Moving to Germany From India: A Guide for Indian Citizens

With a German student visa, Indian students can enrol in

• Full-time university courses 
• German language courses for studies
• Preparatory or foundation courses

Many German public universities offer study programs in English. You don’t need to be fluent in German to study at a German university.

As an international student, you have more than 2,000 English-language bachelor’s and master’s programs to choose from across 200+ universities in Germany. 

That said, it is advisable to learn some German (at least B1 level) to manage your day to day life without problem here. 

Living in Germany is more expensive than Southern and Eastern European countries, but a bit cheaper than its Northern and Western European neighbours.

The average cost of living in Germany is around  €10,332 per year or 861€ per month for expenses such as rent, health and liability insurance, food and entertainment etc.

German state universities charge a semester fee of between 100 and 350 EUR per semester.

Learn more about the cost of living in Germany here.

Indian citizens can apply for a German student visa if they have received a letter of complete admission for studying at a German education institute. 

Once you have the invitation to enrol in a course at a German higher education institute, you can begin your German student visa application process. 

You should submit your German student visa application at the German embassy or consulate responsible for your constituency.

The outcome of your application depends on the information and the supporting documents you provide. These documents must be sent as originals, accompanied by two scanned copies of each.

Here are the documents you need to prepare for a German student visa from India:

• Two duly completed national visa application forms
• Valid national passport 
• Two recently taken biometric portrait photographs
• Proof of admission into a study program in Germany. (Any of the following):
  • University admission letter “Zulassungsbescheinigung”.
  • Letter of admission in a foundation course at a Studienkolleg.
  • Letter of admission in a preparatory German language course.
• Authenticated certificates of previous education: If you finished your school education in India, send the following documents:
  • Recognized foreign academic qualification. It must show you have a qualification equally recognized as the German Abitur.
  • Academic records or transcript.
• Curriculum vitae: Attach proof of any work experience or internships 
• Proof of accommodation in Germany
• Means of subsistence “Finanzieruungsnachweis”: The proof that you have adequate finances to cover living, accommodation and study costs. (You can use any of the following).
  • Blocked bank account: A blocked account is a special bank account where you deposit a specific amount of funds which have a monthly minimum withdrawal limit. 
  • Letter of commitment by a German resident “Verpflichtungserklärung“: A person living in Germany, declaring that they’ll cover your accommodation and/or other living costs while you’ll be here.
  • Letter of a declaration by a parent: A written and signed declaration to support you financially during your stay here. It must be supplemented by their bank statements of the last 6 months.
  • Scholarship awarding certificate: An official scholarship showing you as a receiver and the amount of financial coverage granted to you by this scholarship.
• A valid health insurance coverage: Your health insurance must have coverage of at least 30,000 EUR and it must be valid for at least 3 months. You can very easily get an affordable German health insurance policy via Fintiba.
• A motivation letter: You’ll have to express the reason for choosing the specific university and study program. Mention also your study and future plans and how these studies will be improving your career and life.
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Children’s birth certificate (if applicable)
• Proof of payment for visa application fee: The fee is 60 EUR.
• Proof of German language proficiency: For German-only and mixed-language study programs.
  • German Language University Entrance Examination for International Applicants (DSH).
  • Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF).
  • Goethe Institute German Language Diploma (GDS).
  • German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs, Level II (DSD).
• Proof of English language proficiency: For English and mixed-language study programs.
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL):  Required score –
    • PbT (paper-based test) 550 Points,
    • CbT (computer-based test) 213 Points
    • IbT (internet-based test) 79-80 Points
  • The International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Required score – 5 – 6.5

A blocked account is a special type of bank account for international students in Germany, to prove you have enough funds to live in Germany for one year during your studies.

As of  1 January 2021, it is estimated that a foreign student in Germany spends an average of €861 euros per month at a minimum. So, you need to have at least €10,332 in your blocked bank account before applying for a German student visa.

Opening a German blocked account as proof of financial resources can speed up your student visa processing time.

However, many German banks ask for a proof of address in Germany, making it extremely hard to open a German bank account from India.

However, there are services for international students, such as Fintiba, that can liaise with German banks on your behalf and open a blocked German bank account for you. You only need your passport to open the Blocked Account through Fintiba.

Click here to open a German Blocked Bank Account easily from India.

A full health insurance policy is a mandatory requirement for any German national visa, so you will need to take out adequate coverage before your visa application from India. 

Without proof of health insurance (public or private), getting a German visa from India will be very unlikely. However, you can easily book an affordable health insurance through Fintiba. 

Click here to check out the Fintiba’s health insurance quotes.

There are a number of ways to find a place to live in Germany.

1. Students halls of residence: Studentenwerk offers a number of affordable places for international students in their halls of residences.

There are only 194.000 places in halls of residence across Germany and a long waiting list so you must apply at least a few months before the start date of your course in Germany.

You can expect to pay an average monthly rent of 246 euros including all utility costs with Studentenwerk accommodations.

2. Flat-shares or flat rentals: The other affordable option is to find a flat-share (WG) on a house-hunting platform such as WG-Gesucht, Immowelt.de or on local Facebook groups.

Yes, of course! Indian students can work during their studies in Germany. With a German student visa, Non-EU students can:

• Work part-time: You may work for up to 120 full days or 240 half days per calendar year.
• Intern at a German company: Interning in Germany is a common and encouraged way to gain professional experience if you’re planning to move there.
• Work as a freelancer: According to § 21 paragraph 6 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG), non-EU students may freelance in Germany along with their studies. As a full-time student, you are permitted to work 120 days or 240 half-days. There’s no upper limit on your income. You will have to pay freelancer taxes once you cross a certain income threshold. You have to apply for a separate German freelance permit to be able to work as a freelancer in Germany.
• Extend your student residence permit: This is possible if you haven’t yet completed your planned studies within the visa period, and you’ll be completing them in a reasonable time.

The German student visa from India is valid for three months. Within this period, you should:

• fly to Germany
• apply for a students’ residence permit to study in Gerany
• register yourself as a resident in Germany 

The maximum length of a full-time student residence permit is two years. You have an option to extend the residence permit depending on the length of your studies.

Yes, absolutely!

Non-EU graduates of a German university are eligible for an 18-months job seekers’ resident permit.

You can apply for this permit after you successfully graduate from your university.

With a German job seekers resident permit, you can search for full-time employment or become self-employed in Germany. During this 18-month period, you are also allowed to take up a temporary/ side job while searching for a permanent job that directly matches your academic qualifications.