Germany's India visa quota rose from 20,000 to 90,000

Germany has raised its yearly quota of skilled-worker visas for Indians from 20,000 to 90,000. At the same time, Volkswagen, Schaeffler and SUSE are cutting jobs. If you search for IT jobs in Germany as an Indian software engineer, you see both sides at once.

Germany also needs about 400,000 new skilled workers every year. This article explains why layoffs and shortages happen together, and where you can look for work.

Why is Germany hiring Indians while big companies cut jobs?

The layoffs and the shortage come from two different problems. The layoffs hit car makers, parts suppliers and some tech firms. The economy is not growing, and these industries are shrinking.

The shortage is about age. Germany's population is getting older, and not enough young people are entering many professions. One company cutting staff does not close that gap.

So a software engineer who loses a job at a car supplier is not facing an empty market. The demand has moved to other sectors.

What has Germany changed for Indian workers?

The government runs a plan called Fokus auf Indien (Focus on India). Its Skilled Labour Strategy: India has 30 new measures to make moving easier for Indians. Germany has made such a dedicated plan for no other country.

Here are the main changes:

• The yearly quota (the limit on visas) for skilled workers from India went from 20,000 to 90,000.
• Germany wants to cut visa processing to as little as 2 weeks in some cases. This is a target, not a promise for every file.
• Applications are going digital, and some steps no longer need a visit to the consulate.

You can read the official background on the Federal Foreign Office page on the Indo-German consultations.

The UK, Canada and Australia have recently made their visa and student visa rules tighter. Germany is going the other way, with lower salary limits and many English-speaking IT roles.

Are there still IT jobs in Germany for Indian software engineers?

Yes, but not everywhere. Software engineers, data scientists and AI specialists are still in demand outside the car industry. Green tech, logistics and healthcare still need them.

My advice: stop searching only by company name. Search by the skills you have. A green tech firm, a hospital software team or a logistics company may need the same coding skills that a car supplier did.

Engineers are in the same position. Engineering is on the shortage list, so you can use the lower salary limit described below.

What about nurses and trades?

Hospitals and elder care homes want Indian nurses. Trades such as butchery and construction also struggle to find young local workers. For these jobs, Germany offers Ausbildung (vocational training that prepares you for a trade or care job). If you are not in IT, this is a real route.

What are the Blue Card salary limits for 2026?

The EU Blue Card is a residence permit for skilled workers. It depends on your gross annual salary (your pay before tax). As of 2026, there are two limits.

There is one more rule for IT. If you are an IT specialist with 3 years of relevant experience, you can get a Blue Card even without a university degree. Our post on which Blue Card threshold is yours helps you check your case.

To see if your job counts, open the Make it in Germany portal. It lists more than 70 shortage occupations.

What should you do if your employer cuts your job?

Act right away. The steps are short.

1. Register as a jobseeker with the Agentur für Arbeit (the Federal Employment Agency).
2. Tell your local Ausländerbehörde (the foreigners' office that manages your residence permit).
3. Use your 6-month grace period to find a new job. You keep your residence status during this time. Read our post on the 6-month rule for details.

You can also read what we wrote for affected staff at Schaeffler.

How can you prepare for the next job?

Your German work experience is a big asset. Because demand for talent is still high, you can move into a shortage sector and stay in Germany instead of going back to India.

Check your degree early. The Anabin database is a German database of foreign universities. The Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (ZAB) is the office that checks foreign degrees. Either one can help confirm that your Indian degree counts.

IT professionals with enough work experience can often skip strict recognition.

If you have no job offer yet, look at the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card). It lets you stay one year to look for work. You need proof of funds and basic language skills: German A1 or English B2. Our post on the Chancenkarte for Indian applicants shows how the points work.

Is this good news for you?

Mostly yes. Demand for skilled people is real, but a move to a new sector still takes work.

Your next step today is simple. Open Make it in Germany and check whether your job is a shortage occupation. Then write down the salary limit that fits you.

Cover photo: olia danilevich on Pexels