Obtain an equivalence certificate from AIU if you hold a foreign degree and seek employment or education in India.
Jurisdiction
All of India — issued by Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, or by UGC / AICTE for specific professional courses
Who applies
Persons who have obtained a degree or diploma from a foreign university and wish to use it for admission to Indian universities, apply for government employment, obtain a professional licence, or have the qualification recognised in India
Typical time
AIU Equivalence Certificate: 30–90 days; UGC / AICTE recognition for specific courses: varies (60–180 days)
Fee
AIU fee: ₹5,000–₹15,000 depending on the level of qualification and type of certificate; online payment via AIU portal
| # | Document | Type needed | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Original degree / diploma certificate | Original | Primary document to be evaluated; must be the original conferred degree with the university seal and authorised signature |
| 2 | Official transcripts / mark sheets from the foreign university | Original | Comprehensive academic record showing subjects, grades, and credit hours for each year / semester of study |
| 3 | Apostille / attestation on degree and transcripts | Notarised Copy | Documents from abroad must be apostilled (Hague countries) or attested by the Indian Embassy / High Commission in the country of study; AIU requires this to authenticate the document |
| 4 | Passport copy (bio-data page) | Self-attested Copy | Identity and nationality proof for the applicant |
| 5 | Proof of medium of instruction (if applicable)(optional)Required when applying for admission to Indian programmes taught in English, or when the degree is from a non-English speaking country | Self-attested Copy | Certificate from the foreign university confirming the language of instruction; required when the medium is not English |
| 6 | Structural syllabi / course catalogue(optional)May be required for less well-known foreign universities or specialised courses | Soft copy (PDF) | Detailed course curriculum from the foreign university; required by AIU to map the foreign qualification to an Indian equivalent level |
| 7 | Application form (AIU online) | Download / Print | Filled application from the AIU website specifying the nature of equivalence required (admission / employment / immigration) |
| 8 | Fee payment challan / receipt | Download / Print | Proof of payment of AIU equivalence fee via online banking or DD |
Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.
Before applying, check the AIU online database of recognised foreign universities (available at aiu.ac.in). If the university is listed and the degree type is within AIU's scope, proceed. If it is not listed, contact AIU for guidance — AIU still evaluates degrees from unlisted institutions but the process may take longer and require additional documentation.
Before returning to India, get your degree certificate and official transcripts apostilled (for Hague Convention countries) or attested by the Indian Embassy / High Commission in the country where the degree was obtained. Apostille must be on the original document issued by the university; photocopies are not accepted. This step must happen abroad.
Visit aiu.ac.in, navigate to the Equivalence Certificate section, and fill in the online application form. Provide details of the foreign institution, degree obtained, year of completion, and the purpose (admission, employment, immigration, etc.). Upload scanned copies of apostilled degree, transcripts, passport, and other supporting documents. Pay the prescribed fee online.
After online submission, send the original apostilled degree, transcripts, and all supporting documents (with a printout of the online application) to the AIU office in New Delhi by registered post or courier. AIU will not process the application without physical originals. Retain photocopies of everything sent.
AIU evaluates the application, cross-checks the foreign institution's recognition, and may raise queries for additional documents (syllabus, medium of instruction certificate, etc.). Respond to any queries within the stipulated time (usually 30 days); failure to respond leads to application lapsing. Track application status on the AIU portal.
Once AIU approves the application, the Equivalence Certificate is dispatched to the applicant's registered address by speed post. Download a soft copy from the AIU portal. The certificate specifies the Indian equivalent of the foreign degree (e.g., 'equivalent to Master's degree of an Indian university'). Use this certificate for university admissions, government employment applications, or immigration purposes.
Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi
Application evaluation, query raising, and certificate issuance
Evaluates the foreign degree against Indian university standards, raises queries for additional information, and issues the Equivalence Certificate.
University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi
Recognition disputes or degrees from newly established foreign universities
Adjudicates cases where recognition of the foreign university is in dispute or where the AIU database does not include the institution.
Online application for equivalence certificate, foreign university database search, fee payment, and application status tracking
Checking UGC-recognised foreign universities for specific academic purposes; filing grievances related to degree recognition
Eligibility certificate and screening test for foreign medical graduates seeking to practice medicine in India — separate from AIU equivalence
AIU equivalence only certifies that the foreign degree is equivalent to an Indian degree for general admission or employment purposes. Regulated professions — medicine (NMC), dentistry (DCI), law (BCI), engineering (AICTE), architecture (COA) — each have their own separate recognition or screening requirements. AIU equivalence alone does not allow you to practise in these fields.
Indian authorities do not attest foreign-issued documents after you return to India. Apostille or Indian Embassy attestation must be obtained while you are still in or accessible to the country of study. Returning without apostilled documents means costly couriering of originals back and forth.
AIU applies Indian university duration norms to foreign degrees. A one-year Master's from a foreign university where Indian norms require two years may be granted a lower equivalence (e.g., PG Diploma level) rather than a full Master's equivalence. Check AIU's specific norms for the degree level before applying.
AIU's official turnaround is 30–90 days, but backlogs can extend processing to 6–12 months. If you have an urgent admission deadline, apply at least 6 months in advance. Provisional admission may be available from Indian universities pending the equivalence certificate.
AIU maintains a list of derecognised foreign institutions. Degrees from these institutions will not receive an equivalence certificate regardless of the applicant's academic performance. Verify institutional recognition before enrolling in a foreign programme.