APS certificate at a glance (2026–27)
The APS certificate is the German Embassy's check that your Indian school and university documents are genuine. If you studied in India, you need it before you can get a German student visa, and most universities ask for it too. It isn't hard, but it is slow and unforgiving: one missing marksheet or one college that doesn't answer an email can hold your whole plan up by weeks.
Key takeaways
- The fee is ₹18,000 and it is non-refundable "regardless of the outcome".[1] Check your eligibility before you pay. Use our readiness checker.
- From the summer 2027 intake, master's applicants with an engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, economics, business or management degree must take the dMAT before APS can issue the certificate.[2]
- APS says verification takes "at least two weeks" and that it can't give a fixed processing time.[3] Your college's reply speed decides most of it. Plan for 6–8 weeks.
- Send colour photocopies, never originals, by post or courier to APS in New Delhi. There is no online upload and no walk-in drop-off.[4]
- You get one digitally sealed PDF by email. Never rename, edit or merge it: universities and uni-assist verify the seal.[5]
- APS's current material for graduates doesn't mention an interview, and TestAS is not a mandatory part of APS India.[4]
| Full name | Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) India, also called the Academic Evaluation Centre India. Part of the Science Section of the German Embassy in New Delhi, working with DAAD.[6] |
|---|---|
| What it checks | That your Indian school and university documents are authentic, and that your qualifications meet the criteria for the study path you're applying for. |
| Who needs it | Almost everyone applying to study in Germany with Indian school or university qualifications. Exemptions are narrow. |
| Fee | ₹18,000, paid online (CCAvenue) or by bank transfer when you register. Non-refundable.[1] |
| dMAT | Required from the summer 2027 intake for engineering, commerce/accounting/finance/economics and business/management graduates, unless you registered or shipped your APS documents before 29 June 2026. €150 (≈ ₹16,200).[2] |
| Documents | 13 items for graduates, from the signed application form to your Student Authorisation Letter. Full checklist. |
| How to send | Post or courier to the Academic Evaluation Centre India, Gate No. 3, DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue, New Delhi 110029.[7] |
| Processing time | "At least two weeks"; no fixed time. We plan for 6–8 weeks. |
| Result | A digitally sealed PDF certificate sent to your registered email address. One file works for every university.[8] |
| Validity | Valid indefinitely once issued.[8] If you complete a further qualification that changes your admission category, you may need a new evaluation (and a new fee).[4] |
| Used for | University and uni-assist applications, enrolment and the national (D) student visa. |
What's changed at APS India in 2024–26
Many APS guides online still describe the 2022–23 rules: paper certificates, interviews, TestAS and euro fees. These are the official changes since then, newest first, from APS India's news page.[5]
- 9 July 2026 · Seal warnings in PDF readersSome certificates issued during a technical update may show messages such as "problems with at least one signature" in PDF readers. APS says this refers only to the technical validation status: certificates remain valid as long as the file hasn't been modified.
- 29 June 2026 · The dMAT becomes part of APSSelected master's applicants (engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, economics, business and management degrees) need the Digital Master Test for the summer 2027 intake and later. Details below.
- 16 March 2026 · Only completed qualifications countCertificates are issued on the basis of the qualifications completed and documented when your application is processed. APS can't keep a file open for future exam results; a later qualification needs a new evaluation with a new payment.
- 23 February 2026 · 70% in Class XII for undergraduate routesFrom winter 2026/27, the Studienkolleg route and direct subject-restricted admission need at least 70% of the maximum marks in Class XII (applications submitted before 15 March 2026 aren't affected). This concerns bachelor's applicants, not master's applicants.
- 17 November 2025 · New seal cardAPS replaced its digital seal card. Previously issued certificates remain fully verifiable, even if a PDF reader shows a warning.
- 19 September 2025 · Distance-education degreesAccepted only if both the university and the specific course were recognised by the Distance Education Bureau (DEB) for the entire duration of the course. Professional and practical disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, law, hotel management, visual arts and sports, aren't recognised in distance mode, and APS won't process them.
- 13 March 2025 · Don't touch the PDFDon't rename the certificate file, edit it or merge it with other PDFs. Submit it as a standalone file so the seal can be verified.
- 10 July 2024 · "Bescheinigung"From 15 July 2024 the German word on the document changed from Zertifikat to Bescheinigung. APS called it a change of term that doesn't affect university applications; reports now reflect your whole educational background and mark any part that couldn't be verified.
- 3 June 2024 · Private universities and anabin statusGraduates of private Indian universities that aren't fully accredited by the UGC can't be granted access to German universities. Only institutions rated "H+" in the anabin database are recognised; if yours is "H+/-" or "H-", APS can't issue a certificate. Check before you pay.
What is the APS certificate, and why does Germany ask for it?
