Dr. Austin Jimmy: Why This Kerala Dentist Chose Germany over the UK and Canada

Dr. Austin Jimmy is a dentist from Kerala who studied BDS at Yenepoya Dental College in Mangalore. Even during his internship, he knew he wanted to work abroad. What he did not know yet was where. In the end, he chose to build his career as a dentist in Germany from Kerala.

Today he has his German visa and is moving to Germany to take the FSP and KP exams, earn his licence to practise and, later, specialise.

Comparing the UK, Canada, Australia and Germany

Austin did not pick Germany at random. He researched the UK, Canada and Australia first. His conclusion was that most of them were saturated with dentists like him, and the competition was very high.

Then he looked at Germany. The main barrier there is the German language, and most people hesitate because of it. Austin saw that as an opportunity. “Not everyone chooses that,” he says, “so I thought it would be an interesting pathway.”

His advice to other dentists is to do the same homework. Don’t choose Germany just because everyone else is going. Know the positives and negatives, have a clear aim, and then commit. He has seen people drop out after two or three months, saying Germany is too hard.

Checking that it was genuine

Austin heard about Welcare Overseas from his roommate, who was also preparing to go abroad. With so many scam stories around, he wanted to see for himself. In 2024 he visited the Bengaluru office with his father.

What convinced him was transparency. Every step and every part of the process was explained to him clearly. He cross-checked the information with other platforms and found it matched. Step by step, the trust grew.

A straightforward documentation process

For dentists, a key milestone is the Defizitbescheid, the official letter from the German authorities that sets out what you need to do to get your licence. Austin received his within seven months of applying.

The only hiccup came after he applied for the visa: a delay on the embassy’s side, which no agency controls. With the team’s support he got through it, and his visa arrived about a week before we filmed his story.

Learning German, honestly

Austin is frank about the language. Up to B1, he found it fairly similar to English and manageable. At B1, the grammar and vocabulary pile up and you may feel exhausted.

“That is okay. Everybody goes through it. If you keep moving on, you will finally finish B1, then B2, then C1. It is achievable for anyone.”

His verdict on becoming a dentist in Germany from Kerala

“I have chosen a pretty good agency,” Austin says. “They are helpful in every step and for every issue they are always there.” He has already referred many of his college colleagues to Welcare.

What’s next

Austin moves to Germany to prepare for the FSP (the medical language exam) and the KP (the knowledge test). After that comes Approbation, the full licence to practise as a dentist in Germany, and then postgraduate dentistry.

For BDS graduates weighing up the UK, Canada or Australia, his story is worth reading twice. The route through Germany asks for a language, but it rewards those who are willing to learn it.

Dentist in Germany from Kerala: the route at a glance

Austin’s story shows one dentist’s choices. Here is the full route a BDS graduate from Kerala follows. 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

Step by step: how to become a dentist in Germany from Kerala

1. 1-on-1 counselling. We review your BDS, experience and German level and map out the licence route. Austin first visited the Bengaluru office with his father in 2024 and cross-checked everything he was told.
2. German to B2. The longest step. Most dentists study for well over a year, often while still working in clinics. He found German manageable up to B1 and tiring after that, and kept going.
3. Documents and Anerkennung. Degree, mark sheets, syllabus with hours, internship and council registration are translated and submitted. The authority replies with a Defizitbescheid. His Defizitbescheid arrived within seven months of applying.
4. Visa. With the Defizitbescheid in hand, you apply for your visa at the German mission in India. His only delay came from the embassy side, and his visa arrived about a week before we filmed him.
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

Mistakes Austin avoided, and you should too

• Choosing a country because everyone else is going there. Austin compared the UK, Canada and Australia first and found them crowded with dentists.
• Quitting German at B1. That is where the grammar piles up and many people drop out. Austin says it is normal to feel exhausted and to push on.
• Trusting an agency without checking. He visited the office, asked questions and compared the answers with other sources before committing.
• Expecting to start a PG straight away. Dentists first pass the FSP and KP; specialisation comes after Approbation.

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. Austin Jimmy’s video interview. Last updated: 20 October 2026.