Fed Up With US Visa Hurdles, Indian Students Opt For Germany, As Numbers Triple Since 2022

Last Updated:August 22, 2025, 23:16 IST

The surge for Germany comes at a time when delays and tighter scrutiny in the US visa process have left many Indian students anxious about their academic future

Members of the Indian community during ‘Bharat Parade’, organised to celebrate India’s 79th Independence Day, at Brandenburg Gaten in Berlin. (PTI file photo)

With Indian students struggling to secure US student visa appointments, Germany has rapidly emerged as a preferred destination for higher education.

Enrolments of Indian students in German universities have tripled since 2022, crossing the 60,000 mark this year.

German ambassador to India Dr Philipp Ackermann on Friday said about 20% more Indian students have enrolled for higher education in his country this year than last.

Numbers up

Indian government data shows the number of Indian students in Germany rose steadily from about 20,684 in 2022 to nearly 35,000 in 2024—and has now jumped to around 60,000 this year, almost doubling in just one year and tripling since 2022. There were 23,296 Indian students in Germany in 2023.

The Indian government numbers were based on the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) data and cover those who have disclosed their purpose of visit as study or education while going abroad during the year.

Last year, Germany said that Indian students formed the largest international community there for the second year in a row.

The numbers from DAAD—German Academic Exchange Service—sourced from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, said that there were 49,483 Indian students enrolled in the country for the Winter Semester 2023-2024, showing a growth of 15.1% over the last year.

The earlier numbers from DAAD show that in the pre-Covid years, there were 20,810 Indian students in Germany and 25,149 in 2019. In 2020, a total of 28,905 Indian students were in Germany.

The breakup shows that 60% of these students were enrolled for engineering, 21% for law, management and social studies, and 13% for mathematics and natural sciences.

The surge for Germany comes at a time when delays and tighter scrutiny in the US visa process have left many Indian students anxious about their academic future.

US visa row

Last month, the ministry of external affairs told Parliament that it has received several representations from Indian students and their families flagging difficulty in obtaining student visa appointments.

The ministry said it took up the matter with the US embassy in New Delhi as well as the US Department of State (DOS).

The issue started after June 18, when the US DOS announced the expanded screening and vetting for visa applicants. Now, DOS is using all available information—including online presence—in its visa screening and vetting to identify visa applicants who are inadmissible to the United States, including those who pose a threat to US national security.

Citing the new rules from DOS, the MEA had said that “every visa adjudication is a national security decision and that the US must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and US national interests.”

All applicants need to credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities that are consistent with the terms for their admission.

The Indian government was told by the US that additional security requirements for student visas have further reduced the capacity of the US embassy and consulates in India to process visas.

“However, student visa appointments are now open,” it said.

The MEA also said that the US embassy is working to open a limited number of additional student visa appointments through the end of August in recognition of the urgent need for these appointments before the start of the new academic year.

The US embassy is developing a student visa fact sheet with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that should help reduce uncertainty around this issue, the MEA added.

While the US has promised to ease visa bottlenecks in the coming months, the steady rise of Indian students in Germany suggests that many are already exploring alternatives beyond traditional destinations.

Nivedita Singh

Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More

Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More

Read More