Documents from Indonesia
Apostille, not embassy legalisation
Indonesia joined the Hague Apostille Convention, in force since 4 June 2022. Since then Indonesian public documents for Germany need an apostille from the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, applied for online at apostille.ahu.go.id. The old chain of legalisation through several ministries and the German Embassy is gone.
If anyone offers to "legalise" your papers at the German Embassy for a fee, that is a sign you are being sold something you do not need. See Avoiding scams.
Documents you will usually need
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid well past the visa period. Exact validity requirement not confirmed. |
| Birth certificate (akta kelahiran) | Apostille; translation. |
| School certificates (ijazah SMA/SMK) and transcripts | Apostille; translation. For study, see Admission. |
| Degree certificates (D3, S1) and transcripts | Apostille; translation. For recognition, see Recognition. |
| Professional registration (e.g. STR for nurses) | Apostille; translation. |
| Police certificate (SKCK) | Fee Rp 30,000 by law, valid 6 months. Nobody may charge you more. |
| Marriage certificate, family documents | Apostille; translation, if relevant to your application. |
| Employment references, contract, CV | Translation; apostille usually not applicable to private papers. |
Translations
Documents not in German (or, where allowed, English) need a translation. Which translators are accepted is decided by the office that reads the file, and recognition bodies are often stricter than the Embassy. Ask the receiving office first, then pay. Under Triple Win, translations are free, see Nursing route.
Processing times at the German Embassy Jakarta
- § 16d qualification measure: up to 12 weeks.
- Other national visas: roughly 6 weeks to 3 months.
- Appointments are booked directly with the mission. The Embassy states it does not work with agencies, so no agent can get you an earlier date.
Apply early, and do not book flights or give notice at work until your visa is in your passport.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.