How to move from India to Germany for a job.
Short answer
To move from India to Germany for work you need a recognised degree or vocational training, either a job offer or an Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), proof that you can support yourself, and basic German for most roles. You can apply yourself through official portals such as Make it in Germany and the German missions in India. No paid agent is required.
Step 1: is your qualification recognised?
Recognition decides which visa you can apply for, so check it before anything else.
University degree
Search your university in anabin. H+ means recognised. Then check that your specific degree appears as equivalent to a German one.
Vocational training (ITI, diploma)
Vocational qualifications usually need a formal equivalence assessment through the Recognition in Germany portal before a visa can be issued.
Regulated professions
Nursing, medicine, teaching, law and similar fields always need a licence from the responsible German authority, plus a language certificate.
Step 2: how much German do you need?
The honest answer depends on your field. This table shows what employers usually expect.
| Level | Who it fits | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| A1 – A2 | Everyday basics | Enough for shopping, appointments and small talk. Accepted for the Opportunity Card points and for most English speaking IT roles. |
| B1 | Realistic minimum for local jobs | You can follow team meetings and handle authorities yourself. Often required for vocational and healthcare roles. |
| B2 – C1 | Regulated professions | Usually required for nursing, medicine, teaching, law and most customer facing work. |
Goethe-Institut and telc exam centres run in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune. Book the exam date early, slots fill months ahead.
Step 3: your German style CV
Indian style CVs are often too long and too detailed for German recruiters. Rebuild it in the European format.
- One to two pages, reverse chronological, with month and year for every entry.
- A short skills block: tools, languages with levels, certifications.
- A photo is optional today and no longer expected by most companies.
- A one page cover letter (Anschreiben) written for that specific job.
- Degree certificates, transcripts and reference letters attached as PDFs.
Want it checked by a human? Book the CV and application review
Step 4: the two main pathways
Everything else is a variation of these two: you either bring a job offer, or you come to find one.
Job offer before you travel
EU Blue Card / Skilled Worker Visa
- Recognised university degree or vocational training.
- A contract that matches your qualification, with a salary above the threshold for the Blue Card.
- Faster route to permanent residence and easier family reunification.
No job offer needed
Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte)
- Points based on qualification, experience, language, age and ties to Germany.
- Up to twelve months in Germany to search for work, with limited part time work allowed.
- You must prove you can cover your living costs for that period.
The full process, step by step
Plan six to twelve months from the first step to landing in Germany.
- 1
Check your qualification in anabin
Search for your university and then for your degree. H+ next to the institution means it is recognised in Germany. If your degree is missing or your profession is regulated, start a recognition procedure through the Recognition in Germany portal, it can take several weeks.
- 2
Start German early
Book a course at the Goethe-Institut or a recognised telc centre in your city and plan your exam date before you apply for jobs. A certificate is worth more than a claim on your CV, and it adds points for the Opportunity Card.
- 3
Rewrite your CV in the German format
One to two pages, reverse chronological, clear month and year dates, a short skills section and a tailored cover letter for every company. Attach degree certificates and reference letters as PDFs.
- 4
Choose your visa route
With an offer in hand, the EU Blue Card or Skilled Worker Visa is usually fastest. Without one, the Opportunity Card lets you search on the ground. Use the visa checker on Make it in Germany to confirm which route fits your profile.
- 5
Apply for jobs on the right portals
Apply directly on company career pages and on the portals listed below. Follow up politely after two weeks. Recruiters in Germany reply to structured, complete applications.
- 6
Book the visa appointment and prepare
Appointment slots at the German missions in India fill up quickly, so book as soon as you have your documents. Bring the exact checklist from the mission website for your city.
- 7
Arrive and settle in the first 30 days
Register your address (Anmeldung), activate health insurance, open a bank account, get your tax ID and apply for your residence permit at the local Ausländerbehörde.
Where to search for jobs and check the rules
Official portals first, then the large job boards. These are the sources we use ourselves.
- Make it in Germany
The official government portal for skilled workers: visa checker, job board and step by step guidance. You can apply yourself, no paid agent is required.
