India in Germany — Official Government Sources

Overseas Citizen Of India (oci) Card

Required Residency Period Before Application

12 months

if he/she is registered as OCI Cardholder for five years and is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months before making an application for registration

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Maximum Relaxation Period

30 days

the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that special circumstances exist, relax the period of twelve months, up to a maximum of thirty days which may be in different breaks

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Required Residency Period For Citizenship

5 years

if he/she is registered as OCI Cardholder for five years and is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months before making an application for registration

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Minimum Age For Citizenship Application

18 years

A person registered as an OCI Cardholder is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of The Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she has attained full age (18 year)

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Application Start Date

02.12.2005

OCI Scheme is operational from 02.12.2005

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Residency Duration

12 months

if he/she is registered as OCI Cardholder for five years and is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months before making an application for registration.

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Registration Duration

5 years

if he/she is registered as OCI Cardholder for five years and is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months before making an application for registration.

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Age Limit

18 years

A person registered as an OCI Cardholder is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of The Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she has attained full age (18 year)

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Visaerteilungen

First Issuance

17.907

Visaerteilungszahlen ablesen (2023: 17.907, 2024: 14.551, 2025: 9.867).

Source: BAMF — Education - Educational and Labor Migration

Blaue Karte Eu

First Issuance

12.430

1. Halbjahr 2023: 12.430, 2024: 7.750, 2025: 7.385 Ersterteilungen ohne vorherigen Titel.

Source: BAMF — Education - Educational and Labor Migration

Erwerbsmigration

Increase Percentage

19.4 %

Der Wert für die Erwerbsmigration, der gegenüber dem ersten Halbjahr 2024 ebenfalls wieder um 19,4 Prozent gestiegen ist.

Source: BAMF — Education - Educational and Labor Migration

Bildungsmigration

Increase Percentage

40.6 %

Anstieg um 40,6 Prozent im ersten Halbjahr 2025 sowohl den Wert von 2024 als auch den von 2023.

Source: BAMF — Education - Educational and Labor Migration

Visa Zu Erwerbszwecken

Increase Percentage

9.2 %

Die Zahl der von den deutschen Auslandsvertretungen erteilten Visa zu Erwerbszwecken 2024 gegenüber dem Vorjahr um 9,2 Prozent an.

Source: BAMF — Education - Educational and Labor Migration

Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz (feg 2.0)

Validity Period

ab November 2023

Ab November 2023 traten schrittweise die gesetzlichen Nachfolgeregelungen – das Gesetz und die Verordnung zur Weiterentwicklung der Fachkräfteeinwanderung ("FEG 2.0") – in Kraft.

Source: BAMF — Education - Educational and Labor Migration

Visa For Studying

Required Documents

German language skills at least at level B2 (depending on the study programme)

Visa for studying As a general rule, German language skills at least at level B2 (depending on the study programme)

Source: Make it in Germany — Living - Learning German

Opportunity Card (points System)

Required Documents

German language skills at least at level A1 or English language skills at least B2

German language skills at least at level A1 or English language skills at least at level B2

Source: Make it in Germany — Living - Learning German

Visa For Recognition Of Foreign Qualifications

Required Documents

German language skills at least at level A2

Visa for the recognition of foreign qualifications German language skills at least at level A2

Source: Make it in Germany — Living - Learning German

Visa For Seeking A Vocational Training Place

Required Documents

German language skills at least at level B1

German language skills at level B1 are required to obtain a visa for seeking a vocational training place.

Source: Make it in Germany — Living - Learning German

Visa For Vocational Training

Required Documents

German language skills at least at level B1

German language skills at level B1 are required to obtain a visa for vocational training.

Source: Make it in Germany — Living - Learning German

Chamber Of Industry And Commerce (ihk)

Available Positions

116,000

The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) has its own board for vocational training positions with about 116,000 available positions in industry and commerce.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Finding Training

Vocational Training

Start Month

August or September

As a rule, vocational training then starts in August or September every year.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Finding Training

Application Period

12 to 18 months

Generally, the application periods for vocational training begin about 12 to 18 months in advance.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Finding Training

Duration

2 to 3.5 years

Vocational training generally takes a shorter time to complete: 2 to 3.5 years.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Vocational Training vs Academic Studies

Residence Permit For Qualified Employment

Required Documents

Proof of successfully completed studies, Proof of health insurance cover, Concrete job offer

you will need to present the following supporting documents: Proof of successfully completed studies, Proof of health insurance cover, Concrete job offer.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Studies in Germany

Residence Permit For Job Search

Required Documents

Proof of successfully completed studies, Proof of health insurance cover, Proof of being able to secure your livelihood

The following requirements must be met in order to obtain a residence permit for 18 months: Proof of successfully completed studies, Proof of health insurance cover, Proof of being able to secure your livelihood.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Studies in Germany

Renewability

not renewable

Please note that this type of residence permit is not renewable.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Studies in Germany

Validity Period

18 months

you have the possibility of obtaining a residence permit valid for up to 18 months to look for qualified employment.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Studies in Germany

Academic Studies

Duration

3 to 5 years

Academic studies take about 3 to 5 years to complete, depending on whether undergraduate bachelor studies are followed by a master’s degree.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Vocational Training vs Academic Studies

Residence Permit

Registration Time Limit

3 months

you must register with your local foreigners authority within three months of entering the country.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Planning Studies in Germany

Residents' Registration Office

Registration Time Limit

2 weeks

You have two weeks to do so, once you have found accommodation.