APS stands for Akademische Prüfstelle, German for "academic evaluation centre". APS India verifies academic documents and qualifications issued by Indian institutions for people who want to study in Germany. It is an institution of the Science Section of the German Embassy in New Delhi and works with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Germany ran the same kind of office in China from 2001 and in Vietnam from 2007 before opening the Indian one in 2022.[6]
The reason is fraud. When APS was announced, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann said that "up to 15 per cent of the applications have fraudulent academic documents", which sometimes led to genuine students being refused.[9] APS opened for applications on 1 October 2022, and from 1 November 2022 the certificate became a mandatory part of every student visa application.[10]
Between October 2022 and February 2024, more than 57,000 Indian students applied for APS verification, and more than 95% of those applications were processed successfully, according to the Embassy's Science Counsellor. The embassy also quadrupled APS staff in that period.[11]
What APS does, and what it doesn't
| APS does | APS doesn't |
|---|---|
| Check that your marksheets, certificates and degree are authentic, directly with your school, board and university | Decide whether a university admits you. That is the university's (or uni-assist's) decision.[4] |
| Check that your qualifications fit the study path you're applying for (for example, a master's after a recognised bachelor's) | Issue visas or decide visa applications. The German mission does that. |
| Record your dMAT result on the certificate, if you needed the test | Set a dMAT pass mark. A low score doesn't automatically mean refusal.[2] |
| Issue one sealed PDF you can use for any number of German universities | Give individual status updates, consultations or in-person drop-offs |
That's why "APS approved" never guarantees an admission or a visa. It removes one reason for refusal: doubt about your documents.
Who needs an APS certificate, and who is exempt
The German Missions put it simply: if you finished school in India, studied some semesters in India or hold an Indian degree, "you almost always require" an APS certificate.[12] What matters is where your documents come from, not your passport: a non-Indian citizen with Indian degrees needs APS too.[4]
| Your situation | APS needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Master's in Germany with an Indian bachelor's | Yes | The graduates procedure. You may also need the dMAT from summer 2027. |
| Bachelor's or Studienkolleg after Class XII | Yes | A different procedure with its own checklist, including the 70% Class XII rule from winter 2026/27.[13] |
| Exchange, double-degree or university partnership programme | Yes, via a partnership procedure | Officially confirmed partnership programmes are exempt from the dMAT, not from APS.[2] |
| PhD or postdoc | Usually no | APS says you may be exempt "if the German institution does not require APS verification". Ask your German host institution.[4] |
| Scholarship from German or EU public funds | Often no | Exempt if you fall under the applicable exemption rules (for example, many DAAD scholarship holders). Confirm with your scholarship provider. |
| Your relevant degree isn't from an Indian institution | No | APS India only verifies Indian documents. |
| Your highest school qualification is international (e.g. IB) | No, for bachelor's routes | If you later took an Indian degree, that degree needs APS for a master's. |
| German language course only, no degree study | No | APS isn't required if you're coming only for a language course.[4] |
The visa section checks this, not you. The Missions' student visa checklist says an APS certificate "is always mandatory" unless one of four exceptions applies: a non-German degree obtained in Germany, PhD or postdoc study, a scholarship from German or EU public funds, or studies based on a non-Indian school certificate or degree.[14] If you're unsure, ask the German mission or your scholarship provider in writing before you book a visa appointment.
Before you pay ₹18,000: seven checks that decide your APS result
Because the fee is non-refundable, the most expensive APS mistake is applying when you can't succeed yet. Check these first.
- Your university is "H+" in anabin.Search your university in the anabin database.[15] APS can't issue a certificate to graduates of institutions rated "H+/-" or "H-", and graduates of private universities that aren't fully UGC-accredited can't be granted access.[5]
- Your degree is complete.Don't apply "before the academic stage relevant to your intended admission pathway has been completed".[4] For a master's that means all semester results are out and you have your degree or a provisional certificate. APS won't hold your file open for pending results.
- Your provisional certificate is less than a year old.APS accepts a provisional certificate from your college instead of the degree, but only if it is "not older than 1 year".[1] If yours is older, get the final degree certificate first.
- A distance or online degree was recognised for the whole course.Both the university and the programme must have been recognised by the Distance Education Bureau for the entire duration. Professional disciplines such as pharmacy, nursing, law and hotel management aren't accepted in distance mode at all.[5]
- You know whether you need the dMAT.If your degree is in an affected field, APS can't issue your certificate until your dMAT certificate arrives. Check below.
- Your name and date of birth match everywhere.APS compares your passport, Aadhaar, marksheets and degree. If spellings, initials or surnames differ, sort out the explanation (see mistakes) before you courier.
- Every document exists in English.Marksheets issued only in a regional language need notarised English translations. Bilingual documents don't.[4]
Am I ready to apply for APS? Readiness checker
Answer eight questions. You'll see what's ready, what needs fixing and whether you need the dMAT, before you pay the non-refundable fee.
Based on APS India's leaflet (June 2026), FAQs, news notices and dMAT field list (v1.0), as of 6 October 2026. APS decides every case; if yours is unusual, ask APS or us before you pay.
