German Student Visa Requirements for Chinese Students: APS Certificate, Fees and Required Documents

APS Certificate Requirement for Chinese Students

The APS certificate is one of the most important requirements for Chinese students applying for a German student visa.

APS stands for Akademische Prüfstelle, which is a joint institution of the German Embassy and the German Academic Exchange Service ( DAAD) that checks if your educational background is suitable for higher education in Germany. This check is required for Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese nationals.

Without an APS certificate, your German embassy or consulate will not process your student visa application, even if you already have a university admission.

When APS is Mandatory in China

APS verification is mandatory for applicants who hold Chinese academic qualifications (Gaokao, Bachelor’s, Master’s) and apply for:

• A German student visa
• A student applicant visa (Studienbewerbervisum)
• A language course visa followed by study

APS is required for most students, including Bachelor’s applicants, Master’s applicants. However, students pursuing a PhD in Germany are exempt from an APS verification.

If you are a short-term exchange student or you have a full degree from non-Chinese education systems, APS is usually not required.

Documents Required for APS Beijing

Chinese students can only apply through APS Beijing, and the exact document list can vary by applicant type (since there are different procedures for each case), but all applicants must have:

• Copy of the payment receipt
• Copy of national ID card and, if applicable, passport
• Copy of primary and middle school graduation certificates
  (simple copies; may be replaced by proof of 9 years of compulsory education)
• Certified copy and certified translation of the high school graduation certificate
• Extract from the university admission list showing Gaokao results and enrolled field of study
  (sealed envelope or certified copy with translation; admission letter not accepted)
• Certificate of enrollment or exmatriculation/leave of absence with full study details
  (sealed envelope or certified copy with translation)
• Academic record book listing all courses per semester, including failed courses
  (official university translation in a sealed envelope)

We recommend you also check the official website at www.aps.org.cn to make sure you have all your documents for the procedure and application type that suits your needs best.

APS Verification Process and Timeline in China

The APS process involves both document verification and, for Chinese students, an interview.

You will need to register on the website (at www.aps.org.cn), and you should save the confirmation to print it at a later time. Gather all your documents mentioned previously, along with a passport photo that is no older than 6 months, and pay the fee (which is 2000 to 2500 RMB, depending on your application type).

The average processing time takes 2 to 4 months, but during peak seasons it might take longer. Because the processing times are quite long, you should make sure that all your documents are in check, so that the process doesn’t get delayed.

For the next step, the visa appointment, you must have the APS certificate in hand before booking or attending your appointment. For this reason, we recommend you start the APS verification 6 to 8 months before your intended intake in Germany.

Academic Documents Required in China

For most applicants, academic documents are reviewed at two levels: first during the APS verification process, and later again by the German embassy or consulate when submitting the visa application. Any mismatch between documents at these stages can lead to delays or, in some cases, rejection. Preparing them correctly from the start is therefore essential.

Gaokao and High School Certificate Requirements

For applicants planning to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Germany, the Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination) and high school completion documents play a decisive role. Germany does not automatically recognize a Chinese high school diploma on its own; instead, eligibility is assessed based on a combination of Gaokao results and subsequent academic performance.

Students are generally required to provide their official Gaokao score report along with a high school graduation certificate. These documents demonstrate whether the applicant qualifies for direct university admission, admission to a preparatory course or Studienkolleg (which is usually the case), or is not eligible under current regulations (the required scores fall under 70%). In most cases, the Gaokao score must meet or exceed the threshold set for university admission in China at the time the exam was taken.

University Transcripts and Degree Authentication

For Master’s and PhD applicants, German authorities focus primarily on university-level education. This includes complete academic transcripts showing all courses taken, grades awarded, and the total duration of study, as well as the final degree certificate if the program has already been completed.

If you are still enrolled at a Chinese university at the time of application, you will typically need to submit an official enrollment certificate along with transcripts covering all completed semesters. These documents must clearly indicate your major, study mode (full-time), and expected graduation date. German institutions and visa authorities rely on this information to determine whether your academic background matches the entry requirements of the intended program in Germany.

Degree authentication is a critical step in China, as German authorities do not accept uncertified copies. Most applicants must provide reports from recognized Chinese institutions, sealed in an envelope.

