Every Indian worker going to Germany on a job needs a national (Type D) visa for employment. The process is orderly but unforgiving of missing documents. Below is the sequence we run for every deployment, with realistic timings.
Step 1: Signed Employment Contract
The German employer issues a contract or binding offer stating role, salary, hours and start date. Germany also requires the employer's "Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis" (declaration of employment) — a standard form the visa section will check against the contract.
Step 2: Qualification Check or Recognition
Depending on the route, you either complete formal recognition (regulated professions such as nursing) or document an Indian qualification plus two years of experience (experience-based route). Certificates are translated by sworn translators and, where needed, apostilled in India.
Step 3: Federal Employment Agency Approval
The employer or the German mission obtains BA consent, confirming that the pay and conditions match those of comparable German workers. Employers can obtain this in advance as a Vorabzustimmung, which shortens the consular stage.
Step 4: The Visa Appointment
Applications are lodged through VFS Global for the German missions in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai or Kolkata. The file contains: application form, passport, biometric photos, contract, employer declaration, qualification and experience proof, language certificate where required, CV, health insurance for the initial period, and the BA approval or fast-track confirmation. Appointment availability is the single biggest variable — we book the moment documents are complete.
Step 5: Decision and Visa
Complete files are usually decided within four to eight weeks; fast-track cases are quicker. The visa is typically valid for six months and is converted to a residence permit after arrival.
Step 6: Indian Emigration Formalities
Workers with ECR passports need emigration clearance through the eMigrate system, which is issued only for placements arranged by a licensed agency. Non-ECR passport holders need no clearance.
Step 7: Arrival and Registration
Within two weeks of moving in, you register your address (Anmeldung), then apply for the residence permit at the local Foreigners Authority, open a bank account and enrol in statutory health insurance. Our arrival guide covers each item.
Fees and Who Pays Them
The national visa fee is €75 per applicant, paid at the appointment. Sworn translations cost €20–40 per page, apostilles a few hundred rupees per document at the Ministry of External Affairs, and health insurance for the first weeks €30–60. Under Indian law a licensed agency may charge a worker only the capped fee prescribed by the Government of India; German employers usually fund the rest. Never pay anyone for "appointment slots" — VFS appointments are free apart from the service charge, and slot-selling is a scam.
After You Land
The visa is your entry ticket, not your residence permit. Within the first weeks you register your address, enrol in health insurance and apply for the residence permit that matches your visa category. Miss those steps and the visa expires with nothing to replace it.
Where Delays Really Come From
- Untranslated or unattested certificates
- Contract salary below the FEG threshold or a collective agreement
- Appointment slots — weeks of waiting in peak months
- Language certificates from unaccepted providers (use Goethe, telc, ÖSD or TestDaF)
A licensed agency exists to remove exactly these failure points. See what we handle for each corridor on the Germany hiring page, or, if you are a candidate, register for German vacancies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Germany work visa take from India?
Four to eight weeks after the appointment for a complete file; add appointment waiting time. With the accelerated procedure, two to four weeks is achievable.
Do Indian workers need emigration clearance for Germany?
Only ECR passport holders need eMigrate clearance, and it is granted for placements arranged through an MEA-licensed recruiting agent.
