The APS certificate
The Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) is part of the cultural department of the German Embassy in Beijing, run with the DAAD since 2001. It checks whether your Chinese school and university documents are genuine and what they qualify you for. For a study visa you normally need the APS certificate first; exceptions exist for doctoral candidates and holders of German or European public scholarships.
Which procedure
| Your situation | Procedure | Fee (from 7 April 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Gaokao, applying for a bachelor's (no Chinese university studies yet) | Gaokao procedure: documents only, no interview. Needs CHSI verification reports for Huikao and Gaokao. Usually about 4 weeks. | 2,500 RMB |
| Studied at a Chinese university (bachelor's in progress or completed) | China procedure with interview | 2,500 RMB (repeat interview 2,500) |
| Document check only | D procedure | 1,000 RMB |
| Other special procedures (P, A) and re-certification | See APS site | 2,000 RMB |
The fee does not include the visa fee, and an application cannot be withdrawn for a refund. Check the current list on aps.org.cn before you pay.
The interview
- 20 minutes of written preparation, then up to 25 minutes of conversation, in German or English (not Chinese).
- It is a plausibility check of what you studied, not a language test and not a knowledge exam. If you fail, you get two further chances.
- APS says preparation courses make no sense and that it does not work with agencies.
- Interviews take place in Beijing and Shanghai, plus interview weeks in Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang.
Good to know
- Since 27 November 2023 APS issues a digitally signed certificate (DigZert) with a QR code. The APS interview page describes it as valid without time limit.
- Final-year bachelor students may apply after the 6th semester and re-certify after graduating, without a second interview.
- Copies need certification by a Chinese notary office (公证处), with an English translation.
- New rules from 2026: new KMK evaluation rules for Chinese certificates apply; the APS page states they are valid from 15 September 2026. See Admission.
- With APS done, you can get a combined visa for a preparatory German course followed by studies. For a pure language-course visa, a change of purpose needs a new permit and is checked case by case, see Language course.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.