In an effort to keep up with the growing number of Indian students wanting to move to Germany on a student visa, the German Embassy’s Academic Evaluation Centre has announced that it would replace the paper printed certificates with digital certificates.
“With the goal of accelerating processing times and making it easier for applicants to apply to a greater number of German universities, APS India is pleased to announce that starting from next week, paper printed certificates will be replaced by digital certificates,” the Centre said in a statement.
Since November 1, 2022, Germany has made it mandatory for Indian students to get their academic records assessed by the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) and obtain authenticity certificates before applying for student visas.
The digital APS certificates will be issued in a secure PDF file format and are validated by a digital signature. The digital certificate will be delivered to you via your registered email address upon completion of the APS verification.
The digital certificate has the same validity as the paper-printed certificate and can be used for submitting documents at VFS, the German Embassy/Consulate for student visa applications, as well as at Uni-Assist and at German universities for the admission process.
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As of April 24th 2023, the digital certificate will be issued to all applicants who registered on the individual verification procedure. Applicants who are participating in a partnership or exchange program are not eligible for obtaining a digital certificate.”Students who have already received their APS certificate in paper-printed form, please be assured that your certificate remains valid and accepted by German authorities and universities,” the Centre clarified.
The application process
- Register online at www.aps-india.de Print and sign the completed application form. Incomplete and incorrect information will invalidate your application.
- Transfer the APS procedure fee of 18,000/- INR to the APS bank account.
- Submit the required documents including the printed and signed application form via courier or in person at the reception desk of the APS India.
- Document verification will be conducted by the APS. Only complete applications will be processed.
- On completion of the document verification, your online profile will be updated with the verification outcome. Successful candidates will receive five original APS certificates via courier.
- Successful candidates may apply for a student visa through VFS.
Document Checklist
- Printed and duly signed application form with passport size photo (not older than 6 months)
- Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
- Copy of Aadhaar card with linked mobile number
- Copy of passport (1st and last page)
- Copy of marksheets and degree certificate
- Copy of language certificate – German and/or English
Students may be asked to submit extra documents based on the degree level they apply for. Check here
How long will the process take?
Students should expect to receive their APS certificate within two weeks after successful submission of documents.
How much does it cost?
Students will need to pay a non-refundable fee of of Rs 18,000 for APS verification.
Who is exempt from the APS requirement?
An APS certificate is not required for short term courses (less than 90 days). For courses having a duration longer than 90 days, an APS certificate is mandatory.
Students sponsored by German or EU funded scholarships need not apply for an APS certification.
How long is an APS certificate valid for?
Once a candidate has been issued an APS certificate, it is valid indefinitely. In the event of a change in the candidate’s eligibility criteria, one may be required to apply for an updated APS certificate under a new category.
