Admission Documents Checklist — Don't Miss a Thing

Incomplete documents are the most common reason for application rejection. Save this checklist and tick off each item before submitting any application.

Core Documents — For Everyone

• Passport — valid at least until the end of your first year of study
• School Diploma (Baccalaureate) + Transcript of grades
• Official Translation of all documents into German or English
• Language Certificate — TestDaF/DSH for German-taught programs; IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programs
• Biometric Photo — passport standard
• CV (Curriculum Vitae) — in European format (Europass)

For Master's — In Addition to the Above

• Bachelor's Degree + Full transcript
• Bachelor's Thesis Abstract — some programs require a summary, abstract, or excerpt of your undergraduate thesis in English or German
• Motivation Letter — why this program? why this university?
• Recommendation Letter(s) — usually one or two
• For some programs: Portfolio or work experience

Document Verification - A Critical Tip for Afghan Students

Because the German Embassy in Kabul is closed, you cannot legalize your documents inside Afghanistan. Instead, your academic documents must undergo the following steps:

1. Attestation by Afghan Education Ministries: Verify your certificates at the Afghan Ministry of Education (for school diplomas) or the Ministry of Higher Education (for bachelor's degrees).
2. Attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA): Get your documents stamped by MoFA in Kabul.
3. Legalization by a German Embassy Abroad: Since the embassy in Kabul is inactive, you must get your documents legalized at a German Embassy in a neighboring country—typically in Islamabad (Pakistan), New Delhi (India), or Tehran (Iran).

Note: Because this requires traveling to a neighboring country and obtaining a visa for that country first, the document verification process can take weeks or even months. Start this as soon as possible.