Dr. Aswathi: A Kerala Dentist’s Long, Honest Road to Germany

Dr. Aswathi is a dentist from Kerala who studied BDS at Yenepoya in Bengaluru. After graduating, she worked for about a year and a half in Kerala. Like many young dentists, she found that a good salary in India was hard to come by. This is her journey as a Kerala dentist to Germany.

Today she has her German visa. Her story is useful for any dentist because she is honest about how long the road is.

Why Germany

Aswathi and her friends first looked at Australia, but it was too expensive. Then they learned about Germany. Compared with English-speaking countries, she says, the process is faster and less costly.

A slow process, explained honestly from the start

A friend suggested Welcare Overseas. Aswathi was anxious at first and wondered whether it was a scam. She got a number and called Vikas from the Welcare team.

What convinced her was that he did not oversell it. He told her it was not an easy process, that it would be slow and long, and that it would only be worth it for someone ready to work hard. He also explained that dentists do not go straight into a PG. They first pass exams like the FSP and KP. He showed her people who had already gone.

She then told her friend Dr. Neha, and they decided to do it together.

Learning German: tips from someone who did it

Aswathi took about one and a half to two years to learn German properly. She has two tips for anyone starting out.

First, take offline classes for at least A1 and A2 if you can, so you build a strong base. She studied online herself because she was working in clinics, but she recommends offline classes for the foundation.

Second, start speaking from the very beginning. “That was a mistake for us,” she says. “We didn’t start speaking.” Once you start speaking, you can flourish in German.

Staying calm during the wait

The process took time, and Aswathi admits she and her friends were anxious. Whenever she worried, she messaged the team and was told calmly that it would take time and that this was normal. That steady reassurance helped her accept the timeline.

“We were anxious people, and we became strong and confident about Germany.”

Six days to a visa

Once her Defizitbescheid arrived, things moved quickly. She did not have to handle translations or documentation herself; the team took care of it. The only things she arranged were her flight tickets and accommodation. Her visa came within six days.

When she was unsure about something on the day of her appointment, one call to the team sorted it.

A family moment

Aswathi is an only child. Her parents were anxious about the visa and took time to accept that the process would be slow. There is some sadness at seeing their only daughter leave, she says, but they are happy because she is levelling up professionally.

Her advice for any Kerala dentist to Germany

Aswathi now recommends Welcare to people at her college who ask how it went. Her message to other dentists: it will happen, but it is a slow process. If it takes time, you will still reach Germany.

For dentists who want an honest picture of the road ahead, her story is one of the most useful to watch.

Kerala dentist to Germany: the route at a glance

Aswathi was told from the start that the road would be slow. Here is what that road looks like. The figures below are the ones we quote on our dentist jobs and Dental PG in Germany page.

Step	What it involves
Who can apply	BDS from a DCI-recognised college (MDS is an advantage); freshers can apply; age 20–45
German level	B2 general German, then the C1 dental language exam (Fachsprachprüfung, FSP) at the state Dental Chamber
Recognition	Anerkennung of your BDS; the authority’s Defizitbescheid sets out what you must still do
Temporary licence	Berufserlaubnis, usually for up to 2 years, to work as an assistant dentist under supervision
Full licence	Approbation, the licence for life, once your degree is found equivalent or you pass the knowledge exam (Kenntnisprüfung, KP)
Salary (approx. gross)	Assistant dentist €4,000–€5,000 a month; after Approbation €5,000–€7,500; specialist (Fachzahnarzt) €10,000–€15,000
Specialisation	3–4 years of salaried training, for example orthodontics, oral surgery or periodontology
Residence	Dentists qualify for the EU Blue Card, with family reunion and a path to permanent residence

Want to know if your BDS profile qualifies? Get a free profile check or message our dental team on WhatsApp.

Step by step: the route from Kerala dentist to Germany

1. 1-on-1 counselling. We review your BDS, experience and German level and map out the licence route. Aswathi called the team, was told honestly that it would be slow, and decided to go ahead with her friend Dr. Neha.
2. German to B2. The longest step. Most dentists study for well over a year, often while still working in clinics. She studied online while working in clinics and recommends offline classes for A1 and A2.
3. Documents and Anerkennung. Degree, mark sheets, syllabus with hours, internship and council registration are translated and submitted. The authority replies with a Defizitbescheid. Our guide on how dentists with a foreign degree get licensed in Germany explains the recognition, FSP and KP steps in detail.
4. Visa. With the Defizitbescheid in hand, you apply for your visa at the German mission in India. Once her Defizitbescheid arrived, her visa came within six days; she only arranged flights and accommodation herself. Dr. Austin Jimmy, another BDS graduate from Kerala, received his Defizitbescheid in seven months, and Dr. Bhavya describes the same wait.
5. FSP and Berufserlaubnis. In Germany you prepare for and pass the C1 dental language exam, then start working as a paid assistant dentist on a temporary licence.
6. KP, Approbation and specialisation. You pass the knowledge exam, receive your Approbation and can begin paid specialist training or work towards your own practice.

Documents a BDS graduate needs

• BDS degree certificate and mark sheets of all years
• Internship completion certificate
• State Dental Council registration and Certificate of Good Standing
• Detailed syllabus with hours from your college
• Valid passport and photographs
• German language certificates (B2, later C1)
• Europass CV, motivation letter and two or more recommendation letters
• Police clearance and medical fitness certificate, with certified German translations

Aswathi’s tips and the mistakes she would avoid

• Not speaking German from day one. Aswathi calls this her own mistake. Speaking early makes everything easier.
• Building on a weak base. If you can, take offline classes for A1 and A2.
• Panicking during the wait. Long waits are normal; ask the team rather than assuming the worst.
• Picking Australia by default. She found it too expensive; Germany was faster and less costly.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• Recognition of foreign qualifications: Recognition in Germany (German government portal)
• Working in Germany as a skilled worker: Make it in Germany

Written by the Welcare Overseas team, Bengaluru, from Dr. Aswathi’s video interview. Last updated: 20 October 2026.