Work Visa for Germany

German work visas are designed for individuals who want to work and live in Germany for a fixed period of time that usually ranges from 1 to 5 years. To be eligible for a German work permit, you must have a job offer from a registered German company or employer.

Further, German work visas are divided into two categories: short-term visas and long-term visas.

Short-term visas are generally valid for up to 90 days and are non-renewable. These are used for short stays, including business trips, official visits, trade events, cultural events, etc.

Long-term visas, on the other hand, are used for stays that go beyond a period of three months or 90 days. Note that the different types of Germany work permits from India come under this category.

Thriving Economy

As compared to other European countries, the German economy is rising at an impressive rate. Despite the recent pandemic, the number of job openings in the country is stable.

There are many global companies and employers in the country looking for talented candidates from every corner of the world to join their organisation at a desirable pay. By working and living in Germany, you can become a part of this thriving economy and benefit from it.

Excellent Quality of Life

Germans are known to live a luxurious and higher quality of life. Owing to the fair-paying system, you can live in the country comfortably and afford the life you have always wanted.

You can easily afford a spacious place to live with your family and enjoy all the things you want, like travelling, eating out, shopping, and so on.

Attractive Salaries

As per the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the average annual salary in the country is around €47,700 (₹43-₹44 lakh), which comes down to an average monthly income of €3,975 (₹3.5-₹4 lakh).

This is just the median salary. It means if you are skilled and have experience, you can easily land a job of €80,000 to €120,000, depending on the industry.

Higher Minimum Wages

As per the data from the German Federal Statistical Office, the minimum hourly wages in the country range from €13 to €20 depending on the industry and type of work.

Note that most skilled workers can earn €15-16 as a base pay per hour. So, even if you are working on a minimum wage in Germany, you can afford a comfortable lifestyle.

Low Unemployment Rate

Another plus point of Germany is that the unemployment rate here is very low. It means that the vacancies here are always booming in every field, be it IT, finance, business, fashion, etc. So, even if you leave a job or take a break, you are very likely to get another job without much struggle.

Bring Your Family

In a majority of cases, you are allowed to take your spouse and children on your work visa in Germany. You can even find a suitable job for your partner and live a happy and satisfied life together.

Free Education

Germany is known for its high-quality education. The country is home to many reputed educational institutions where you or your kids can get top-quality education.

The best part is there are excellent state schools that offer free education to students. These are government-run schools that are highly developed and do not charge any fees.

Politically Stable Country

The political environment of a country plays a key role in deciding whether or not it is worth living. Luckily, you do not have to worry about any of such scenarios when moving to Germany.

It is one of the most politically stable countries in the world. You can live safely and peacefully as a migrant without worrying about any sort of injustice or racism.

Welcoming towards Foreigners

Germany is among the top countries in the world that are highly welcoming towards immigrants. It does not matter which country you are coming from; the Germans will treat you like their own. Further, language is not a barrier here, as a majority of Germans can speak English fluently.

Now that we have highlighted the perks of working in Germany, let us take a look at the different types of Germany work visas for Indians:

Employment Visa

This type of visa is designed for individuals who already have a valid job offer from a German employer. It allows them to enter the country to work legally and get a residence permit as well.

Job Seeker Visa

Job-seeker visa, as the name suggests, is a type of visa that allows you to enter the country and search for a job. It comes with a validity of six months. During this period, you can stay in Germany and look for a suitable job depending on your qualifications and experience. It is one of the simplest ways to settle in Germany.

Self-Employment Visa

The self-employment visa is designed for qualified applicants who want to visit Germany while working remotely. This visa is also known as the “Freelancer Visa” for the same reason.

Au-Pair Visa

With an Au-Pair Visa, you can live with a host family who is responsible for providing you with food, accommodation, pocket money, and even health insurance. This type of contract is valid for a period of 6 to 12 months.

Working Holiday Visa

The working holiday visa allows you to enjoy a working holiday in the country. You don’t need to have a job offer for this type of visa.

EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is a type of residence permit that is available for highly skilled applicants from non-EU countries. Being highly skilled means you should have a higher education degree, such as a master’s or at least a bachelor’s degree.

To be eligible for this permit, you must have an annual salary of €56,800 or €44,304 in case your job is listed under shortage occupation. Further, this permit stays valid for 4 years. Besides, if you have this card and maintain the same job, you can apply for permanent residency after 33 months.

Moreover, if you are able to prove your German language proficiency, you can apply for PR just after 21 months of holding an EU Blue card.

To get a job seeker visa Germany from India, you need the following:

A Valid Job Offer: The very first requirement to be eligible for a job seeker Germany visa from India is a valid job offer from a registered German company. It can be a part-time temporary or remote job.

However, you must be an employee, not a freelancer. Also, your employer must have an office in the country, even if it is a remote/work-from-home job.

Qualifications for the Offered Job: Your qualifications must match the job that is offered to you. For instance, if you are offered the position of a programmer, you must have experience and expertise in coding and programming.

Fair Salary: The salary that is promised to you must be fair. It means it should match the salary of Germans working in the same position. While there are no minimum salary requirements, you must not be underpaid.

University Degree or Vocational Training: If you are planning for a Blue card, you must have a university degree at least. Moreover, you should also have a vocational training certificate for the job from a recognised institution, if applicable.

If you are above 45 years of age, your net annual salary should be at least €48,180 per annum. Besides, you should also have a pension plan that will cover your expenses post your retirement.

Apart from the ones mentioned above, different types of work visas have different types of requirements. Hence, it is advisable to confirm the same before moving forward in the process.