APS and the dMAT: the 2026 change every master's applicant must check
On 29 June 2026 APS India added the Digital Master Test (dMAT) to its procedure for selected master's applicants. The dMAT is a standardised aptitude test run by g.a.s.t., the organisation behind TestDaF and TestAS. If your degree field is affected, APS can only issue your certificate after your dMAT certificate has been submitted and checked.[2]
| Who must take it | Master's applicants whose previous degree is in one of three field groups: engineering; commerce, accounting, finance or economics; business or management. |
|---|---|
| From which intake | Applications for the summer semester 2027 intake and every intake after it. |
| Who is exempt | Applicants who completed their APS online registration or shipped their complete APS documents before 29 June 2026; anyone who already holds an APS certificate; officially confirmed exchange, double-degree or university partnership programmes; bachelor's and PhD applicants; other fields. |
| Sending documents early | APS's dMAT page (updated 13 July 2026) says you "may submit" your APS documents before the dMAT certificate is available. The June 2026 leaflet still says to take the dMAT first and send its certificate with your documents.[1] The newer page is more recent, but confirm with APS before you courier without it. |
| On your certificate | The dMAT result is shown on the APS certificate. |
| Pass mark | None for APS. "A low dMAT score does not automatically lead to a refusal of the APS certificate." Universities decide how to use the score. |
| Fee | €150 (≈ ₹16,200), paid to g.a.s.t. when you register for the test. |
| Dates | First sitting 26 September 2026; certificates from 12 October 2026. The next sitting is planned for the first quarter of 2027, with no date announced when we checked.[16] |
Is my degree on the dMAT list?
APS published a list of affected fields (version 1.0, 29 June 2026) with more than 120 named engineering branches and the commerce and business degrees. The edge cases matter, because APS decides the final classification on the basis of your official degree title.[17]
| Degree | On the list? |
|---|---|
| B.E. / B.Tech with an engineering branch (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Engineering…) | Yes |
| B.Com., B.Com. (Hons), accounting, finance, banking, taxation, economics | Yes |
| BBA, BBM, BMS and business administration or management studies | Yes |
| B.Sc. Computer Science, BCA, or computer science without an "Engineering" title | Not automatically. Check your official degree title with APS. |
| B.Tech with a non-engineering or unclear specialisation, including IT, AI, Data Science or Cyber Security without "Engineering" in the title | Not automatically ("Information Technology and Engineering" is on the list) |
| B.Sc. Biotechnology; food or textile technology (unless an engineering degree) | Not automatically |
| Hotel, aviation, healthcare or tourism management | Not automatically |
| Pure sciences, arts, architecture, pharmacy, law, design | Not automatically: only if APS classifies your official degree title as engineering, commerce or business |
Summer 2027: if your field needs the dMAT and you didn't sit on 26 September 2026, APS can't issue your certificate until after the Q1 2027 sitting. That is too late for most April 2027 starts.
Winter 2027/28: register with APS now, book the Q1 2027 dMAT as soon as dates open, and make sure APS has your dMAT certificate in good time before your first deadline.
The full guide to the test itself, including format, test centres, preparation and how universities use the score, is in our dMAT guide.
How to apply for the APS certificate: step by step (2026)
These steps follow APS India's procedure for graduates in the June 2026 leaflet, with the practical steps and detail the leaflet leaves out.[1]
- Register online at aps-india.deChoose the procedure for graduates. The online form has seven parts: create account, personal details, education details I and II, TestAS details (TestAS is not mandatory for APS India; leave it empty unless you have one), language details and payment details.[3] Type your name exactly as it appears in your passport, and enter every school and college exactly as named on your certificates. APS warns: "Incomplete and incorrect information will invalidate your application."[1] Check your spam folder for the activation email; if your username and password haven't arrived within a week, write to info@aps-india.de with the subject "U/P not received".[5]
- Pay the ₹18,000 feeAPS recommends paying through CCAvenue during registration: the payment shows up immediately and your account is activated automatically. A manual bank transfer means manual activation during office hours and, in APS's words, "will lengthen the verification process".[3] CCAvenue charges its own service fee on some payment methods (for example on credit cards), which it keeps.[5] Save the payment receipt: it's item 2 on your checklist.
- Print and sign the application formDownload the completed form from your profile, paste a passport-size photo no older than six months, and sign it. Download and sign the Student Authorisation Letter as well.[18]
- Take the dMAT, if your field needs itRegister on the g.a.s.t. portal for the next sitting. The June 2026 leaflet says to take the dMAT before sending your documents and to enclose its certificate; APS's newer dMAT page (13 July 2026) says you may send your documents before the certificate is available.[2] Either way, APS issues your certificate only once the dMAT certificate has been checked.
- Assemble and courier your document setColour photocopies of all 13 items, both sides where printed, on A4 paper, in the checklist order. Don't send originals. Send them by post or courier to the Academic Evaluation Centre India, Gate No. 3, DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue, New Delhi 110029, and keep the tracking number.[7]
- Tell your school, board and universityAPS verifies your documents directly with them, by email. Tell your college office that APS will write, and that the reply must come from an official institutional email address: replies from Gmail or similar accounts aren't accepted.[1] This single step saves more time than anything else on this page. Use our email template.
- Watch your profile, then receive the certificateYour online profile shows the status of your application. If APS needs anything, it contacts you. Successful applicants receive a digitally sealed APS certificate by email, and can then apply to universities and for the visa.[4]
uni-assist asks you to upload the sealed APS certificate with your application,[19] and many universities ask for it too. Even where it's accepted later, the visa can't be filed without it. Start APS as soon as your degree (or provisional certificate) is in hand.
