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APS — do you need it?

The Akademische Prüfstelle certificate is the single thing blogs get wrong most. Here's the verified answer for your country.

Yes — APS is mandatory

APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) is MANDATORY for Indian students. It is an academic-document authenticity check run by the APS office at the German Embassy, New Delhi (jointly with DAAD). Every Indian applicant whose qualifications were earned in India needs an APS certificate before a German university (or uni-assist) will process admission and before the student visa can be issued. It has been compulsory since November 2022. NEW for Winter 2026/27 (anabin admission-criteria update effective 15 March 2026): undergraduate applicants must have a minimum 70% overall in the Class XII certificate (any board) — the 70% threshold applies to both the Studienkolleg pathway and the direct subject-restricted pathway (70% + one completed year of a Bachelor's). Applications submitted before 15 March 2026 are assessed under the older criteria. Exemptions: holders of a German Abitur, PhD applicants, DAAD/other government-funded scholarship holders, and holders of certain international school qualifications (US high-school diploma, A-Levels, IB). NOTE: APS is NOT the same as a uni-assist VPD — APS verifies that your documents are genuine; the VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation) is uni-assist's grade-conversion/preliminary-review paper. Indians typically need BOTH the APS certificate and (for many universities) a uni-assist application/VPD. A separate dMAT (Digital Master Test, ~EUR 150 to g.a.s.t.) is being phased in from Summer 2027 for Master's applicants in engineering, commerce/finance/economics and business/management.

aps-india.de is the ONLY official APS India application portal (confirmed by the German Foreign Office / Embassy New Delhi). Applications, uploads and fee payment are all done here. Do NOT use aps.org.in — it is not an official APS domain despite being cited in some guides.

Fee

~EUR 200 (INR 18,000), non-refundable (pay online, e.g. via CCAvenue; add ~INR 500-1,500 courier if hard copies are required)

Timeline

Typically ~3-4 weeks once the file is complete, but can stretch to 6-12 weeks in peak admission season (delays come from Indian institutions responding to verification queries). Apply 3-4 months before your university/uni-assist deadlines. Certificate validity is indefinite once issued.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Register on the APS India portal

    Create an account at aps-india.de (the only official domain) with your basic details and email; verify your account.

  2. 2

    Complete the online application form

    Enter your full academic history (Class X, Class XII, and every Bachelor's/Master's semester). Undergraduate applicants must meet the new 70% Class XII threshold (anabin update effective 15 March 2026, for WS 2026/27 onward).

  3. 3

    Assemble and upload documents

    Upload clear scans of all required documents (see documents list). Keep originals/attested copies ready in case they must be couriered.

  4. 4

    Pay the APS fee

    Pay INR 18,000 (~EUR 200), non-refundable, online through the portal (CCAvenue supports card/UPI/net-banking; online payment activates the file faster than offline transfer). Keep the payment receipt.

  5. 5

    Submit the application

    Submit digital copies via the portal; in some cases you must also courier attested/original hard copies to the APS office at the German Embassy, New Delhi.

  6. 6

    Interview (only if applicable)

    Some undergraduate/Studienkolleg applicants attend a short online verification interview (English or German) to confirm genuine subject knowledge; most Master's cases are document-only.

  7. 7

    Receive the APS certificate

    The certificate is issued digitally by email (indefinite validity). Use it for uni-assist/university admission AND attach it to the national student-visa file submitted via VFS.

Documents to prepare

  • Signed APS application form with a recent passport-size photo
  • Fee payment receipt (INR 18,000)
  • Aadhaar card copy (with the mobile number linked to it)
  • Passport copies (first and last pages)
  • Class X mark sheet and passing/board certificate
  • Class XII mark sheet and board certificate (70% minimum for undergrad admission, WS 2026/27+)
  • All Bachelor's/Master's semester mark sheets plus the degree or provisional certificate
  • Proof of language proficiency (English-medium certificate or German language certificate)
  • For certain Master's fields from Summer 2027: dMAT (Digital Master Test) result

Sources: official official official

Information about German law — not legal advice. This page summarizes publicly available rules from official sources such as Make-it-in-Germany, BAMF, and state portals. Rules change frequently; thresholds, fees, and documents may differ by embassy, state, or case. This is not individualized legal advice within the meaning of the German Rechtsdienstleistungsgesetz (RDG). For advice on your specific situation, consult a licensed Rechtsanwalt or an authorized Migrationsberatung service. GermanDost accepts no liability for decisions you make based on this content.

Last updated: 2026-07-01