Lost AIU Equivalence Certificate? Here’s How You Can Get It Back

What to Do If You Lose AIU Equivalence Certificate: An AIU equivalency certificate is your passport to further education or professional courses in India if you are a student with a foreign degree or certification interested in doing so. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has formally acknowledged that your international degree is comparable to an Indian degree with this important certificate.

You must reapply for an Association of Indian Universities (AIU) Equivalency Certificate via evaluation.aiu.ac.in, the official AIU portal, if you misplace yours. In contrast to a duplicate certificate from a university, which is handled differently, AIU’s lost certificate process necessitates submitting a fresh online application, just like the first time.

What is an AIU Equivalence Certificate?

The Association of Indian Universities offers an equivalency certificate of AIU to acknowledge a foreign degree or certification as being on par with a degree earned in India. Students who have completed their studies overseas and wish to Seek higher education in India through postgraduate programs. Take competitive tests like NEET PG, UPSC, and GATE, among others. Apply for jobs in India’s public sector or government. Check the educational credentials for both public and private schools. In other words, the AIU credential bridges the gap between Indian academic norms and international educational systems.

The Association of Indian Universities (AIU), headquartered in New Delhi, plays a critical role in evaluating degrees earned outside India to determine their equivalence with Indian academic qualifications. For instance, if you hold a Master’s from the UK or a Bachelor’s from Canada, AIU certifies whether that degree corresponds to a recognized Indian degree in level and standard. This equivalence certificate is essential for:

• Government or private-sector job applications in India
• Admission to Indian universities for higher studies
• UGC, AICTE, or MHRD credential verifications
• Education-related immigration or WES assessments

Without it, foreign degrees often lack official recognition in India — making the AIU’s approval a key legal and financial asset.

What to do if You Lost AIU Equivalence Certificate?

Submit a police report: Notify your local police department of the loss of your AIU Equivalency Certificate in a General Diary (GD) entry. This is frequently a required step and is essential to prevent the lost document from being misused.

Collect the original documents: You must upload self-attested copies of your original academic records, transcripts, and identification proofs again because you are reapplying. You might need to provide the original documents for verification, so have them close at hand.

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How to Get Your AIU Certificate Reissued in 2025

Luckily, AIU now allows online reissue requests for lost equivalence certificates. You can complete the process through their official website or by visiting the Equivalence Division in New Delhi.

Step 1: Collect Essential Details

Before starting, you’ll need:

• Your AIU reference number (from your earlier submission or email confirmation)
• Scanned copies of your foreign degree(s) and mark sheets/transcripts
• A valid government-issued ID proof (passport, Aadhaar, or voter card)
• A formal request letter stating your name, course, university, and reason (“lost original equivalence certificate”)
• Payment receipt or transaction number (if you’re paying online)

If you don’t remember your AIU reference number, you can email the helpdesk at [email protected] explaining your situation and attaching copies of your degree and ID for traceability.

Step 2: Apply Online for Duplicate / Reissue

1. Visit the official AIU Equivalence section: aiu.ac.in
2. Click on “Duplicate/Replacement Certificate Request.”
3. Fill out the online form with:
   • Full name (as per previous application)
   • Date of initial equivalence issuance (approximate if unsure)
   • University and country details
   • Reason for request: Lost or damaged certificate
4. Upload supporting documents in PDF format (below 2 MB each).
5. Make the payment online through AIU’s payment gateway. The reissue fee in 2025 generally ranges between ₹1000–₹1500 for Indian addresses and ₹2500–₹3000 for international delivery.

After submission, you’ll receive an application tracking ID which can be used to monitor your progress or for future correspondence.

Step 3: Verification and Processing

AIU’s Equivalence Cell will cross-check your previous application details. If your earlier record exists digitally (which is the case for most post-2014 applicants), processing typically takes 2–4 weeks. For older, pre-digitization records, expect some delay as AIU retrieves physical archives. You may be contacted via email for additional proof like:

• Copy of your old submission acknowledgment
• University transcripts or degree scans
• Identification verification (self-attested ID)

Step 4: Receive Your Duplicate Certificate

Once processed, your new AIU equivalence certificate will be:

• Dispatched physically by post or courier (if requested)
• Made available in digital format via the AIU portal for download

Ensure your name, degree, and university information are accurate before accepting the final version. AIU generally does not entertain multiple reissues, so keep multiple soft copies in cloud storage this time.

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Offline Reissue Process

If you prefer visiting AIU in person or face technical issues online, here’s the offline method:

1. Visit the Equivalence Department, AIU House, 16, Kotla Marg, New Delhi – 110002.
2. Carry:
   • Application on plain paper mentioning loss/damage of the certificate
   • Copy of degree, transcripts, passport, and ID proof
   • Two passport-size photos
   • Demand draft of the applicable fee drawn in favor of Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi
3. Submit it at the counter and obtain a receipt and acknowledgment.

You’ll be notified via email or SMS once your certificate is ready for collection or dispatch.

What If You Studied via Online or Distance Mode?

Post-pandemic, AIU has become more stringent in verifying foreign online and distance degrees. If you earned your degree entirely online from a foreign university, AIU may request additional proof of mode of delivery, university recognition, or even UNESCO/Ministry accreditation.

In these cases, you may have to provide:

• Confirmation from your university’s registrar
• NAAC/UGC or foreign accreditation listings
• Attestation from the Indian Embassy abroad

The equivalence (and the duplicate issuance) depends on the original evaluation approval — so if your first equivalence request was accepted, reissuing it won’t be a problem. However, for students who never obtained the original certificate, the reissue application will be rejected. You’ll need to apply as a fresh applicant (new equivalence request with full evaluation, not a reissue).

AIU’s Digital Equivalence Initiative 2025

AIU’s Digital Equivalence Initiative 2025 has drastically improved its workflow. Every equivalence issued after 2021 now comes with a QR-code system, allowing employers and institutions to instantly verify the certificate’s authenticity online. Key features now include:

• AIU Digital Certificate Vault: Access to digital versions for verified users.
• Live application tracking via reference number.
• AIU Helpline Portal integrating chat support and status updates.
• This initiative ensures you’ll never have to panic about losing your certificate again — as long as you’ve registered your credentials digitally.

Why AIU Equivalence Is Important?

Most professionals underestimate the financial implications of equivalence validation. Here’s how losing your AIU document could cost you:

• Employment: Without equivalence, foreign degrees might be listed as “invalid” in recruitment databases, blocking government or PSU jobs.
• Education Loans: Some Indian banks require proof of equivalence before approving postgraduate education or higher studies abroad.
• Foreign Evaluations: Organizations like WES or ICAS sometimes cross-verify equivalence details through AIU databases. Missing certificates can delay credential assessments, affecting migration or higher studies.

Hence, retrieving and safeguarding your AIU document is not merely an administrative task—it’s a financial safeguard for your professional credibility in India and abroad.

FAQs Lost AIU Equivalence Certificate? Here’s How You Can Get It Back