APS documents checklist for master's applicants: all 13 items
This is the official list from APS India's leaflet for graduates (valid as of June 2026), in the order APS gives it, with what we check before a file goes to New Delhi.[1]
Tick off your APS document set
Tick each item as you put its copy in the envelope. Print the list to keep with your file.
0 of 13 ready
What APS means by each item, and what to check
| Item | Our checks before it goes |
|---|---|
| Application form and photo | Name spelled exactly as in the passport; every institution named as on its certificates; photo recent (6 months); signed in the right place. |
| Aadhaar | APS asks for the Aadhaar with a linked mobile number. If your Aadhaar name differs from your passport, deal with it first (see mistakes). |
| Passport | First and last pages. If your passport is due to expire before or during your studies, renew it before the visa; your APS certificate stays valid. |
| Class X and XII | Both the marksheet and the passing certificate. Supplementary or improvement exam results belong in the set too. |
| Semester marksheets | All of them, in order, including failed attempts and re-examinations. A missing marksheet is the most common reason a file stalls. |
| Degree or provisional certificate | If you only have a provisional certificate, check its issue date: APS accepts it only if it is not older than one year. |
| Lateral entry, diplomas and exchanges | If you joined your B.Tech after a polytechnic diploma, include the diploma marksheets too: APS says polytechnic diplomas aren't equivalent to a bachelor's but should be submitted with your application. Exchange semesters need proof of the exchange, the host university, credit recognition by your Indian university and a grade conversion table. |
| Language certificate | APS's leaflet says that, as a rule, at least B2 level in the language of instruction is required, and that only German-government-approved certificates are accepted for the visa. It also says: "Do NOT provide 'exemption letters' or 'medium of instruction letters'!"[1] APS itself doesn't require a particular level, but universities and the visa section do.[4] |
| Student Authorisation Letter | Lets APS contact your institutions. By signing it, you also confirm your university isn't rated "H+/-" or "H-" in anabin.[18] |
Copies, attestation and translations
- Colour photocopies on A4, legible, both sides where the original has print on the back.[4]
- No originals. APS asks for copies only; keep your originals for universities and the visa.[1]
- No attestation needed for English or bilingual documents: APS's FAQ says these generally don't need to be notarised.
- Notarised English translations for documents issued only in a regional language.
- No email submissions. Don't email documents unless APS asks you to; email doesn't replace the courier.
- Keep a full copy of exactly what you sent, and the courier tracking number.
APS certificate fee in 2026: ₹18,000, and what else you'll pay
The APS verification fee is ₹18,000. It has been the same since APS India opened in 2022,[9] and APS states it in rupees. Guides that quote €225, €334 or "about €100" are describing other countries' APS offices or out-of-date information.
"The APS processing fee is non-refundable once paid, regardless of the outcome of the verification procedure."APS India, FAQs[4]
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| APS verification fee | ₹18,000 | Non-refundable. CCAvenue may add its own payment charge. |
| dMAT (if your field needs it) | €150 ≈ ₹16,200 | Paid to g.a.s.t., not APS.[2] |
| Colour copies and courier to New Delhi | Varies | Your own cost; use a tracked service. |
| Notarised translations | Varies | Only for documents issued solely in a regional language. |
| A new evaluation later | ₹18,000 again | Only if a newly completed qualification changes your admission category.[4] |
The ₹18,000 is paid to the Embassy, not to an agent. Anyone who offers a "faster" or "guaranteed" APS for an extra fee is selling something APS doesn't offer. APS has publicly stated that it is a department of the German Embassy and not an agent.[5]
APS processing time in 2026: what APS says, and how to plan
APS India's official line is short: verification "takes at least two weeks", and "processing may take longer depending on application volume and the response time of schools, boards, universities or other institutions contacted during verification".[3] Its FAQ adds that it "cannot provide a fixed processing time for every individual case".[4]
So any page that promises you a precise number of weeks is guessing. What we can tell you is what drives the time, and how much buffer to keep.
| Factor | Effect | What you control |
|---|---|---|
| Your college and board replying to APS | The biggest variable. A slow or missing reply puts your file on hold. | Warn your college in advance and chase it politely (template below). |
| Complete, correct documents | Incomplete payments and missing documents were the main reasons files stayed unprocessed, according to the Embassy in 2024.[11] | Use the checklist; send everything in one courier. |
| Payment method | Manual bank transfers need manual activation in office hours, which adds time. | Pay through CCAvenue. |
| dMAT result (if needed) | The certificate can't be issued until your dMAT certificate is in. | Book the earliest sitting and send your documents in the meantime. |
| Season | In our experience, queues are longer in the months before the winter intake. | Apply in the quieter months if you can. |
Real waits have ranged widely. In 2024 The PIE News reported students who waited two months, four months, and in rare cases far longer.[11] Since then APS has added staff, moved to digital certificates and published clearer checklists, but it still gives no fixed time. We plan for 6–8 weeks from the day the courier is delivered, and treat anything faster as a bonus.
Your APS certificate should be in your inbox before your first university deadline, and certainly before your visa appointment. Count back 8 weeks for APS, plus your dMAT date if you need it. The timeline below does this for each intake.
