Before you pay a Germany consultant, ask a few plain questions and listen for clear answers. A good consultant can tell you who decides your case, what it will not do, where each figure comes from, and where each payment goes. These questions are for Indian students and professionals comparing consultancies for study, training or work in Germany.

Who decides my visa, admission or job?

The answer should name the decision-maker, not the consultant. The German mission responsible for where you live decides the visa. A university decides admission. An employer or training company decides whom it hires. A recognition body decides whether a qualification is recognised.

A consultant who answers “we will get it done” has not answered the question.

What will you not do for me?

Every honest service has edges, and a good consultant states them before you ask. Useful things to hear:

  • whether it submits your application or you do;
  • whether it translates documents itself or coordinates certified translators;
  • whether it offers job placement or only application support.

For most national visas, the German missions in India say the application goes through the Consular Services Portal, which guides you through the form and the document uploads. You then attend an on-site appointment in person, and the missions’ FAQ says you attend the interview yourself. So the consultant’s work is preparation around those steps, not a replacement for them.

Which official source is this figure from, and what year?

Fees, financial-proof amounts, language levels and deadlines change. Ask for the official page and the year the figure applies to. Then open the page yourself.

One example: the national visa page of the German missions in India, updated 01.10.2026, gives the visa fee as INR 8,300 (EUR 75) for applicants over 18. It also says the fee is not refunded if the visa is refused, and that the external service provider charges a separate service fee. If a quoted figure does not match the official page, ask why. Our guide on checking whether Germany advice is current shows how to test a source.

Who pays government and uni-assist fees, and to whom?

Ask for every fee in your case to be split into three groups: the consultant’s own fee, official fees, and fees for third-party services such as translation or a blocked account. For each official fee, ask who receives it and how it is paid.

The missions’ national visa page says the visa fee is paid in Indian rupees on the day of the on-site appointment. uni-assist says its handling fees are paid by bank transfer or by credit card, and in 2026 it lists EUR 75 for the first course of study and EUR 30 for each additional one in a semester.

Do you collect my payments to third parties?

This question matters most for uni-assist. uni-assist states that it does not cooperate with commercial agencies that place applicants at German universities, that some organisations falsely claim to be affiliated with it, and that payment requests for the application come only from uni-assist through its online portal. A request to send uni-assist money to anyone else does not match what uni-assist says.

A clear consultant will tell you which payments you make directly to the official body or provider. Our uni-assist and VPD guide explains the uni-assist steps.

Do you promise a visa, admission or job?

The safe answer is no. No consultant controls a decision made by a mission, university or employer. The missions’ national visa page also warns that false information or false documents lead to refusal and can lead to an entry ban. Treat any offer to “improve” a document beyond what is true as a risk to your case, not a service.

Can you get me an earlier visa appointment?

Ask how appointments work. The missions’ FAQ says appointments are handled by the service provider VFS Global, or by the RK-Termin website for the Bangalore and Chennai consular districts. It says early appointments are granted only in extreme medical or humanitarian situations, by email to the mission with proof. It also says students cannot choose whether to apply at VFS or at the consulate; the category depends on the study type.

So a consultant can explain the booking route and help you prepare for the date. It cannot buy a faster slot.

What a consultant is for

A consultant earns its fee through structure: choosing the right route, building a consistent file, catching gaps before submission, and preparing you for the interview. A good consultant says this openly.

Where it depends

Your responsible mission depends on the state or district where you live, not your citizenship. Visa types not yet in the Consular Service Portal still use a paper application with a VFS appointment. University, training-company and employer requirements differ. The sources read for this guide do not cover recruitment-fee rules or fake job offers, so check those with the employer and the official Germany portals.

Limits

SGC does not decide visas, admissions, recognition results or job offers, and it cannot promise any of them. SGC does not offer recruitment or job placement, does not collect payments for third parties, and does not take document uploads through its website. You submit your application to the authority yourself or through your authorised representative. SGC can help you choose a route, review your document checklist and prepare a consistent file through visa documentation support.

Official resources

Write these seven questions down and ask them in your first consultation, with us or anyone else. Before you pay, ask what the fee covers and which official sources the advice rests on. If you want to start with us, use the contact page.

What we cannot promise

German authorities, universities and employers make every decision on visas, admissions, recognition and jobs. SGC explains the process and helps you prepare; it cannot promise an outcome.