How To Get a Job in Germany as an Indian?
India has over a billion people, many of them highly educated and willing to move to Germany to explore their possibilities. How can an Indian national get a job in this prosperous country with a labor shortage?
First and most important, you need to be a highly qualified specialist in your field and own a university degree to receive a job offer in Germany. This degree must be comparable to a German one. Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years of work experience relevant to their education.
As a resident of non-EU/EAA countries, you have different options for starting your professional journey in Germany. I have lived in Germany, visited India 6 times, and am a non-EU/EAA citizen. There are so many potentials in these countries. India is a vast labor market, and Germany is an employer’s market.
Residence permits and visa
It’s understandable why people from India want to work in Germany, as it has Europe’s biggest economy. In fact, there are already 110,000 Indian nationals living and enjoying high standards.
Many incomers have success in finding a job and settling down; numbers show that of 27,241 EU Blue Cards issued in Germany in 2018, Indians received the maximum number at 7,556. Here are three ways through which Indian citizens can work in Germany.
EU Blue Card (work permit)
EU Blue Card – a permit that allows highly skilled workers from non-EU/EEA counties to live and for in Europe for a duration of up to 4 years.
Requirements:
- To have a recognized degree or a degree comparable to a German university degree. You can check if your diploma fits into the criteria under “foreign university degrees” on this website.
- To have a job in Germany that matches your qualifications, with an annual gross salary of at least 56,400 EUR (2022).
Sometimes, finding an employer who is ready to pay such a high salary could be challenging. Luckily there is another regulation applicable to the level of earning.
Germany has a significant shortage in some occupations, that’s why for such professions, the required salary is 43,992 EUR (2022). This applies, for example, to doctors, engineers, but also to natural scientists, mathematicians, and IT specialists.
That is a huge opportunity for India with many great professionals in these areas.
After 33 Months of residence holder EU Blue Card could receive a settlement permit. It doesn’t have a limitation on the duration of stay. If you can prove German language skills (B2) earlier, a settlement permit can already be obtained after 21 months.
As you can see, Germany is one of the best counties for immigrants, where a settlement permit can be received much faster and easier compared to other places.
Benefits of EU Blue Card
EU Blue Card was inspired by Green Card from the USA, but in my opinion, it’s much better and perspective for appliers. Here are some exceptional advantages:
- Equal work and salary conditions for national citizens
- Free movement throughout the EU
- Social rights, including education, economic, cultural, human, health rights,
- Your family can move with you
- Rights on permanent residency
EU Blue Card holders can go back to their home countries or non-EU states for a maximum of 12 consecutive months without losing the EU Blue Card ownership.
If you aren’t eligible for Blue-Card
If you don’t meet the requirements for the “EU blue card,” don’t panic. In addition to the EU Blue card, there are other opportunities to work and live in Germany if these conditions apply to you:
- You have a recognized university degree or a university degree comparable to a German university degree.
- You found a job in Germany which matches your qualifications.
In this case, you can obtain a residence permit that allows you to work if the federal employment agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) has approved it. You are not responsible for this; German officials will take care of it.
As soon as you have a job offer, simply contact the German embassy; they will guide you through the process.
After arrival in Germany, you will receive further assistance from the immigration office or the Welcome Center at your place of residence.
Job Seeker Visa
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This visa allows you to come to Germany for 6 months for a job search. The Job Seeker visa isn’t exactly a work permit. You can only work up to 10 hours per week as a trial at the company you are applying for a full-time job.
Thus, you can’t work full-time until you receive a work visa. After getting a job offer, you are eligible for the EU Blue Card application.
Requirements:
- A recognized university degree or a university degree comparable to a German university degree
- Proof of funds on your bank account minimum of 853 EUR for a month (5,118 EUR).
- Travel or Medical Insurance for the entire stay in Germany until and unless you will get the work permit visa for any of the employment
The processing time is 5 – 6 months.
Job Seeker Visa benefits
- It’s a relatively fast and easy process.
- Getting a valid Job Seeker visa allows one to look for suitable job opportunities and attend interviews in Germany personally.
- Once the candidate gets an employment offer, they can apply for an EU Blue Card without leaving the country.
- No language test is required for applying for the Job Seeker visa, unlike most immigration visas.
- Once the applicant completes 5 years of working on the German Work Visa, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency in Germany.
You can’t extend a Job Seeker visa in Germany if you did not find a job. The only option is to go back to India and apply for the same visa again.
All applications can be made at the German Embassy in New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata Consulate General Offices.
Graduates of German universities
Have you completed your studies at a German university? Then you can easily accept a job in Germany that is suitable for your specialization.
Application for a residence permit can be made at the responsible immigration authority. If you have not yet found a job during your studies, you can obtain a residence permit from the immigration office (ausländerbehörde). It will give you 18 months for a job search.
While looking for a suitable job, you may practice any type of employment.
Why choose Germany?
Some points might sound obvious, but we will mention them anyway:
1. Quality of life
No pollution, high standards of living, no traffic jams, safety and security, no VIP culture – all people are the same rule.
2. Work-life balance
Germans appreciate their private time and know-how to separate work and life in a way probably no one does. They’re working on average less than many other European countries, 35 hours per week, and rarely do overtime.
Many people prefer to start very early at 6 am and finish the day at 3 pm so that they can spend the rest of the time with their families.
3. Career opportunities
Since Germany is a European driver, it has incredible job opportunities. You can climb a career later or change companies for something better, as with experience, you will add value.
Employers are interested in having international workers with knowledge of different languages. Germany doesn’t do business locally; they do globally! You can be relocated to other countries if you wish and be an expat.
4. Employee benefits
If you are working in Germany, you are protected. German employment laws generally favor workers, especially their termination protection, collective labor contracts, and holidays. You will have at least 4 weeks of them. Up to 6 weeks of sick days and one year of maternity leave are paid.
5. Medical care
Medical care in Germany is world known and considered one of the best. Everyone is required by law to have medical insurance, even if you’re unemployed or unable to work.
It covers all your expenses if you get sick. Even if you find yourself in the hospital, all will be paid by the insurance! German hospitals are impressive; it feels like you are in a health resort.
Hope this article helped you to see a perspective on getting a job in Germany and why you should start your journey today.
