Cost of Moving to Germany from India: What to Budget

Before calculating a total, identify the route you will use. Student applications have India-specific costs such as APS verification, university applications and proof of financing. A professional with a job offer may instead need degree recognition and an employment-related visa, while employer support can change the amount of personal cash required.

The figures in this guide are route-specific official figures available in the approved research as of 24 July 2026. They do not establish a universal budget for flights, rent, deposits, insurance, temporary accommodation, shipping, foreign-exchange costs or household setup.

For a stay in Germany longer than 90 days, Indian applicants generally use a German national visa. The German Missions in India list the national-visa fee as INR 8,100 / EUR 75 for applicants over 18 and INR 4,100 / EUR 37.50 for applicants under 18. The fee is non-refundable, and an additional external service-provider fee may apply; the approved source does not state that provider fee’s amount.

The APS India individual-procedure leaflet gives an APS verification fee of INR 18,000 and says it is non-refundable once paid. The leaflet is marked valid as of June 2026, so check the current APS instructions and your applicant category before payment.

If your university application is handled through uni-assist, the current handling fee is EUR 75 for the first chosen course in a semester and EUR 30 for every additional chosen course in that semester. Some universities pay the fee for applicants, and the fee applies regardless of the evaluation result.

For the study route, the official 2026 proof-of-funds benchmark is EUR 11,904 in a blocked account. The Federal Foreign Office also lists alternatives including parental income and financial circumstances, a formal declaration of commitment, an annually renewable German bank guarantee and certain qualifying scholarships. Check which option your case and application instructions accept before relying on it.

A professional moving with an academic degree should not use the student blocked-account figure as an automatic requirement. The German Missions in India states that degree recognition may require anabin confirmation or a ZAB Statement of Comparability, depending on the application and documentation.

For 2026, the same official page lists EU Blue Card salary thresholds of EUR 45,934.20 for MINT and other shortage professions and EUR 50,700 for other professions. These are employment-eligibility figures, not relocation costs and not amounts that must be deposited for the move.

The official federal guidance lists an entry-visa fee of EUR 75. A first residence-permit or EU Blue Card application can cost up to EUR 100, but the exact amount should be confirmed with the responsible local foreigners authority.

Your personal budget may be different if your employment contract includes relocation support, temporary housing or travel support. The available research does not establish a standard employer package, so treat any support as something to verify in writing rather than as an assumed reduction.

A complete moving budget also needs lines for travel from India, temporary accommodation, a housing deposit, initial rent, insurance, food, local transport, documents, currency conversion, remittance charges and household setup. The approved official research does not provide current universal figures for these items, and they can vary by city, accommodation, university, employer and household size.

Do not copy a broad agency estimate and present it as an official requirement. In particular, the available secondary ranking page contains market estimates and assumptions rather than responsible-body requirements, so its all-in INR ranges have not been used here.

For a family move, add separate lines for each dependent’s travel and immigration arrangements, housing size, school or childcare needs and insurance arrangements only after checking the applicable authorities and providers. The approved research does not establish current amounts for those categories.

Your worksheet should distinguish non-refundable payments from money that remains available for your use. The national visa fee and APS fee are non-refundable according to the approved official sources. Uni-assist fees are handling fees and apply regardless of the evaluation result, although some universities cover them.

A blocked account is different from an ordinary fee: the Federal Foreign Office describes it as proof of financial support intended to cover daily living costs, with a monthly withdrawal limit and additional banking fees. It should not be counted as a second annual tuition charge.

Housing deposits and other accommodation balances may require separate treatment, but the approved research does not provide current figures or universal refund conditions. Confirm the amount, payment timing and return conditions directly with the housing provider before including them in your final cash requirement.

Before transferring money, identify the recipient, the currency, the purpose of payment and whether the amount is refundable. Ask your bank or remittance provider to explain the exchange rate, transfer charges and any other deductions rather than assuming the displayed EUR amount is the final INR cost.

For a blocked account, check the provider’s current conditions and banking fees. For university, APS, visa and residence-related payments, use the instructions of the responsible organisation or authority and retain receipts and confirmation documents.

Keep two totals in your worksheet: the amount that must be available or paid before departure, and the amount that represents your continuing living budget after arrival. This prevents a proof-of-funds figure from being mistaken for the full cost of moving.