Germany Skilled Worker Visa for Indians: Routes and Documents

This guide sticks to what the German Missions in India and VFS Global publish; fees are as shown on those official sources, checked on 10 October 2026. Where an official page is silent, we say so rather than repeat figures from unofficial sites. For tourist and business visas, see our Germany visa guide for Indians.

Pick the employment category that matches your profile

The Consular Services Portal (CSP) lists national visa categories separately, and choosing the right one decides which checklist applies to you. These are the work-related categories the German missions in India publish:

Vocational training, studies and family reunion each have their own categories too. If you are unsure which line fits, read each category's checklist on the embassy site before you start the portal application.

Sponsor and salary rules: what the official pages cover

Every employment category above is framed as taking up employment, so your file is built around a job in Germany, and the employment checklist used for CSP uploads sets out the documents your category requires. Read it from your employer's side too, so that anything they need to provide is ready before your appointment.

On salary, use the figure for your exact category. German Missions in India publish these minimums: EUR 45,630 a year for employment on the basis of work experience; and for the EU Blue Card from 1 January 2026, EUR 50,700 a year, or EUR 45,934.20 for MINT and other shortage professions. Applicants aged 45 or older earning below EUR 55,770 a year must also show adequate pension provision. Thresholds quoted on agency websites may be out of date or describe a different category, so check the checklist linked from the German Missions' National Visa page.

From portal to appointment: the application route

1. Create your application on the Consular Services Portal where it is available, selecting the employment category you identified.
2. Upload documents following the embassy checklist for Employment.
3. Attend the on-site appointment with the German mission responsible for your place of residence. Unlike Schengen visas, you cannot pick any centre in India.
4. Carry your original degree certificate or final convocation certificate for your highest qualification; VFS Bangalore notes it is returned after verification.
5. Pay the fee in INR on the day, at that day's exchange rate.
6. Wait for the decision before booking non-refundable travel.

What the skilled worker visa costs

The embassy calls this a processing fee: it is payable in INR at the exchange rate on the day of your on-site appointment and is not reimbursed if the visa is refused. If your spouse or children are moving with you, note that "Family reunion - joining a spouse" and "Family reunion - children joining parents" are separate national visa categories with their own checklists.

How long it takes, and what is not published

The national visa processing time is not published on the mission pages we checked. The Schengen timelines you may see quoted (15 working days, or up to two weeks) apply to short-stay visas, not to work visas, so do not plan a joining date around them.

Two practical consequences follow. First, agree a realistic start date with your employer that leaves room for the appointment and decision. Second, keep a buffer before booking flights or giving notice to your current employer in India; a refusal also costs you the fee.

Mistakes that send skilled worker files back

• Applying for a Schengen business visa to start work. Schengen visas cover stays up to 90 days for purposes such as business meetings and trade fairs; taking up a job needs a national visa.
• Choosing the wrong category. A Blue Card category and a skilled worker category have different checklists. Match your qualification and offer to the category title before uploading.
• Booking at the wrong mission. The on-site appointment is for the mission responsible for your residence (at its VFS centre or the mission itself, depending on category), not any centre you choose.
• Forgetting originals. Bring the original degree or final convocation certificate along with the copies you uploaded.
• Relying on second-hand salary figures. Check the official national visa pages for your category instead.

Where Schengen rules still matter for skilled workers

Many professionals visit Germany for interviews or trade fairs before relocating. Those short trips use the Schengen visa (90 EUR / 9,900 INR for adults per the embassy, plus the VFS service fee of INR 1933) and can be lodged at any VFS centre in India, with decisions made by the Consulate General in Mumbai. Since June 2026, Indian nationals also no longer need an airport transit visa for a layover at a German airport.

For a short interview or business trip, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for all four together. Contact us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a Germany work visa at any VFS centre?

Not for the national visa. Schengen short-stay applications can be lodged at any VFS centre in India, but national (D) visas need an on-site appointment with the German mission responsible for your place of residence, after the online application on the Consular Services Portal where available.

Is the Opportunity Card the same as the skilled worker visa?

No. The German missions list the Opportunity card as its own national visa category, separate from the employment categories such as taking up employment as a skilled worker with professional training. Each has its own checklist.

Can my spouse apply at the same time?

Family reunion - joining a spouse is a separate national visa category on the Consular Services Portal, with its own checklist. The adult national visa fee is 75 EUR / 8300 INR; check the family reunion checklist for the documents needed.

Do I need my original degree certificate at the appointment?

VFS Bangalore states that student and employment applicants should bring the original degree certificate or final convocation certificate for their highest qualification, which is returned after verification.