Key takeaways
  • Searching from India costs little but takes patience and remote interviews.
  • Moving first with the Opportunity Card gives you local presence but costs savings.
  • Experienced professionals often succeed from India; career changers benefit more from being on site.
  • Decide with numbers: savings, timeline and your profile.

This is one of the most important decisions in a move to Europe. Both routes work; they suit different people.

The two routes

From IndiaLow cost, keep your income, remote interviews
Move firstLocal presence, faster interviews, costs savings
Opportunity CardUp to a year to search in Germany, part time work allowed
Proof of funds€1,091 a month in 2026

Who each route suits

  • From India: experienced professionals in demand fields, with a strong CV and interview skills.
  • Move first: people who need local networking, career changers, and fields where employers prefer local candidates.

How to decide

  1. Count your savings. Can you live for six to twelve months without a full time salary?
  2. Test the market from India first. Three months of strong applications tell you a lot.
  3. Check your points. Use my Opportunity Card calculator.
  4. Plan German. On site job searches go much better with A2 or B1.

Common questions

Can I work on the Opportunity Card?

Yes, part time up to 20 hours a week, plus trial work.

Is moving first risky?

It costs savings and gives no guarantee. Plan your budget and timeline.

Do employers prefer candidates in Germany?

Some do, especially smaller companies. Being local removes a hurdle.

Free PDF: Opportunity Card: points, money and first stepsDownload it free in under a minute, or send OC to @swapnil_in_germany on Instagram.

Sources

Written by Swapnil (Samadhan Mule)

I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.