Germany’s Indian population is growing rapidly. Per reporting by Frankfurter Runschau, there were some 246,000 Indian citizens living in Deutschland by the end of 2023. That’s up 17 percent from the year before, and a good 70,000 more than the end of 2021.
India was also the second most popular country of origin for German visa applicants in 2022 after Turkey, according to the travel insurance company AXA.
The majority of Indian immigrants come to Germany to work, many of which in high-paying STEM jobs. According to a recent report in Zeit Online, Indians earn the most of all immigrant groups in Germany, with a median monthly salary of €5,359.
If you’re an Indian citizen hoping to move to Germany this year, it should be a bit easier thanks to a culmination of government efforts meant to attract skilled workers from abroad.
What’s changed as of 2025?
At the end of October Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India, and together they announced Germany’s plan to increase the number of available visas this year.
Scholz apparently saw no reason for subtlety: "The message is that Germany is open for skilled workers."
The announcement came as part of a bigger “Skilled Workers Strategy” for India, which also included digitalising the visa process and facilitating more German language classes in both countries.
How many visas are available in 2025?
Specifically, the number of visas available to Indian skilled workers has more than quadrupled this year – from 20,000 to 90,000.
No major change to the number of other visa types (such as visas to study or join family members) was announced.
According to statistics from the German Foreign Office, Germany’s consulates issued a total of 79,000 visas under the Skilled Immigration Act in 2023 worldwide. With 90,000 available specifically for Indians this year, it seems the Foreign Office is really hoping to inflate that number.
Which visas are available?
Germany has at least 28 different types of visas, including a range of options for studying, taking up employment or joining a family member in the country.
Note that to visit Germany, but not stay in the Schengen zone for more than 90 days, Indian citizens need a tourist visa (also called a Schengen visa).
Coming to Germany on a student visa can be a particularly good option for anyone planning to work in the country after earning a university degree, because having a German university degree ensures that your qualification is recognised and it gives you a chance to begin to integrate before starting to work.
Work visas in Germany are typically only granted when you already have a job offer in hand, but if you’re hoping to find a job on arrival, you can apply for the points-based Opportunity Card. This option gives you one year to reside in Germany while seeking employment and / or working part time.
READ ALSO: How Germany's 'opportunity card' will allow easier entry for foreign workers from June
Alternatively, if you have a university degree that is not immediately recognised in Germany you could apply for a visa “for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications”.
If you’re not sure which visa you need, you can use this visa navigator tool from Germany’s Foreign Office to get an idea.
How long can I stay in Germany?
Different visas come with different possible time frames in Germany. So ultimately, how long you can stay in the country is determined by which residence permit you get.
Of course, when your first residence permit expires, you can usually renew it or apply for a change of status. And renewing your residence in Germany tends to be easier than applying for the first time.
The Opportunity Card offers just one year’s residence in Germany initially, whereas study and work visas can be granted for multiple years depending on the length of your study program or job contract.
After you’ve lived in Germany for several years (usually after one or two visa renewals) you may be qualified for permanent residence or citizenship, which allow you to exit the residence permit cycle. Also, if you land a well-paying job, you may qualify for an EU Blue Card which effectively serves as a fast-track to permanent residency.
READ ALSO: How Germany is making it easier for skilled workers to get an EU Blue Card
How do I get one?
Thanks to recent digitalisation efforts, people living abroad can now apply for a German visa online. (The online portal can be found here.)
You’ll start by contacting your nearest German consulate or embassy, filling out an initial application and providing the relevant documents that they’ll ask you for.
READ ALSO: Q&A - What is Germany's new online visa portal and how can I use it?
In general you’ll need a passport and a number of documents proving that you meet the visa requirements.Â
Be prepared for the process to take some time – you’ll likely need to gather a number of documents and you may need to have some of them translated to German.Â
A couple of quick tips: keep everything organised, make copies of your original documents, start early and have patience.
You can also find a wealth of information right here in our related articles.
Good luck!
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