Source: Make it in Germany — Education - Planning Studies in Germany

Auswärtiges Amt

Visa - Consular Information · Applying for a visa · Visa - Visa Regulations · Visa - India · Healthcare - Travel Health · Visa - Visa and Residency · Visa requirements overview · Residency - Ukraine Solidarity · Healthcare - Travel Health · Work visa procedure · EU Blue Card FAQ

BAMF

EU Blue Card · Asylum - Asylum Process · Education - Educational and Labor Migration · Visa - Skilled Worker Immigration · Asylum - Refugee Protection · Work Permit - Working and Living · Residency - Migration and Residency · Asylum - Migration Report · Asylum - Ukraine Reception · Integration courses · Family reunion for third-country nationals · Entry regulations · Work visa for third-country nationals · Migration & residence overview · Skilled workers with academic education · Education - Language Courses · Asylum - Information on Entry for Ukraine · Education - Expansion of Language and Orientation Courses · Driving - Getting a License · Integration - Integration Services · Work Permit - EU Blue Card · Banking - Opening a Bank Account · Housing - Finding Accommodation · Permanent residence permit · Healthcare - Health Insurance

BoI

work-permit

Indian Embassy Berlin

Visa services · OCI services · Consular services · Passport services

MEA India

Visa - Visa Related Services by FRROs/FROs · Visa - Guide to Consular Services · Visa - Verification of Foreign Visa/Permit · Visa - Diplomatic and Official Visa · Passport - Single Status Certificate · Visa - FAQs on Consular Services · Immigration - Diaspora and Migration Issues · Residency - Overseas Indians · E-Citizen - Online Services · emergency · Passport - Apostille Services · work-permit · Travel - Travel Advisory · Visa - Visa Information

MHA

Residency - Foreigners Division

Make it in Germany

Work - State Recognition · Citizenship - Naturalisation · Visa - Family Reunification for Spouses of Non-EU Citizens · Visa - Family Reunification for Spouses of EU Citizens · Work - Recognition of Foreign Academic Qualifications · Work visa for qualified professionals · Visa - Training Visa · German language requirements · Visa for IT professionals · Work - Job Listings · Education - Vocational Training in Germany · Tax system in Germany · Work - Scientists Professions in Demand · Finding accommodation in Germany · Insurance - Additional Insurance · Residency - Living Permanently · EU Blue Card · Opening a bank account in Germany · Work - IT Specialists Professions in Demand · Work - Craftspeople Professions in Demand · Education - Vocational Training · Work - Careers in Transport Professions in Demand · Health insurance in Germany · Education - Vocational Training vs Academic Studies · Education - Vocational Training Requirements · Education - Training in Germany · Citizenship - Information for EU Citizens · Housing - Mobility in Germany · Employment - Unemployment · Education - Studies in Germany · Work - Green Jobs · Education - School System · Visa - Skilled Immigration Act · Work - Job Search · Work - Job Opportunities · Work - Job Application · Work - Engineers Professions in Demand · Work Permit - IT Specialist in Germany · Work - Recognition Procedure · Visa - Opportunity Card · Visa - Family Reunification for Children · Education - Finding Training · Education - Education System in Germany · Work - Physicians Professions in Demand · Settling - Useful Everyday Knowledge · Education - Vocational Training · Advisory services in India · Visa - Types of Visa · Immigration - Overview · Visa - Application Forms · Visa - Visa Recognition Partnership · Visa - Opportunity Card Self-Check · Visa - Visa and Residence · Visa - Types · Visa - Opportunity Card · Housing - Housing and Mobility · Education - Work During Studies · Family Life - Financial Support for Families · Visa - Do I Need a Visa? · Tax - Social Security · Visa - Opportunity Card for Job Search · Residency - Settlement Permit · Visa - Setting Up Business Requirements · Recognition of qualifications · Living - Family Life · Family reunion visa · Visa - Visa Application Procedure · Visa - Student Visa · Driving - Driving Licence · Visa - Entry Process · Living - Learning German · Work - Nursing Professions in Demand · Education - Planning Studies in Germany · Visa - Recognition · Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) · Visa - Setting Up Business Visa · Education - Studies in Germany · Employment - Earnings · Work - Professions in Demand · Visa - Professionally Experienced Workers · Education - Study Requirements · Work - Job Opportunities · Education - Integration Courses · Work - Recognition of Qualifications · Visa - Quick Check · Work - Professions in Demand · Insurance - Money and Insurance

OCI Services

OCI Online Application

TK Germany

Registering for health insurance · Health insurance for employees · Health insurance for expats · Health insurance for students

e-Visa

Visa - e-Visa Information · Visa - e-Arrival Information · Visa - Visa Types · Visa - Application Process · Visa - Visa on Arrival