From India to Germany: the student route in 2026

The order that works

1. APS certificate from APS India. It verifies your Indian degree certificates. The fee is not refundable, so check the document checklist before paying.
2. dMAT, only if it applies to you (see below).
3. University admission (often through uni-assist).
4. Blocked account funded with €11,904 for 12 months. Compare providers.
5. Health insurance for the visa and from your arrival day. How student insurance works.
6. National visa applied for through the German missions' Consular Services Portal; biometrics in person. The national visa fee is €75.
7. First two weeks in Germany: register your address. Use the arrival planner to get your exact dates.

The new dMAT test (from summer semester 2027)

The digital Master Test is a new part of the APS procedure for master's applicants whose previous degree is in engineering; commerce, accounting, finance or economics; or business and management. It applies to applications for the summer semester 2027 intake and later.

Not affected: bachelor's and PhD applicants, degrees outside those fields, students in officially confirmed exchange, double-degree or partnership programmes, and anyone who completed APS online registration or shipped complete APS documents before 29 June 2026. A low score does not automatically mean the APS certificate is refused; the test is not a stand-alone pass/fail exam. Check whether you need it with the dMAT checker.

Your German costs in rupees

Enter the exchange rate your bank will actually give you (it is usually worse than the reference rate you see online).

Estimate only: the bank's own transfer charges are not included, the ₹10 lakh threshold counts all of the sender's foreign remittances in the financial year, and blocked-account fees are converted at the same rate.

Sending the money from India

• Limit: under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme an individual can send up to USD 250,000 per financial year.
• TCS from 1 April 2026: 0% if the transfer is funded by an education loan from a specified financial institution; otherwise 2% on the amount above ₹10 lakh per PAN per financial year (it was 5% before). TCS is an advance tax, not a fee: it shows against the sender's PAN and is adjusted or refunded in the income tax return.
• Paperwork: banks usually ask for Form A2, the admission letter and the blocked-account confirmation with the provider's IBAN and reference. Use the exact reference the provider gives you, or the payment can be delayed.
• Compare the margin: ask the bank for the all-in rupee amount for the euro figure, and compare it with the reference rate on the same day.

Your first two weeks in Germany

The steps are the same for every nationality: register your address, open a bank account and activate payouts from your blocked account, sort out health insurance for enrolment, and request your residence permit before your visa expires. Follow the 90-day checklist, get your dates from the planner, and use the German email templates for the Bürgeramt, your landlord and the immigration office.

Common questions

Is there TCS on blocked-account transfers from India in 2026?

Since 1 April 2026: none if the transfer is funded by an education loan from a bank or NBFC; otherwise 2% on the part above ₹10 lakh per financial year. It can be claimed back in the income tax return.

Do Indian students need APS for Germany?

Yes, APS document verification is part of applying from India. Some master's applicants also need the new dMAT from the summer semester 2027 intake.

Sources

• APS India: academic evaluation, fees non-refundable
• APS India: digital Master Test (dMAT), who must take it, fee and dates
• Consular Services Portal of the German missions
• Flywire: TCS on education payments reduced to 2% from 1 April 2026
• Outlook Money: Budget 2026 TCS changes
• Reserve Bank of India: Liberalised Remittance Scheme
• Expatrio: blocked amount 2026

Checked 6 October 2026. Tax rules: general information, not tax advice; ask your bank or a chartered accountant for your case.