APS status, delays and "non-support": what to do when your file is stuck
You can check your status by logging in to your profile on the APS website. APS says it can't give individual status updates by email because of the number of applications, and that it will contact you if it needs anything.[4]
What "non-support" means
The status APS describes in its FAQ is "non-support": your school, board or university hasn't given APS the information it needs to complete the verification. The fix is on your side: contact the institution and ask it to confirm your documents to APS from an official email address. A message from your personal email account can't replace the institution's reply.[4]
Email template: ask your college to reply to APS
Send this to your college's examination or registrar's office as soon as you courier your documents. Replace the parts in square brackets.
Subject: Verification request from APS India (German Embassy) for [Your full name], [Course], batch [Year] Dear Sir/Madam, I graduated in [Course] from [College name] in [Year] (Roll/Enrolment no. [Number]). I have applied to the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS India) of the German Embassy, New Delhi, for verification of my academic documents, which is required for my German student visa. APS India will write to the college to verify my marksheets and degree. APS can only accept replies sent from an official college email address. I would be grateful if you could reply to APS India's verification email as soon as it arrives. A copy of my marksheets and degree certificate is attached for reference. Thank you for your help. [Your full name] [Mobile] · [Email used for APS registration]
Troubleshooting: common APS problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No activation email or login details | Spam filter, or a mistyped email address | Check junk. After a week, write to info@aps-india.de with the subject "U/P not received".[5] |
| CCAvenue payment failed or was cancelled | Gateway problem | Don't register again. Use "Pay now" in the payment section of your profile; APS has published steps for this. |
| Status hasn't changed for weeks | Waiting for your institution's reply, or the file is in the queue | Ask your college whether APS has written; send the template above. Then wait: repeated emails don't speed things up. |
| Status shows "non-support" | An institution hasn't confirmed your documents | Visit or call the college or board office; ask them to reply from an official email address. |
| APS asks for a missing document | Incomplete set | Send exactly what's asked, quoting your APS details, by the route APS tells you to use. |
| PDF reader shows "problems with at least one signature" | A seal-validation warning after APS's technical updates | Your certificate is still valid if the file hasn't been changed. Use the original PDF from the APS email.[5] |
| University says your APS file "can't be verified" | The PDF was renamed, edited, compressed or merged | Upload the original, untouched PDF from the APS email. |
| You finished a second degree after APS | Certificates reflect only qualifications completed when processed | A new evaluation is needed only if the new qualification changes your admission category; it costs a new fee.[4] |
How to contact APS India
- Contact form on aps-india.de: the route APS asks you to use.[7]
- Email: info@aps-india.de, for the specific cases APS names (such as missing login details).
- No phone line and no visits. APS publishes no phone number, and personal drop-offs and visiting hours aren't available.[4]
- Only aps-india.de is official. APS has warned that aps-india.com is an unrelated business,[5] and says it isn't represented on any social media platform.[6]
Is there an APS interview in 2026?
For master's applicants with a completed degree, APS's current material doesn't mention one. The June 2026 leaflet for graduates describes registration, payment, the dMAT, documents, verification and the certificate, with no interview step.[1]
The "APS interview questions" articles you'll find online date mostly from 2022–23. APS's older leaflet for undergraduates with at least two semesters of bachelor's study (valid as of April 2023) described a personal interview that "will last around 20 minutes", announced 10 to 14 days ahead, and asked for TestAS results.[20] Today APS says TestAS "is currently not a mandatory component of the APS verification procedure in India".[4]
We don't claim interviews have been formally abolished, because APS hasn't announced that. If APS ever contacts you for one, it will be about your own studies: your subjects, projects and marks. Answer honestly and consistently with your documents. Don't confuse this with the visa appointment, where the mission can ask about your study plans.
After you get it: how to use your APS certificate
Since 24 April 2023, APS India issues certificates as a secure PDF with a digital signature, sent to the email address you registered with. The digital certificate "has the same validity as the paper-printed certificate".[5] Since July 2024, the German title on the document is Bescheinigung rather than Zertifikat; nothing else changed for applicants.[5]
Do
- Keep the original email and PDF safe, with a backup in cloud storage.
- Upload the PDF as a standalone file, exactly as APS sent it.
- Use the same file for every university: there's no limit on how many you apply to.[8]
- Upload it unchanged to My Assist if you apply through uni-assist.[19]
- Follow your German mission's current checklist for the visa, including whether to bring a printout.
Don't
- Rename the file. APS asks you to keep the original file name.[5]
- Compress, edit, annotate, re-save or "print to PDF" it.
- Merge it with your marksheets or other documents into one PDF.
- Panic about a signature warning in your PDF reader: the certificate is still valid if the file is unchanged.
- Apply for a new evaluation unless a newly completed degree changes your admission category.