- anabin database
Check how your Indian university and degree are graded in Germany. H+ means the institution is recognised.
- Recognition in Germany
For vocational training and regulated professions such as nursing, medicine and teaching: who decides recognition and how to apply.
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit job portal
The federal job database with hundreds of thousands of vacancies across Germany.
- EURES
The European job mobility portal, useful for cross border roles and employer contacts.
- StepStone
One of the largest private job boards in Germany, strong in IT, engineering and finance.
- Indeed Germany
Broad aggregator, good for scanning many employers at once and setting alerts.
- Xing
The German speaking professional network, widely used by recruiters in mid sized companies.
- Goethe-Institut India
German courses and A1 to C2 exams in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Pune.
- German Missions in India
Current visa categories, fees, appointment booking and document checklists for applicants in India.
Do you need a paid agent?
No. Visa applications, recognition checks and appointments all happen directly with official German portals and the German missions in India. No agency can move you up the queue, and anyone promising a guaranteed visa is not being honest with you.
What genuinely helps is preparation: the right documents in the right order, a CV German recruiters can read quickly, and someone who has done the process reviewing it before you send it. That is exactly what our packs and reviews cover, in rupees, with no hidden fees.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we get most often from people moving from India to Germany.
Can I move to Germany from India without a job offer?
Yes. The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is a points based visa that lets qualified people come to Germany for up to twelve months to look for work on the ground. You need a recognised degree or vocational training, proof that you can support yourself, and enough points from factors such as language, experience and age.
Is my Indian degree valid in Germany?
Look up your university and your degree in the official anabin database. If the institution is graded H+ and your degree appears as equivalent, German authorities normally accept it. If your profession is regulated, for example nursing, medicine or teaching, you also need a formal recognition decision through the Recognition in Germany portal.
Is German language mandatory?
It depends on the job. Many IT, engineering and research roles work fully in English. Most other jobs, and almost all regulated professions and customer facing work, expect B1 or B2 German. Even for English speaking jobs, A2 to B1 makes daily life, housing and authority appointments much easier.
Do I need a paid consultant or agent to move to Germany?
No. Every visa application, recognition check and appointment booking is done directly with official German portals and the German missions in India, and no agent can give you priority. Paid help is only useful for preparation: a German style CV, document checklists and someone reviewing your application before you send it.
How long does the whole process take?
Plan for six to twelve months from the first preparation step to landing in Germany. Recognition checks, language exams, the job search itself and the visa appointment each take weeks to months, and appointment waiting times at the German missions in India vary a lot by city and season. Check current processing times on the mission website for your city.
How much money do I need to show?
For routes without a salary, such as the Opportunity Card or a student visa, you must prove you can cover your living costs, usually through a blocked account or a formal sponsorship declaration. The required amount is set by German authorities and changes from year to year, so always take the current figure from the German mission or the Federal Foreign Office, not from a blog.
What is the difference between the EU Blue Card and the Skilled Worker Visa?
Both need a concrete job offer. The EU Blue Card is for university graduates whose job matches their degree and pays above a salary threshold, and it brings faster access to permanent residence and easier family reunification. The Skilled Worker Visa is broader and also covers recognised vocational training without that salary threshold.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
Family reunification is possible on most work routes once your own residence permit is granted and you can show suitable housing and enough income. Spouses usually receive the right to work. Conditions differ per visa type, so check the family reunification page of the German mission in India.
What should my CV look like for German employers?
One to two pages, reverse chronological, with clear dates, a short skills block and no gaps left unexplained. A photo is optional today. Add a one page cover letter (Anschreiben) written for that specific company, and attach your degree certificates and reference letters as PDFs.
Which cities in Germany are best for Indian professionals?
Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Hamburg and the Rhine-Ruhr region have the most international employers and the largest Indian communities, including temples, grocery shops and student groups. Smaller university cities are cheaper and often have shorter waiting times for registration appointments.
Start with the free move checklist
A step by step PDF covering documents, recognition, visa preparation and your first 30 days in Germany, with links to every official source.