APS Certificate Mandatory for Indians Applying for German Student Visas

Germany has announced that Indians applying for student visas must get their academic records assessed by APS (Academic Evaluation Center) to obtain authenticity certificates. 

APS certificate will be a mandatory part of the documents submitted for a German student visa starting November 1. It means aspirants cannot file their visa applications without their APS certificates. 

APS will welcome applications for assessment from October 1.

Students selected for scholarships paid for by European funds and Ph.D. applicants whose thesis supervisors don’t require an APS certificate are exempt from the verification process. Additionally, those applying for short-term courses (programs covering less than 90 days) don’t need the certificate. 

Since APS only verifies Indian academic records, students who hold degrees from international schools or universities may skip the assessment by APS. 

The academic evaluation service provider doesn’t mandate any language requirement for the validation process. However, the language certificate submitted voluntarily will be checked by APS. 

Students will need to pay a non-refundable fee of ₹18,000 for the certificate. 

Applicants can expect to receive the APS certificate within two weeks after submitting the documents. The certificate is valid indefinitely. In case of an eligibility change, the student can apply for an updated APS certificate.