Where you'll need it
| Stage | How the APS certificate is used |
|---|---|
| uni-assist applications | Upload the digitally sealed certificate "as an unchanged, original file" to My Assist. Paper certificates issued before 23 April 2023 can be uploaded as scans.[19] |
| Direct university applications | Many universities ask for it with the application; some accept it later but need it before enrolment. Check each programme page. |
| Student visa | Mandatory for applicants with Indian qualifications. Applications now go through the Consular Services Portal.[12] Even APS's June 2026 leaflet still says to apply "through VFS", and its digital-certificate FAQ mentions a printout for the visa appointment, so follow the mission's current instructions.[8] |
| Enrolment in Germany | Universities may check your APS certificate again when you enrol. |
When to start APS for each intake
Work backwards from your earliest university deadline. These dates assume you need 6–8 weeks for APS and, where relevant, the dMAT's Q1 2027 sitting. Deadlines differ by programme; RWTH Aachen, for example, uses 1 March for open-admission and 15 July for restricted programmes for non-EU applicants, and many universities use 15 July for winter.
| Intake | Typical deadlines | Start APS by | If you need the dMAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2027 (April) | November 2026 – 15 January 2027 | Now (October 2026) | Realistic only if you sat the dMAT on 26 September 2026 (results 12 October) or are exempt. Otherwise aim for winter 2027/28. |
| Winter 2027/28 (October) | 1 March – 15 July 2027 (TUM 31 May; many 15 July) | October–December 2026 | Register with APS now; sit the Q1 2027 dMAT; APS issues the certificate once it has your dMAT result. |
| Summer 2028 (April) | About November 2027 – 15 January 2028 | As soon as your final or provisional results are out | Sit a 2027 dMAT sitting; check dates on d-mat.de. |
| Winter 2028/29 (October) | About March – July 2028 | October 2027 – January 2028 | Plan the dMAT for 2027 or early 2028. |
Our dMAT and intake checker in the main guide gives you a personal read-out of the realistic intake.
APS, uni-assist, VPD and anabin: what's the difference?
Indian students often mix these up. They're four separate things, and you'll usually meet all of them.
| Name | What it is | Who runs it | When you meet it |
|---|---|---|---|
| APS certificate | Verification that your Indian documents are genuine and your qualifications fit your study path | German Embassy, New Delhi (with DAAD) | Before applying (ideally), and for the visa |
| uni-assist | An application service that checks international applications for its member universities | uni-assist e.V., Berlin | When you apply to member universities |
| VPD | A preliminary review document from uni-assist that some universities require before you apply to them directly | uni-assist | Before applying to universities that ask for it |
| anabin | A public database rating foreign institutions and qualifications (H+, H+/-, H-) | Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) at the KMK | Before you pay for APS: your university should be "H+" |
| dMAT | A standardised aptitude test whose result is printed on your APS certificate | g.a.s.t. | Before APS can issue your certificate, for affected fields |
More on uni-assist fees, VPD and direct applications is in the how-to-apply section of our main guide.
10 APS mistakes that cost Indian students weeks (or ₹18,000)
- Paying before checking eligibility. The fee is non-refundable. Check anabin status, distance-mode recognition and whether your degree is complete first.
- Applying in your final semester. APS issues certificates only for qualifications completed when your file is processed, and won't wait for pending results. A second evaluation means a second fee.[5]
- Forgetting the dMAT. From summer 2027, an engineering, commerce or business graduate without a dMAT certificate can't receive the APS certificate, however complete the documents, unless exempt (see the dMAT rule).
- Leaving out a marksheet. Every semester, every re-attempt and every supplementary exam. A gap in the set makes APS ask, and the clock stops.
- Sending an old provisional certificate. It must be no older than one year. Otherwise send the final degree certificate.
- Mismatched names. Initials on marksheets, a full name in the passport, a changed surname after marriage, a spelling slip on the Aadhaar. APS publishes no rule on this, so correct what can be corrected before you apply (Aadhaar and passport updates are quicker than university corrections), and keep a sworn affidavit and supporting documents ready for any difference you can't fix. Fill in the APS form exactly as your passport reads.
- Sending a medium-of-instruction letter as "language proof". APS doesn't accept MOI or exemption letters as language certificates, and relying on one is risky for the visa too.
- Not warning your college. APS writes to your institution, and the reply has to come from an official email address. Colleges that don't know this reply late, or from a Gmail account.
- Paying by manual transfer. It works, but activation is manual and slower. CCAvenue is APS's recommended route.
- Touching the PDF. Renamed, compressed or merged certificates can fail verification at uni-assist and universities. Upload the untouched original every time.
APS done right: real German student visas from our students
Since November 2022, almost every Indian student visa for Germany has needed an APS certificate. These two visas, issued by the Consulate General in Kolkata, are shown with each student's permission, with document numbers hidden.
Computer Science, Universität Paderborn (public university). Student visa issued 24 September 2025.
International Management, SRH Hochschule Heidelberg (private, state-recognised). Student visa issued 11 April 2024.
More visas and a Goethe A1 result (96/100) from our German course are on the main MS in Germany guide.
How Yastudy helps with your APS file
You can do APS yourself: everything you need is on this page. Students come to us when they want a second pair of eyes before paying a non-refundable fee, or when a file is stuck. What we charge depends on where you're applying.
Private universities: ₹0 counselling
If you're applying to private, fee-charging universities that work with us, they fund our counselling, including APS and dMAT guidance. We always tell you which universities fund us.