Visa Application Process in China

Applying for a German student visa in China is a structured, step-by-step process that leaves little room for improvisation. Unlike some countries where documents can be submitted in parallel, Chinese applicants must follow a fixed sequence, starting with APS and ending with a personal visa appointment. Understanding this flow early helps avoid missed intakes and unnecessary waiting periods.

In practice, most delays are not caused by visa rejections but by timing miscalculations, especially underestimating APS duration or embassy appointment availability.

Where to Apply: German Embassy/Consulates in China

Chinese students must apply for their visa in person at the German mission responsible for their place of residence. Germany handles visa applications through the German Embassy Beijing and several consulates across China, including:

• German Consulate Shanghai
• German Consulate Guangzhou
• German Consulate Chengdu
• German Consulate Shenyang

You cannot freely choose the location based on which consulate is less backed up; applications must be submitted according to your registered household address or long-term residence. For each city or province, a consulate is already assigned.

While you don’t need to worry because each mission follows the same legal framework, appointment availability and processing speed may vary slightly by city. For instance, as of October 2023, the German Embassy in Beijing has a waitlist for appointments.

Here, you need to register on a waitlist first in order to be able to make the appointment. In the event you are assigned to the Embassy in Beijing, you should start your APS verification process a bit earlier.

Submission via APS + Embassy Appointment Sequence

For Chinese students, the visa process cannot begin at the embassy level without successful APS verification. This creates a clear sequence that applicants must respect.

In simplified terms, the process looks like this:

1. Complete the APS application and verification
2. Receive the APS certificate
3. Book a visa appointment at the responsible embassy or consulate
4. Submit biometric data and the full visa application in person

At the embassy appointment, students submit APS documents alongside standard visa materials such as proof of financial resources (usually a Blocked account), health insurance, and admission letters. Even if all documents are complete, applications submitted without APS will not be accepted.

Processing Timelines for Chinese Applicants

Visa processing times for Chinese students are generally longer than for many other nationalities, largely due to verification requirements and higher application volume.

However, on average:

• APS verification: 2–4 months (can extend during peak seasons)
• Waiting time for visa appointment: 4–10 weeks, depending on location
• Visa processing after submission: 4–8 weeks

While German student visas for Chinese applicants have a high approval rate, missing documents, inconsistent information, or late submission can easily result in deferral to the next intake rather than a formal rejection

Financial Proof Requirements for Chinese Students

German authorities want clear evidence that you can support yourself throughout your studies without issue. Even applicants with strong academic profiles or scholarships can face delays if financial documentation is unclear or incomplete.

For all Chinese students, financial proof is assessed during the embassy or consulate visa appointment, but the preparation should begin much earlier, as some options, especially since Blocked Accounts take time to set up and activate.

Blocked Account Rules for China

The Blocked Account (Sperrkonto) is the most common and widely accepted form of financial proof for Chinese applicants. It is a special German bank account that locks a fixed amount of money and releases it in monthly installments after arrival in Germany, ensuring students have a stable living budget.

As of recent years, students are generally required to deposit one full year of living expenses, as defined by German authorities, before the visa is issued. The account must be opened with a recognized provider, and confirmation documents must clearly state:

• The total amount deposited
• The monthly withdrawal limit
• The student’s full name and passport details

For Chinese students, it is important that the Blocked Account confirmation is issued in German or English and explicitly marked as valid for visa purposes. Informal screenshots or payment confirmations are not accepted. The Blocked Account does not need to be activated before the visa appointment, but the full amount must already be transferred and confirmed.

Acceptable Chinese Bank Statements and Sponsor Proofs

In some cases, Chinese students may use alternative financial proof, although these options are examined more strictly than Blocked Accounts.

Personal Chinese bank statements can be accepted if they clearly show sufficient funds held over a stable period, not just a recent large deposit. However, because funds in regular bank accounts are freely accessible, embassies often view this option as less reliable, and additional explanations may be requested.

Another option is sponsorship by parents or close relatives. In such cases, applicants must submit:

• A formal sponsorship declaration
• Proof of the sponsor’s income and assets
• Evidence of the family relationship (such as a household registration document)

German visa officers assess whether the sponsor’s financial situation is realistically sufficient to cover both the student’s living costs and their own obligations in China. If the income appears borderline or inconsistent, the application may be delayed or redirected toward using a Blocked Account instead.

Because of these stricter checks, most Chinese students are advised to treat the blocked account as the safest and fastest option, even when family support is available.