Immigration. Travel. Living.

India: Immigration to Europe

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India has the highest number of migrants in the world. In 2015, 15.6 million people born in India migrated to other countries. The number of Indian migrants in the international community has tripled in the past 3 decades. The total number of Indian migrants makes up more than half of the world’s total migrant population.

Most of India’s migrants reside in three major countries: the United States, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates. Close to 3.5 million Indians live in the UAE, which makes it the most sought-after travel destination for Indian migrants. 

Why do migrants from India move to Europe?

Since 1980, over 7 million Indians have migrated to other countries to find jobs as laborers or business owners. A lot of the Indians have moved to Europe because of high poverty levels, densely populated areas, the 1947 partition of India, and cultural/status competition among the migrant communities.

One of the main reasons why a lot of Indians migrated to the UK was because of its stable economy. Indians find the economic conditions in England favorable because returning migrants come back home with cars and cash. This leads to unnecessary competition among families and communities.

Best ways to immigrate to Europe from India

EU nationals and citizens of the United States of America, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Israel, Japan, and New Zealand do not need to apply for a work visa if they plan on working in Europe. They only need to obtain a residence or/and work permit upon arrival.

Indians are not entitled to benefits from these benefits. But they can still live, work or study in Europe if their visa application is approved. There are a lot of ways to get a resident permit [temporary or permanent] in any European country, depending on the policy adopted by the country and the reason for your application.

You may come to any EU country as a student, employer, employee, investor, or following your spouse with a dependent visa. The entire process depends on the country and your wants as an Indian immigrant. 

Indians and citizens of other countries must possess a work visa before they can be allowed to enter Schengen territories for work purposes. If you are new to this process, consult an expert or send us an email and we’ll be glad to help.

All Schengen area countries also have study visas that allow you to study in any recognized university program. You can also marry an EU citizen and obtain permanent residency for free and even citizenship.

The European Union itself is a regional union and doesn’t grant citizenship. Every member state in the European Union has its policy, regime, and regulations for taxes, employments for migrants, residency status and citizenship process.

Documents for European work visa

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Apart from a travel visa, you will need a handful of official documents before you can immigrate to Europe from India. Once you meet the requirements, these are the documents you need to be submitted before your application can be reviewed.

 The specific documents needed for an EU work visa and resident permit are stated below:

  • Application Form – You need to pay a non-refundable fee of €100- €2,000 [depending on the country and document type] before you can obtain an application.
  • Proof of language knowledge – You need to know the language of the EU country you want to reside or work in before your application can be approved.
  • Two identical photos – According to the Schengen visa photography criteria, these photographs should not be more than three months old).
  • A valid passport – The passport you used in applying should not be older than 10 years and must be valid for at least 3 more months.
  • Travel medical insurance.
  • Proof of Accommodation.
  • Employment contract.
  • Proof of Academic Qualifications (diplomas, certificates).

If you are an Indian migrant and plan to get a job, study, marry, obtain permanent residency or citizenship in an EU member state, visit a consulate or embassy close to you to find out how their system works. You should also read extensively about the policies and benefit offered to migrants in that country.

Top 3 countries in EU for Indians

If you’re an Indian looking for easy naturalization in any EU country, these are the best three countries in Europe for you.

1. Germany

Germany is one of the best countries for Indians planning on starting a business and residing in Europe. It boasts of modern cities, strong manufacturing & tech sectors, and several vibrant and diverse cultural interactions. As an Indian migrant, you can easily start a business here or get employed without any work experience.

Job-Seeker visa is available to migrants looking for a job in Germany. It is valid for 6 months and allows migrants to find a job with a minimum annual income of €40,000 within its validity time frame.

2. France

France happens to be one of the favorite tourist destinations in the world. France also has the best health and welfare system in Europe. This is a nice place to live as an Indian migrant especially for students that want to come to Europe to study. Taxes here are pretty ok on students from other countries and there are fewer religious or ethnic clashes here.

3. The Netherlands

If you want to move to an immigrant-friendly country in Europe that speaks English then the Netherlands is the place for you. Just like in the UK, English is widely spoken here and it is easier to get employed, with basic educational background.

Make sure you contact the closest embassy and perform in-depth online research before you begin your application. EU visas can take up to 6 weeks to process. So make sure that you apply for an EU work visa at least two months before your arrival. Good luck!

Contact us to learn about the guaranteed solutions for residence permit obtaining in EU.

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