Embassy of India in Berlin

Embassy of India in Berlin, Germany

Overview

The Embassy of India in Berlin serves as India's principal diplomatic mission in Germany, located on Tiergartenstraße in the Tiergarten district of central Berlin, near the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag. The embassy provides consular services to Indian nationals throughout Germany, processes visa applications for German residents traveling to India, and facilitates bilateral relations between India and Germany in areas including trade, technology cooperation, scientific research, cultural exchange, education, and defense cooperation. India and Germany maintain a Strategic Partnership covering political dialogue, economic cooperation, development collaboration, scientific research, climate action, and people-to-people exchanges. Germany is India's largest trading partner in the European Union and a major source of technology, investment, and development cooperation. The Indian diaspora in Germany numbers approximately 200,000 people, including students, IT professionals, engineers, researchers, doctors, business professionals, and families, concentrated primarily in major cities including Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and Düsseldorf.
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Visa Services

German citizens require a visa to enter India for all purposes including tourism, business, medical treatment, conferences, and family visits. India offers several visa categories through its e-Visa system (electronic visa) and traditional visa application process. The e-Visa is available for tourism, business, medical treatment, medical attendant, and conference purposes, allowing eligible travelers to apply online without visiting the embassy. E-Visas are processed electronically and approved within 2-4 business days for most applicants. Traditional visa applications for longer stays, work, study, research, journalism, employment, or other special purposes require submission through authorized visa application centers. All consular and visa services are currently processed through Alankitglobal, the embassy's official outsourcing partner (www.alankitglobal.com). Applicants must schedule appointments online, submit required documentation including passport with minimum 6 months validity, photographs meeting Indian visa specifications, travel itinerary, proof of financial means, and purpose-specific documents. Processing times vary by visa category: e-Visas typically within 2-4 days, regular tourist/business visas within 3-5 working days, and employment/long-stay visas may require several weeks. The embassy strongly recommends applying well in advance of planned travel. For current visa requirements, fees, and online applications, visit the official Indian visa website or contact Alankitglobal.
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Consular Services

The consular section provides comprehensive services for Indian nationals in Germany, including passport issuance and renewal (including emergency passports for lost/stolen documents), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card applications and services, Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card services, visa services for family members, birth registration for children born in Germany to Indian parents, attestation and legalization of documents for use in India, police clearance certificates, life certificates for pension beneficiaries living in Germany, notarial services including affidavits and powers of attorney, and emergency consular assistance for Indian citizens in distress. All passport and consular services must be submitted through Alankitglobal's visa and consular application centers. The Indian community in Germany is diverse and well-established, including highly skilled IT professionals (many working for German technology companies and SAP), engineers (particularly in automotive and manufacturing sectors), medical professionals, university students and researchers (Germany is a top destination for Indian students pursuing engineering and science degrees), entrepreneurs, and families. Document submission hours are 09:30-12:30, and collection is from 16:00-17:00 on working days. Emergency consular assistance is available for Indian nationals facing arrest, hospitalization, death of family members, or other urgent situations during office hours at +49 30 25795 0.
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Trade & Export Support

India and Germany maintain robust trade relations with Germany being India's largest trading partner in the European Union and India being Germany's second-largest trading partner in Asia (after China). German exports to India include machinery, automobiles and automotive components, electrical equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, optical and precision instruments, renewable energy technology, and industrial equipment, while India exports to Germany include textiles and garments, pharmaceuticals and generic medicines (India is a major supplier to German pharmaceutical market), IT services, leather goods, jewelry, automotive components (India is integrated into German automotive supply chains), chemicals, organic products, and tea. Bilateral trade exceeds €25 billion annually with strong growth potential. German companies have significant manufacturing presence in India, particularly in automotive (Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW), chemicals (BASF, Bayer), engineering (Siemens, Bosch), and technology sectors. The embassy's commercial wing supports Indian exporters seeking German market access and provides trade intelligence, market research, business matchmaking, and regulatory guidance. Germany's 'Made in Germany' reputation for quality engineering and India's competitive manufacturing, IT expertise, and skilled workforce create complementary strengths for industrial collaboration.
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Investment Opportunities

The embassy facilitates information exchange about investment opportunities in India for German companies and investors. India offers opportunities in sectors including information technology and software development, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, renewable energy (solar, wind, and green hydrogen - areas of German technological strength), automotive manufacturing and electric vehicles, chemicals and specialty chemicals, advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0 technologies, smart cities and urban infrastructure, railways and transportation infrastructure, and financial services. German expertise in engineering, automotive technology, renewable energy, environmental technology, and advanced manufacturing aligns with India's 'Make in India' initiative and infrastructure development priorities. Major German companies have substantial investments in India, and Indian companies have increasingly invested in Germany, particularly in IT services, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing sectors. The embassy provides guidance on India's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies, sector-specific regulations, investment procedures, and business operating environment. India offers a large domestic market of 1.4 billion people, growing middle class, competitive production costs, skilled English-speaking workforce, and increasingly business-friendly regulatory environment.
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Business Support

