Equivalence Guide: AIU and Degree Equivalence Certificate Apostille and Attestation

If a foreign employer or authority asks for an "equivalency certificate", it usually means its own country's equivalency, which you apply for there. What you need from India is your legalised degree and transcripts. If it asks for proof that your PGDM equals an MBA in India, it usually means an AIU equivalence letter, which may itself need legalisation.

Equivalence decides how your qualification is treated, not just whether it is accepted. In the Gulf, an equivalency decision can determine your job title on the work permit, your salary grade in government and semi-government organisations, your eligibility for professional registration and, for teachers and academics, the level at which you can teach. In India, an equivalence certificate can decide whether a foreign degree counts for government jobs, further study or promotions.

Because the stakes are high, equivalence authorities look closely at your documents. They want to see legalised originals, consistent names, complete transcripts and, often, evidence that you actually studied where and when the degree says. A missing or inconsistent document is the most common reason equivalency decisions are delayed.

Starting with the right documents saves time. Before you begin, find out which authority will assess your qualification, what it calls the process, and which documents it needs legalised.

An equivalence certificate apostille is a square, computer-generated certificate that MEA fixes to an Indian equivalence certificate. It confirms that the signature and seal of the Indian authority that verified the document are genuine. India joined the Hague Apostille Convention of 5 October 1961 with effect from 14 July 2005, so member countries accept this certificate without embassy legalisation.

The apostille does not change what the equivalence certificate says, and it does not oblige a foreign country to accept the Indian equivalence. Foreign authorities make their own decisions. The apostille

Germany objected to India's accession, and the objection still stands, so an Indian apostille has no legal effect for German authorities. German missions in India stopped legalising Indian documents in 2000 and offer document verification instead, which only a German authority can request. China joined the Convention in 2023, but India objected to China's accession, so documents for China need MEA attestation followed by Chinese Embassy or Consulate legalisation. Germany | anchor "China" → China

AIU equivalence certificate attestation is needed when an AIU equivalence letter must be used abroad. AIU, a body of Indian universities based in New Delhi, issues equivalence for several categories through its Evaluation Division, and its online system handles applications for foreign qualifications.

AIU equates two-year, full-time PGDM programmes from AICTE-approved autonomous institutions with NBA accreditation to an MBA, according to its website. PGDM holders going to the Gulf often need this letter, because Gulf work permits and equivalency rules are written for university degrees. The PGDM itself and the AIU letter may both need legalisation. PGDM

Fellow Programmes in Management from the IIMs, and now from some other institutes, are equated with a PhD by AIU. Graduates applying for faculty posts abroad may need this letter with their FPM certificate.