General Information

If you are a holder of an academic degree (Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, PhD) that is recognized for Germany please refer to the information “Holders of academic degrees”.

If you intend to work in Germany on a fixed-term contract for the company you currently work for or for another company under the same parent company, please refer to the checklist “Employment – ICT card”.

This information is for people that have completed a vocational training abroad which is recognized in Germany or have meet the requirement of work experience.

If you intend to work in the medical field, for example as nurse/care giver, physiotherapist, medical/physicians assistant or similar, special requirements apply. Please refer to the information “Employment for Recognition of Professional Qualifications”. If you intend to work as a medical doctor, please refer to the information “Holders of Academic Degrees”.

Necessary and optional documents

The Consular Service Portal will guide you through the process and give additional information to each upload. You can stop, safe your progress and return to your application at any time during the uploading process.

When making your application through the Consular Service Portal, you will be asked to upload the following documents:

• valid passport (issued within the last 10 years and with at least 2 empty pages for visa) – page with your photo and personal details
• Proof of completion of vocational training
  This would be your confirmation of completion from a vocational school or a technical college or acknowledgement of your training in India. It must show what exactly you trained for, e. g. have a comprehensive list of subjects etc.

• If you have a professional training: Recognition of your training for Germany
  For more detailed info, please check Anerkennung in Deutschland

  For any clarification or query regarding recognition of your qualifications you can also visit this website by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce.

  More information on the general process can be found hereon the website Make it in Germany.

• If you intend to apply on the basis of your work experience:
  In order to be eligible for a visa to work on the basis of distinct previous work experience, you must meet the following requirement:

  • At least two years of work experience in line with the professional qualification and the intended job in Germany, obtained within the last five years
  • A professional training of at least two years duration that is recognized in the state where it was obtained
    OR
  • A university degree that does not meet the requirements for a work visa with an academic degree
    AND
  • You have an employment contract or work offer with a salary of at least 45.630,-- EUR annually

  You need to have either a “Statement on foreign professional qualifications” from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) which can be obtained online visa the ZAB website here OR anabin recognitions of your university degree and university or a Statement of Comparability by the ZAB
  You also need to upload proof of at least two years of professional experience in the form of written confirmation of your employer(s)

• ”Declaration regarding a contract of employment“ – Employment Declaration (Erklärung zum Beschäftigungsverhältnis) has to be completed by the future employer.
• CV (one page only) in a table, listing all previous activities, training, qualifications and jobs up to the date of the visa application
• Certificate about compulsory health insurance (Gesetzliche oder private Krankenversicherung) from German employer valid from date of employment. Please note: If not already included in the compulsory health insurance, a separate travel health insurance has to be presented for the time from arrival in Germany until beginning of employment.

Optional documents

• IF APPLICABLE - Professional practice license (Berufsausübungserlaubnis)
  issued by the relevant recognition body
  For certain regulated professions, a professional practice license is required, for example for medical doctors, engineers, teachers etc. A complete list of such professions can be found with the German Labour Office (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) or with the EU Commission). More information can also be found here
• IF APPLICABLE – Pre-approval from the foreigners' authority
  This is a special document of a “visa pre-approval” that can be obtained by your employer from the immigration authority. The German name is “Vorabzustimmung im Rahmen des beschleunigten Fachkräfteverfahrens gem. § 81a AufenthG”. It is not mandatory, but it will shorten the processing time.
• IF APPLICABLE - Pre-approval by the Federal Employment Agency
  Pre-approval by the Federal Employment Agency is not mandatory - it can however shorten the time to process your application.
• For applicants who are 45 years old or older and whose yearly salary is below 55.770,-- €: document of proof of adequate contribution to a German Pension fund / pension insurance.
• In “Other documents” you can upload additional relevant documents to support your application. Examples would be proof of knowledge of German or previous long-term German or EU visa or residence permit if you have previous long-term stays.

Please note that the German Missions reserve the right to ask for additional documents or the verification of certificates, for which additional fees would be charged.

Submission of the above-mentioned documents does not guarantee that a visa is granted.
Submission of incomplete documentation or refusal to appear for a visa interview may result in the rejection of your application.