The embassy actively facilitates business relations between India and Germany through its commercial and economic wings. German companies exploring Indian markets can contact the embassy for market intelligence, regulatory guidance, sector-specific information, business contacts, and facilitation support. The embassy coordinates with German chambers of commerce (particularly the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce), industry associations (BDI, DIHK), and German business organizations to support bilateral commercial opportunities. Services include business matchmaking, information on investment procedures, facilitation of trade delegations, support for companies attending trade fairs (India participates in major German trade fairs including Hannover Messe, CeBIT, and specialized sector exhibitions), commercial dispute resolution support, and networking opportunities. The embassy also supports Indian businesses seeking German technology partnerships, investment opportunities, or market access in Germany and broader European Union. Key sectors of bilateral business cooperation include automotive and automotive components, renewable energy and green technology, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, IT and digital technology, engineering and manufacturing, biotechnology and life sciences, and financial services. Both countries collaborate extensively on Industry 4.0, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development technologies.
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Cultural & Educational Programs

India and Germany maintain extensive cultural and educational exchange programs facilitated by the embassy in coordination with organizations including the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Max Mueller Bhavan (Goethe-Institut), DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), and numerous universities. The embassy facilitates cultural events promoting Indian classical music, dance (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, and other classical forms), cinema (including Bollywood and regional film industries), yoga, literature, visual arts, and Indian festivals including Diwali, Holi, and the Festival of India celebrated in various German cities. Educational cooperation is robust with approximately 20,000 Indian students studying in German universities and technical institutes, primarily in engineering, computer science, natural sciences, and management. Germany's tuition-free or low-cost public universities, strong engineering and technical education, and English-language master's programs make it an attractive destination for Indian students. Academic collaboration includes university partnerships, joint research programs, student and faculty exchanges, and cooperation in science and technology research. The embassy supports scholarship programs including DAAD scholarships for Indian students and ICCR scholarships for German students. Cultural institutions including the Nehru Centre and various cultural associations organize regular events promoting Indian culture and fostering Indo-German friendship. Both countries collaborate on heritage conservation, archaeology, and museum cooperation.
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Service Area

The Embassy of India in Berlin has jurisdiction over all of Germany. Indian nationals and German residents requiring consular services should contact the embassy or the authorized visa application centers operated by Alankitglobal. For visa applications, passport services, OCI/PIO services, document attestation, and consular assistance, visit www.alankitglobal.com to schedule appointments and locate the nearest application center. Germany has Indian consulates general in Frankfurt (serving western Germany) and Munich (serving southern Germany) providing consular services in their respective regions, but the Berlin embassy oversees all diplomatic functions and maintains overall jurisdiction. Contact the consular section via telephone (+49 30 25795 0) or email (ca.berlin@mea.gov.in) for inquiries.
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Appointment Information

All consular and visa services require advance appointments scheduled through the authorized outsourcing partner Alankitglobal (www.alankitglobal.com). Walk-in services are not available except for genuine emergencies. Contact the embassy by telephone (+49 30 25795 0) or email for general information during office hours (Monday through Friday, 09:00-17:30). For consular services, schedule appointments online through Alankitglobal's website, which operates visa application centers in Berlin and other major German cities. When scheduling appointments, have ready your passport, details of the service required, and contact information. Document submission hours at application centers are 09:30-12:30, and collection hours are 16:00-17:00. Emergency consular assistance for Indian nationals in Germany is available through the embassy's main telephone line during office hours. For after-hours emergencies, the embassy provides emergency contact numbers on its website.
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Special Notes

The embassy is located at Tiergartenstraße 17, 10785 Berlin, in the Tiergarten district of central Berlin near the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag building. The location is accessible via U-Bahn: Bundestag station (U5) and bus routes M85, 100, and 200. The area is well-served by Berlin's public transportation network (BVG). Limited street parking is available; public transportation is recommended. Visitors must present valid government-issued photo identification (passport or German ID card) and pass security screening to enter the embassy. The embassy observes both Indian and German public holidays. India's Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) are major celebrations often open to the Indian community and friends of India. For current travel advisories, health recommendations, and entry requirements for India, contact the embassy or consult India's Ministry of External Affairs website and Germany's Auswärtiges Amt travel advice for India. The embassy can provide information about traveling to India, including visa requirements, health precautions (vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis for certain regions), cultural customs, and tourist destinations. India's diverse attractions include the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur), spiritual centers (Varanasi, Rishikesh), beaches (Goa, Kerala), Himalayan regions (Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand), wildlife sanctuaries, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and cultural festivals. Indian cuisine, yoga, and wellness tourism (Ayurveda) are particularly popular with German travelers. The embassy website maintains updated information on COVID-19 related travel requirements, health protocols, and quarantine regulations.
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