Below are all the documents required for applying for a Germany work visa for Indian:

Valid Indian passport (it should be issued within the last 10 years and must have at least two empty pages)

2 Signed and attested copies of completed application forms

Declaration form that provides legal representation and additional contact information.

2 Clear, A4-size copies of your passport’s data page

2 Copies of the Annexure that contain complete information about the offered job

3 Recent passport-size photographs as per the Schengen biometric photo standard.

Vocational training certificate (if applicable)

Proof of German language proficiency (at least level A2 is required for normal applicants and level B1 for nursing applicants)

Federal Employment Agency approval letter (if applicable)

Original copy of Employment contract

Registration of German language course (if do not have proficiency already)

Mandatory health insurance certificate from your German employer.

Proof of qualifications and experience of previous professional activities.

€75 Visa fee paid in INR.

You need to bring these documents in two sets. Further, all the certificates, as well as your employment contract, should be original. Another important thing to note is that the visa application cost will not be refunded even if your application is rejected.

The German officials may ask for additional documents if necessary, which may involve additional fees.

Here is how to apply for a Germany work permit from India:**

Step 1: Get a Job Offer

Before starting the visa application process, you must find a job in Germany and have a valid job offer. You can do this by applying for job openings in Germany on various job portals and banks.

You can also apply on LinkedIn, which is currently the best platform to make professional connections. This is the most crucial and time-consuming step that must be done carefully.

Step 2: Schedule a Visa Appointment

Once you have the job offer, you can proceed with the visa application. The next step is to schedule a German visa interview with a registered German visa application centre or German consular in your country. You can easily do so online, up to 6 months in advance.

Step 3: Gather the Required Documents

Before moving further with your visa application, you need to arrange all the necessary documents we have mentioned above. Take enough time to do this step carefully because improper documents can lead to unnecessary delays and rejections.

Step 4: Fill out the Visa Application Forms

Next, fill out the Germany visa application forms. You can do so online or download the PDF versions of the forms and sign them offline. Apart from the application form, you also need to submit the completed and signed forms mentioned below:**

Declaration form

Declaration of Consent and Spouse Visa

Additional contact and legal representation information

Step 5: Pay the Visa Fee

Next, pay the German work visa application fee.

Note that you can make this payment only by demand draft (DD) at the German Consulate of Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

However, if you are applying at the German Consulate of Delhi and Bangalore, you have the option to pay either in cash or by demand draft.

Step 6: Attend the Visa Interview

The next and final step of the German visa application from India is to appear for the visa interview on the specified date.

It is advisable to carry all the required documents and arrive at the interview location at least 20 minutes before the scheduled time. During this step, the visa officer will verify your documents as well as your identity and background.

Step 7: Wait for the Results

That’s it. Once your application is submitted and the visa interview is done, you need to wait for the results.

Germany visa processing time in India depends on various factors such as the type of visa application and the workload of the German Consulate office or embassy you are applying at. Based on these factors, your visa application process can take anywhere from one to three months to complete.

Since you do not know the exact processing time, it is always recommended to start the process early.

Moreover, if you already have a job offer, then inform your employer about the process and let them know that you will not be able to start the job immediately after it is offered. In other words, your joining date will ultimately depend on the visa processing time.

The cost of German visa application from India is as follows:

For Adults: €75 (₹6,300)

For Minors (0-17 years): €37.5 (₹3,200)

However, this fee can be more or less depending on certain circumstances. Hence, confirm the same with the German consulate office in your area.

Most importantly, keep in mind that whatever fee you pay will be non-refundable in nature. So, even if your visa gets rejected, you can not claim your money back.

There are mainly five German Consulate offices and embassies where you can apply for a German work permit from India. These are as follows:

You can even convert your Germany skilled worker visa into a PR card, which allows you to live in Germany for as long as you wish and enjoy the legal benefits designed for a PR.

For this, you need to prove a continuous employment of five years with a German employer approved by the Federal Employment agency. Besides, you also need to prove an advanced level of proficiency in the German language.

Once you become a PR and spend a few more years in Germany, you become eligible for its citizenship.

Germany stays on the top of the list for a variety of occupations for foreign nationals. A majority of industries here including IT, Finance, Healthcare, etc. are thriving.

If you are searching for a job, here are the top jobs in demand in Germany:

As we have discussed above, a health insurance certificate is one of the mandatory documents required for a German visa application process. This document provides you with the necessary financial security during your medical emergencies in the country.

Similarly, a travel insurance policy can help you cover unprecedented losses and emergencies during your short-term visit to Germany. If you are planning to visit on a job-seeker visa or any kind of short-term visa, then you must invest in a reliable travel policy from Tata AIG.

Our insurance policies are carefully designed to offer maximum coverage and protection for various unforeseen events such as flight delays and cancellations, baggage loss, third-party injuries, and more. Besides, we also offer various other benefits such as affordable premiums, no-claims bonuses, stress-free claims settlement, and so on.

So, check out our insurance page and compare travel insurance plans based on your requirements to select the best one!

Germany is one of the highly sought after-work-abroad destinations in the world for a variety of reasons. We understand that moving to a new country is a big step, but as we all know: “a journey of thousands of miles begins with a single step”.

This one step could be a life-altering decision for you. So, give yourself the final push and start your Germany work visa application process as soon as possible.

We hope this blog on “German work visa for Indian” helps you in this process.

Good luck!

Information last updated Nov 23. While this information is sourced reliably, visa requirements can change. For the most current visa details, visit the official Consulate/Embassy website.