Germany Courts Skilled Indian Workers After US H-1B Hike

Germany’s ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, publicly urged highly skilled Indians to consider work and study in Germany, describing its migration policy as “reliable, modern and predictable” and likening it to a German car. He highlighted job opportunities in IT, science, technology and management and noted that Indians in Germany often earn above the national average. The outreach comes as the United States announced a $100,000 H‑1B application fee that many say will hit early‑career Indian professionals hardest, prompting some to consider alternatives. Berlin has recently reformed its rules — including the Skilled Immigration Act — to streamline visas for professionals and graduates, and officials and analysts say Germany will need roughly 288,000 immigrants annually until 2040 to offset an aging workforce. The developments position Germany as a stable alternative amid U.S. policy uncertainty and underline growing migration competition between Western destinations for Indian tech talent.