Official Expert Answer
It depends heavily on the Bundesland — there is no single national portal yet, so check your specific authority:
• Many Approbationsbehörden still require the official application and certified copies by post, because they need legally certain documents and sometimes wet signatures.
• A growing number offer an online pre-check or upload step, but that often does not replace the final paper submission — you upload scans first, then still send certified originals.
• Don’t assume; ask your authority directly: “Do you accept the application online/by upload, or only by post?”
Whatever the channel, keep a complete PDF copy of everything you submit. If a document gets lost in the mail or they request a re-send, you can reproduce the package quickly.
• Many Approbationsbehörden still require the official application and certified copies by post, because they need legally certain documents and sometimes wet signatures.
• A growing number offer an online pre-check or upload step, but that often does not replace the final paper submission — you upload scans first, then still send certified originals.
• Don’t assume; ask your authority directly: “Do you accept the application online/by upload, or only by post?”
Whatever the channel, keep a complete PDF copy of everything you submit. If a document gets lost in the mail or they request a re-send, you can reproduce the package quickly.