Germany: government seeks to facilitate immigration of skilled Indian workers

Featured image of the article Germany: government seeks to facilitate immigration of skilled Indian workers

An article by Thomas Schnee

Publication

15 January 2026 à 17h06

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3 minutes

Publication: 15 January 2026 à 17h06

Reading time: 3 minutes

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Cover image ©A l’occasion d’une visite en Inde en début de semaine, le chancelier Friedrich Merz n’a pas manqué d’aborder le dossier stratégique de l’accueil de la main-d'œuvre indienne en Allemagne et de signer des accords de coopération sur le sujet. Depuis 2020, le nombre de ressortissants indiens travaillant en Allemagne est passé de 40 000 à 155 000, pour la majorité dans les domaines scientifiques et techniques, face à un besoin croissant de personnel.
During a visit to India earlier this week, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the strategic importance of attracting Indian workers to Germany, signing a series of cooperation agreements on the issue. Since 2020, the number of Indian nationals employed in Germany has risen from 40,000 to 155,000, the majority working in scientific and technical roles, amid growing labour shortages.

An article by Thomas Schnee

Publication

15 January 2026 à 17h06

Reading time

3 minutes

Publication: 15 January 2026 à 17h06

Reading time: 3 minutes

Share
Copy link Share on LinkedIn Share on Bluesky Share on Facebook Share on WhatsApp
Add to reading list Remove from reading list
Cover image ©A l’occasion d’une visite en Inde en début de semaine, le chancelier Friedrich Merz n’a pas manqué d’aborder le dossier stratégique de l’accueil de la main-d'œuvre indienne en Allemagne et de signer des accords de coopération sur le sujet. Depuis 2020, le nombre de ressortissants indiens travaillant en Allemagne est passé de 40 000 à 155 000, pour la majorité dans les domaines scientifiques et techniques, face à un besoin croissant de personnel.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to remove “bureaucratic, linguistic and cultural barriers” and develop legal migration channels for skilled Indian workers. “Germany faces major challenges due to demographic change and the growing shortage of skilled labour. […] India offers great potential thanks to its young and well-educated population. Closer cooperation would be beneficial for both sides,” said Merz during a visit to Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, kee

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Article authors
Featured image of the article Thomas Schnee
Thomas Schnee Correspondent in Germany
Featured image of the article Thomas Schnee

As a Berlin correspondent for the French and Swiss press since the late 1990s, I cover a wide range of economic, political and social issues, with a particular focus on the German business and labour market. My areas of interest include co-determination, digitalisation, demographics and ESG/DEI policies.

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