Indian students looking to explore career options in Germany can visit the country without paying any visa fee.
To help Indian students explore education and career options in Germany, India and Germany have agreed on providing Gratis Visas for short–term school and college visits to further promote student exchanges.
A gratis visa is a visa that is provided free of charge or with a cost waiver, usually for certain purposes or categories of travelers.
“The recent India-Germany agreement on gratis visas for student exchange programs would be a true game changer. The move, by removing the financial and logistic constraints of visa fees, will actually encourage thousands of young Indians to take up short-term academic programs and participate in cultural exchange and research collaborations,” says Sanjay Laul, Founder of MSM Unify.
According to data from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Germany ranks in fourth place in terms of international student numbers, behind the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Indian Students in Germany
Indian students wishing to study abroad are increasingly choosing Germany as their destination. Almost 2.9 million students are currently enrolled at higher education institutions in Germany (winter semester 2024/25).
The number of Indian students studying in Germany has increased by 15.1% in the last year, per the figures released by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany. During the 2023-2024 Winter Semester, 49,483 Indian students studied in Germany, 30% of them women. In the past five years, the number of Indian students studying in Germany has more than doubled.
Approximately 80% of students were engaged in master’s level studies, with Indian students showing a preference for STEM disciplines.
“Germany’s rise as the top choice for Indian students is not accidental. Affordability, a strong focus on employability and a high quality of education have helped Germany overtake traditional destinations like the U.S. and Canada,” says Laul.
Indian Students as Skilled Workers
International students on study visas in Germany can work up to 140 full days or 280 half-days annually without Federal Employment Agency approval. However, work restrictions are lifted during semester breaks.
The qualifications gained by Indian students in Germany are likely to match the standards of the German labor market, indicating a considerable potential for their recruitment as skilled workers.
Indian skilled workers also prefer settling in Germany as they have a relatively high stay rate. Five years after receiving their residence title, more than half of Indians are still in Germany, and in general, they are either working or continuing their studies there.