Ask about free counsellingPublic universities: pay-first plans
Public universities don't pay agents. For them you choose a plan, pay first, and your counsellor starts within one working day.
See all plans and prices| Plan | Price | APS and dMAT help |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | ₹24,999 | APS document check before you courier (you file, we check); dMAT guidance on whether you need it and how to register |
| Advantage | ₹44,999 | Full APS filing support; dMAT registration help and a prep plan with practice sets |
| Premium | ₹79,999 | Everything in Advantage, documents reviewed within 2 working days, and dMAT Complete Preparation included (video masterclass, practice tests and mock tests, worth ₹2,499) |
Prices per student, GST as applicable; each plan also covers applications, documents and the visa (see the full plans). Third-party fees such as APS (₹18,000) and the dMAT (€150) are paid directly to those organisations. Only need a one-off check? See our APS service.
Nobody, including us, can speed up APS, or guarantee a positive result. APS is part of the German Embassy and isn't represented by agents. What we can do is make sure your file is complete and correct the first time.
APS certificate FAQs: 29 questions Indian students ask
Basics
What is the APS certificate for Germany?
It's a certificate from the Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) India, part of the German Embassy in New Delhi, confirming that your Indian academic documents are genuine and that your qualifications fit the study path you're applying for. You need it for the German student visa, and most universities ask for it.
Is the APS certificate mandatory for a master's in Germany?
Yes, if your bachelor's is from an Indian institution. It has been a mandatory visa document since 1 November 2022. The exemptions are narrow: PhD and postdoc applicants (where the German institution doesn't require APS), holders of German or EU public scholarships under the exemption rules, people whose relevant degree isn't Indian, and students coming only for a language course.
Do I need APS if I'm not an Indian citizen?
If your school or university documents were issued in India, yes. APS checks where your documents come from, not your nationality.
Is APS needed for a PhD in Germany?
Usually not. APS says PhD and postdoc applicants may be exempt if the German institution doesn't require APS verification. Ask your German supervisor or graduate school, and keep their answer in writing for the visa.
Is APS needed for Austria, Italy or other countries?
No. APS India verifies documents for study in Germany. Austria, Italy and other countries have their own document and recognition rules.
Fee and payment
What is the APS fee in 2026?
₹18,000, paid to APS India when you register. It hasn't changed since APS India opened in 2022. Pages quoting €225 or other euro amounts are describing other APS offices or old information.
Is the APS fee refundable?
No. APS says the fee is non-refundable once paid, regardless of the outcome of the verification. Check your eligibility before you pay.
Should I pay by CCAvenue or bank transfer?
CCAvenue, which APS recommends: your payment appears immediately and your account activates automatically. A manual bank transfer means manual activation during office hours and a longer process. CCAvenue may add its own payment charge.
My CCAvenue payment failed. Should I register again?
No. Log in to your existing profile and use the "Pay now" option in the payment section. Registering twice creates confusion and can lead to paying twice.
Documents
What documents are required for the APS certificate?
For graduates, 13 items: the signed application form with a recent photo, the fee receipt, Aadhaar, passport (first and last pages), Class X and XII marksheets and certificates, the Class XII admit card if available, all semester marksheets, your degree or a provisional certificate not older than a year, your master's documents if any, a dMAT certificate if required, a language certificate and the signed Student Authorisation Letter.
Do APS documents need to be attested or notarised?
Generally not, if they're in English or bilingual. Send legible colour A4 photocopies, both sides where printed. Only documents issued solely in a regional language need notarised English translations.
Should I send original documents to APS?
No. APS asks for copies only. Keep your originals for universities and your visa appointment.
Can I upload APS documents online?
No. You register and pay online, but the documents go by post or courier to APS India in New Delhi. There are no personal drop-offs, and you shouldn't email documents unless APS asks.
Is IELTS required for the APS certificate?
APS doesn't require a particular English or German level, but its checklist includes a copy of your language certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, Goethe, ÖSD or DSD). Medium-of-instruction or exemption letters aren't accepted. You'll need IELTS or TOEFL for universities and the visa anyway.
My name is different on my marksheets and passport. What should I do?
APS doesn't publish a rule for this, so be careful. Correct what you can before applying (Aadhaar and passport updates are faster than university corrections), fill in the APS form exactly as your passport reads, and keep a sworn affidavit and supporting documents ready to explain any difference you can't fix. If you're unsure, get your set checked before you pay.
dMAT
Is the dMAT required for the APS certificate?
For master's applicants with degrees in engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, economics, business or management, yes, from the summer 2027 intake. APS issues the certificate only after the dMAT certificate has been submitted and checked. You're exempt if you registered with APS or shipped complete documents before 29 June 2026, or already hold an APS certificate.
Is a B.Sc. Computer Science or BCA graduate required to take the dMAT?
Not automatically. APS's field list covers computer science degrees with an engineering title (such as B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering), but says computer science without an engineering designation isn't automatically covered. APS decides on the basis of your official degree title, so confirm with APS.
Can I send my APS documents before my dMAT result?
APS's dMAT page (updated 13 July 2026) says you may, but its June 2026 leaflet still says to enclose the dMAT certificate with your documents. Confirm with APS before you courier without it. Either way, the certificate is issued only once your dMAT result has been checked.
