A digital certificate copy is an additional, digital version of a paper certificate in PDF format. Instead of handwritten signatures and an embossed seal, it contains a digital signature and a machine-readable XML attachment that includes all the data from the paper certificate.

During the pilot phase of digital school certificates, the focus is on digital versions of high school diplomas used for university applications.
“Pilot phase” means that only selected schools in certain federal states will issue digital certificates during this stage. Participating schools will actively inform their graduating students.
Other types of certificates, such as those issued after grade 10 or grade 4, will be added to the pilot phase later in some federal states.

Like the paper version, the digital certificate serves as official proof of academic achievement. The long-term goal is for it to be accepted as equivalent to a paper certificate or certified copy.
Its advantage lies in being machine-readable, allowing for automated processing in an increasing number of systems. It can also be copied any number of times without losing its digital signature.

The institution that issues the corresponding paper certificate also issues the digital one — for high school diplomas, this means the school.
To sign the certificate digitally, institutions use a digital seal provided by the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation SPRIND.

The digital certificate is not stored centrally on an external server. It is created and stored at the school and sent directly to the recipient. The exact method depends on the federal state. The recipient can then store it locally and copy it as often as needed.

To digitally sign a certificate, a hash value — a kind of digital fingerprint — is created from the certificate data using an encryption algorithm. This hash is sent to the signing service.
Only the hash is signed, not the certificate itself. This ensures that all personal data remains with the issuing institution, such as the school. Once signed, neither the data nor the signature can be changed.

No. Once digitally signed, the data and signature cannot be changed. Any attempt to modify the file will cause it to be recognized as invalid.

The project is a cross-state initiative under the Online Access Act (OZG), specifically within the Education thematic field, led by the Ministry for Infrastructure and Digital Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The digital signing process was developed as part of “Mein Bildungsraum” (formerly the National Education Platform) on behalf of the BMBF. In summer 2024, SPRIND took over the project and is listed as the signing authority in the PDF.

No. The paper certificate remains the original. The digital version is an additional copy.

• No need to scan, photograph, or copy the paper certificate.
• Machine-readable — can be automatically validated and processed (e.g., for faster applications and admissions).
• Tamper-proof — authenticity and content are verifiable.
• The digital signature can be revoked by the issuing institution; a revoked signature will no longer validate.

The digital certificate has no expiration date.

During the pilot phase, only selected schools in several federal states will issue digital certificates. These schools will contact their graduating students directly.

The digital certificate is a tamper-proof proof of qualification and achievement, containing the same information as the paper version.
You can use it when applying to universities, vocational programs, or companies. Not all institutions can yet automatically process digital certificates, but they can verify their authenticity digitally.
Some institutions may still require the original paper version or a certified copy until legal frameworks are updated.

To all public universities in Germany that support digital applications. However, not all participate in the pilot phase, and some cannot yet process digital submissions automatically.

First, check whether it’s still available in your BundID account or „Mein Bildungsraum“ App. If not, contact your school to request a new digital version.

No. Students at participating schools will either receive it automatically or can request it themselves. The school will explain the process.

No. The digital certificate is issued to a specific person and is tamper-proof. It can only be used by that individual.

No. Digital certificates are issued free of charge.

Only selected schools can participate during the pilot phase. If your school is involved, you will have been informed by your state ministry. Processes vary by federal state and school management system.

This also depends on the federal state. Generally, students retrieve their digital certificates themselves. Details will be communicated by your state ministry.

No. Each certificate is created once and sent digitally to the student.

The digital certificate mirrors the paper version. If changes are needed, revoke the digital version (using your school system’s function) and issue a new one.
Once revoked, the previous version will show as invalid upon verification.

Use the support channels established in your federal state.

It’s a PDF with a qualified electronic signature (QES) and a machine-readable XML attachment containing all certificate data — both visible in standard PDF readers (see example above).

Many campus management systems already include automated validation tools. Contact your provider for details.
Without built-in validation: use a QES verification tool (local module via provider or SPRIND; online tool in development).
Manipulations are visible in standard PDF readers like Acrobat Reader.

You need the corresponding version of your campus management system and internal awareness for handling digital credentials.

If integrated validation fails, contact the provider of your campus management system.

Request the feature from your provider — they can coordinate directly with SPRIND for integration.

For the time being, this is not yet the case.

Yes. It’s the official digital version of the corresponding paper certificate.

No. A scanned paper certificate is not a digital certificate with an electronic signature. Only a digitally signed document guarantees authenticity.

It includes a digital signature. In PDF software (e.g., Acrobat Reader), the top bar shows that the document is certified, e.g., by SPRIND GmbH. Details appear in the signature panel.

Use a PDF reader or an online qualified electronic signature (QES) validation tool to verify authenticity.

Ask the applicant to provide the paper certificate or a copy of it.