APS Certificate Requirement Cracked: A Step-by-Step Guide for Indian Students

15 July 2025

Planning to study in Germany as an Indian student? Then you must be knowing about the APS Certificate. As of 1st November, 2022, the certificate has become compulsory for those students who seek a German student visa. Although the process may seem slightly technical at first sight, it is quite easy in actual life — provided you know what you have to do.

Here at BCES Admissions Abroad, we have helped hundreds of students navigate the experience of acquiring an APS application. Here in our guidebook, we will take you through what APS is all about, why you need it, and how to acquire it without unnecessary delay or inconvenience.

What is the APS Certificate and Why Do You Need It?

The APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate is a certified copy of your academic certificates from the German Embassy in India. It ensures that your Indian educational qualification is to German standards. Without it, your student visa application will be rejected — irrespective of how strong your university application happens to be.

This condition has been put in place to avoid university admission delays and make you only go through the visa application if you are deserving. In simple terms, the APS certificate introduces confidence in your previous academic records before you step foot into Germany.

Tips on How Indian Students Can Crack the APS Process

1. Check Your Eligibility First

Ensure that your qualifications are at the prescribed minimum level:

• If you’re applying for a Bachelor’s, you must have completed at least 12 years of education with good academic marks in major courses.
• If you’re applying for a Master’s, you must have a valid 3- or 4-year degree such as B.Com, B.Sc, or B.Tech from an approved Indian university.

2. Prepare Your Documents

This is what you’ll typically need:

• Scanned passport
• 10th and 12th mark sheets and certificates
• Bachelor’s degree and transcripts (in case you are applying for a Master’s)
• Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter (where there is an English-medium program)
• Evidence of your university application (if already applied)

Make documents clear, legible, and self-attested. Scans that are unclear or pages with missing information are easy causes of delay.

3. Register Online and Apply

Visit the APS India official website: https://aps-india.de

• Register your account
• Carefully fill in your personal and academic information
• Upload your documents
• Pay the non-refundable charges of ₹18,000 (as of 2025) through NEFT
• Get a print of your application and post by courier or submit in person to New Delhi APS Office

4. Verification and Interview (If Required)

Your documents will be checked. In the majority of the cases, it is done without conducting an interview. However, if transfers, backlogs, or credit exemptions are included in your academic history, you may be asked for a brief interview.

5. Check and Fetch Your Certificate

Processing time is between 3 and 8 weeks, depending on your situation and how many applications are in the pipeline at the time. If approved, your APS certificate will be emailed and posted to you.

Avoid Delays and Errors – Tips

• Check every entry and document twice before applying
• Begin early – that is, 4 to 6 months prior to intake
• Don’t submit fake or tampered documents – APS checks are stringent
• Even if you have not gotten an offer letter yet, apply for an APS to be in a better position

What’s New in 2025?

Some good news for Indian students this year:

• APS India has introduced an online tracking facility, which allows you to track your application in real-time.
• Consolidated mark sheets are being accepted from some Indian universities — time-saving for a large number of students.
• Students submitting through registered partners such as BCES Admissions Abroad are now permitted to submit groups, which will save a little time.

Getting the APS certificate isn’t difficult, but missing a small detail can delay your entire study plan. That’s where we come in.

At BCES Admissions Abroad, we offer:

• Expert support with document review and verification
• Accurate form filling and submission assistance
• Status monitoring and updates directly from APS channels
• Complete guidance from APS application to German visa support

We make the process simpler, faster, and stress-free — so you can focus on your studies, not the paperwork. Got questions? Talk to our experts today at 9319996328.