Will a low dMAT score lead to APS rejection?
Not automatically. APS says a low dMAT score doesn't automatically lead to refusal; the result is shown on your certificate and universities decide how to use it.
Processing and status
How long does the APS certificate take in 2026?
APS says "at least two weeks" and that it can't give a fixed time; it depends on application volumes and how quickly your school, board and university reply. We plan for 6–8 weeks from delivery of your courier.
Can I get the APS certificate faster?
There's no paid fast track. What helps: a complete document set, CCAvenue payment, warning your college that APS will write, and making sure it replies from an official email address. Anyone selling a "faster APS" is selling something APS doesn't offer.
How do I check my APS status?
Log in to your profile on the APS website. APS doesn't give individual status updates by email, and it contacts you if it needs anything.
What does "non-support" mean in my APS status?
Your school, board or university hasn't given APS the information it needs. Contact the institution and ask it to confirm your documents to APS from an official email address; a reply from your personal account doesn't count.
Is there an APS interview for master's applicants?
APS's current material for graduates doesn't mention one. Interviews and TestAS appear in older (2022–23) information for undergraduates, and TestAS is no longer a mandatory part of APS India.
Can I apply for APS in my final semester?
Not usefully. APS asks you not to apply before the relevant academic stage is complete, and issues certificates only for qualifications completed when your file is processed. Apply once your results and degree or provisional certificate are out.
After APS
How long is the APS certificate valid?
Indefinitely, once issued. Some websites say three years; that's not what APS says. You need a new evaluation only if you later complete a qualification that changes your admission category.
Can I use one APS certificate for several universities?
Yes. Use the same original PDF for every university and for uni-assist.
Can I print or rename my digital APS certificate?
Don't rename, edit, compress or merge the PDF: upload it as the original standalone file so the digital seal can be verified. If the visa section asks for a printout, print it, but always upload the untouched original.
Can APS be rejected? What happens then?
Yes. If documents can't be verified, the institution isn't recognised (for example, not "H+" in anabin) or documents are found to be fake or altered, APS may refuse the certificate, and with fake documents it can exclude you from future APS procedures. The fee isn't refunded. Talk to a counsellor about your options before reapplying.
About this guide
Who wrote it
The Yastudy Germany Desk: the counsellors who prepare and check APS files for master's students from our Patna, Noida and Bengaluru offices, with support from our office in Freising, Germany.
How we checked the facts
Every rule on this page was checked on 6 October 2026 against APS India's own pages (the June 2026 leaflet for graduates, the FAQs, the process page, the news notices and the dMAT field list), the German Missions in India and uni-assist. Where APS gives no official answer, as with name mismatches or real-world waiting times, we say so.
When we update it
Every quarter (next review: January 2027), and straight away when APS publishes a notice. We're watching the Q1 2027 dMAT date and any change to the leaflet or fee.
Our standards
- We never alter, back-date or "improve" a document.
- We never promise a faster APS, an admission or a visa.
- Spotted something out of date? Email admission@yastudy.com with "Correction" in the subject line.
Yastudy is the study-abroad and test-prep brand of Europass Immigration Private Limited, Patna. We are not part of, or authorised by, APS India or the German Embassy. Office addresses are on the main guide.
Get your free MS in Germany eligibility check
In 15 minutes, a counsellor will tell you:
- Your converted German grade and realistic programmes
- Whether you need the dMAT, and your best intake
- Your first-year budget in rupees
- Whether you need a paid plan at all
Prefer to talk now? WhatsApp +91 76678 96481
Sources
All checked on 6 October 2026. Where a source has a publication date, it's shown.
- APS India: Information leaflet for graduates, valid as of June 2026 (fee ₹18,000; procedure; documents) (Jun 2026)
- APS India: dMAT: information for master’s applicants (updated 13 Jul 2026)
- APS India: APS process: registration, payment and processing time
- APS India: Frequently asked questions
- APS India: News: notices on certificates, distance education, anabin status and the dMAT (2022–2026)
- APS India: About us: the Academic Evaluation Centre India
- APS India: Contact: postal address and contact form
- APS India: Manual and FAQ for digital APS certificates (DigZert) (Sep 2024)
- The Tribune: German student visa norms for Indians get tough (28 Oct 2022)
- German Embassy New Delhi: Visa newsletter: APS certificates mandatory from 1 November 2022 (4 Oct 2022)
- The PIE News: Germany’s Akademische Prüfstelle: certificate backlog and hurdles (14 Feb 2024)
- German Missions in India: Student visa: information and requirements (updated 16 Feb 2026)
- APS India: Requirements and checklists for each APS procedure
- German Missions in India: Information and checklist for students (PDF) (Sep 2024)
- KMK: anabin: recognition database for foreign institutions and qualifications
- g.a.s.t.: dMAT FAQ for graduates from India
- APS India: dMAT India: list of affected fields, version 1.0 (29 Jun 2026)
- APS India: Student Authorisation Letter (form) (2022)
- uni-assist: Country information: India (APS certificate upload)
- APS India: Information leaflet for undergraduates with a minimum of two semesters (older procedure) (valid as of Apr 2023)