They have to submit the marksheets of all attended semesters and a TestAS Scorecard. 

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.
7. Copy of 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. Copy of Signed Student Authorization Letter. 

APS India may conduct a personal interview related to academic. The student has to visit the APS Office in New Delhi and attend the 20-minute-long interview on the designated date and time. The team will inform the student about the interview beforehand, and there will be no extra charges for this. Post the interview, APS India will release the Digital APS Certificate via Email within five working days. 

Here is the Downloadable Checklist for APS Certificate - Students pursuing Bachelors in India. 

Required Documents for Students with Bachelors or Masters degree

Students who have already completed their Bachelor's or Master's from an Indian University would need to apply for an APS Certificate for admission in public universities of Germany. Some private universities might also ask for an APS Certificate. Here is the List of Required Documents that you have to courier. 

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. 
7. Copy of the Semester-wise Marksheets and 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. Copy of Signed Student Authorization Letter. 

Here is the Downloadable Checklist for APS Certificate - Students with Bachelors / Masters Degree

Tips to Expedite the APS Certificate Application Process

Here are some proven tips and methods to avoid any delay in your application processing and get your APS Certificate faster than usual. 

1. Pay Online: If possible, pay the Certificate Fees of ₹18,000 via the CCavenue method on the APS website. The Bank Transfer method takes time and requires a manual verification on the APS end. In the case of Online payment, the transaction will be verified automatically and attached to your account.
2. Complete Documents: While compiling the required documents, ensure to cross-check each document and information twice. A single missing document may delay the whole process.
3. Reliable Courier Partner: Always send your documents to the APS Office via reputed and faster courier services with Tracking Credentials such as Bluedart, DTDC, Delhivery, etc. If sending via IndiaPost, choose Speedpost for reliable and speedy delivery.
4. University Verification: If you submitted a Bachelor's or Master's marksheets and degree certificate for Evaluation, please notify the relevant person at your University. The APS team will need a Confirmation from your University regarding the authenticity of your documents. Also, mention the Official Email address of the University representative. The APS does not accept a generic Email address with Gmail or Yahoo. The APS team will hold the process till they get clearance from the University.
5. Certificate Sharing: While submitting the APS Certificate with the University, the Visa Application Centre, or UniAssist, ensure to submit the file as you received in the Email. Please don't try to rename the file or merge it with other documents. This will invalidate the file content and lead to a delay in your application processing.

Eligibility Criteria for APS Certificate Exemption

There are specific criteria under which the APS Certificate is waived off for Indians planning for the German Student Visa and the University Admission process. Here are the requirements.

• Non-German Degree: If the student is going to Germany for a Non-German Degree from a private institution such as BSBI, EU Business School, Lancaster University, etc.
• Foreign Degree: If the student has a foreign degree issued outside India, such as a degree issued by a university based in the UK, USA, or Canada.
• PhD / PostDoc: If the student intends to do a PhD / PostDoc in Germany, and the university does not require APS certification.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): If the student holds an international secondary school degree from organisations such as the International Baccalaureate, they are eligible to apply for a Bachelor's degree in Germany.
• Public Funds: If the student has received a stipend from public funds (EU or German funds).
• Shorter Programs: If the program length is less than 90 days or it's a German Language program. 

If you meet any one of the conditions, you are eligible for the APS-Waiver for University Admission and the Student Visa application process.

Sample of German APS Certificate for Indians

Starting 24th April 2023, the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) has begun issuing Digital APS Certificates via Email to speed up the process and to make the method more convenient. Here is the Sample APS Certificate. 

Bank Account Details & Courier Address of APS India

Here are the Official Bank Account details and Courier Address of APS India located in New Delhi. The same information can be found on the Document Checklists and the Official Website of APS. 

Bank Account Details for NEFT payments

After transferring the Application Fees of ₹18,000 to the APS India Bank Account, ensure to collect the Transaction Receipt and attach with submitted Documents. 

APS India - New Delhi Address for Courier

Gate No. 3, DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue, 110029 New Delhi, India

Common Questions & Errors

Here are a few of the Common Questions and Errors faced by students while applying for the APS Certificate in 2025-2026. 

Is it mandatory to submit German or English Proficiency Exam Scores, such as IELTS/TOEFL?

No, it is not required to submit your Language Proficiency documents, such as IELTS or TOEFL Scorecard, for the APS Certificate process. However, if you submit them, the APS India will validate their authenticity and mention them in the Digital Certificate. 

The German Government accepts only the following Language Proficiency Test Scores for APS Verification and Student Visa purposes: Goethe Institute, Max Mueller Bhavan, ÖST, DSD, IELTS, and TOEFL iBT. Other tests, such as PTE, Duolingo, and LanguageCert, are currently not accepted. Also, TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted for a German Student Visa.

If I have to submit Original documents for APS Verification in India?

No, you should not submit your original documents along with the APS Evaluation application. You must submit colored copies on A4-sized sheets of both sides of each document. The APS India will destroy the documents or keep them for security purposes after the Evaluation process. 

Is an interview mandatory for all Students applying for APS Evaluation?

The APS India may call for a personal interview under certain circumstances if the Student is pursuing a Bachelor's degree and has completed at least 2 semesters in India. The interview is not applicable for Class 12th Graduates and students planning for Master's. 

The representative from APS India will inform you earlier via Email or Phone about your interview date and time. APS India will conduct the personal interview in English or German and will take 20 minutes to complete. It will check if the candidate has basic knowledge of the subjects studied at the Indian University. Once scheduled, the interview cannot be rescheduled to a later or earlier date. The interview incurs no charge, and the APS certificate will be issued within 5 days of the interview date. 

My APS payment failed. How do I pay them now?

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. 

Source: The Information mentioned above is collected and verified from Academic Evaluation Center (APS), Germany and German Embassy in India on 13th August 2025 by our Content Experts.