The APS certificate: your first step
Applicants from mainland China must obtain an APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle) before applying to a German university or for a student visa — it is mandatory, as it is for a handful of countries such as China, India and Vietnam. The APS is run jointly by the German Embassy and the DAAD; you apply through APS Beijing (aps.org.cn). Budget roughly ¥2,500 and 4–8 weeks for the document check plus interview. Once you pass, you can submit your visa application through the APS office.
Visa routes: no visa-free entry
Chinese nationals cannot enter Germany visa-free and apply afterwards — you must obtain your visa (student, EU Blue Card, skilled worker or family) at a German mission before travelling. Apply at the Embassy in Beijing or the consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu or Shenyang (Hong Kong and Macau are served separately). University graduates earning at least €50,700 (2026) — or €45,934.20 in a shortage occupation — qualify for the Blue Card.
The blocked account (Sperrkonto)
Student-visa applicants prove their means with a blocked account holding €11,904 for the year (€992 per month, 2026). Work out exactly how much to deposit with our blocked account calculator, and see the blocked account guide for how to open and fund one.
Recognising your degree
For the skilled-worker and Blue Card routes, your university must be classified "H+" in anabin and your degree comparable to a German one; otherwise request a Statement of Comparability from the ZAB (see our recognition guide). For Chinese applicants, the APS verification of your academic record feeds directly into this assessment.
Documents and the 2023 apostille change
This change is recent and important: mainland China joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 7 November 2023. Chinese public documents are now apostilled by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs or authorised local offices, instead of the slower consular legalisation that applied before (Hong Kong and Macau were already covered). You will still need certified German translations of each document.
The Germany–China social security agreement
A bilateral social security agreement has been in force since 2002. It is a posting agreement: employees sent between the two countries can stay in their home-country pension and unemployment insurance for up to 48 months, avoiding double contributions — useful if a Chinese or German employer assigns you across the border.