Dr. Bhavya’s Germany Visa: The Phone Call That Saved Her Application

Dr. Bhavya is a dentist from Kerala. She completed her BDS in Pune, did a fellowship, and then worked in a private clinic for about two and a half years. When she began looking at options to move to Germany, she found Welcare Overseas and called the number on the website. It connected her to Dr. Naresh Bhati. Her Germany visa for dentists came down to one phone call.

Her team explained the whole process clearly, and that is how her journey began.

The hardest part: waiting

For dentists moving to Germany, a key document is the Defizitbescheid, the letter from the German authorities that sets out what a foreign dentist must do to get licensed. Bhavya says the only truly difficult phase was waiting for it.

That wait is not in anyone’s hands. Once the documents are submitted, there is little communication from the German side. You simply have to be patient.

What helped was what happened next. As soon as her Defizitbescheid arrived, she had a visa appointment slot the same day. The team connected her with the people handling her visa process and her blocked account. She says she always knew exactly what to do next.

Her Germany visa for dentists: the appointment that nearly went wrong

On the day of her visa appointment, the staff at the visa centre were confused by her case. She was not a master’s student, and she was not an ordinary language-school student either. They did not know how to process her documents and were about to reject her application.

Bhavya called Dr. Bhati from the visa office. He picked up and personally explained to the officer how cases for dentists and doctors are different. After that, they accepted her documents.

Dr. Bhati says this happens sometimes: new staff join the visa centre and are not yet familiar with these categories. Experience with many such cases means the team knows how to explain them.

Transparency at every step

Asked whether anything in the process was ever hidden from her, Bhavya says no.

“At every step I was explained what you are doing and what I should expect. Everything was explained very clearly.”

She adds that every rupee she paid was accounted for. She always knew what she was paying for and why.

Why go through an agency at all?

Bhavya makes a point every dentist should hear. Most information about this process is in German. Once you send your documents, the authorities go quiet during the waiting period. All of that creates uncertainty and stress.

With an experienced team, she says, you have someone to ask. They have sent many students to Germany, they can clarify every doubt, and you don’t carry the stress of the bureaucracy and paperwork yourself.

What’s next

Bhavya was due to travel to Germany on 14 March, with her father proud and relieved that her dream was coming true. She recommends that dentists speak to people who have already gone through Welcare. “Everyone will tell you it is a great experience,” she says, “and very transparent throughout.”

Her story is a reminder that one well-informed phone call at the right moment can make the difference between rejection and a visa.

Germany visa for dentists: the route at a glance

Bhavya’s visa nearly went wrong at the appointment. Here is the route, and where visa cases for dentists differ. 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 dentist team on WhatsApp.

Step by step: getting a Germany visa for dentists

1. 1-on-1 counselling. We review your BDS, experience and German level and map out the licence route.
2. German to B2. The longest step. Most dentists study for well over a year, often while still working in clinics.
3. Documents and Anerkennung. Degree, mark sheets, syllabus with hours, internship and council registration are translated and submitted. The authority replies with a Defizitbescheid. Bhavya says waiting for the Defizitbescheid was the only truly hard phase; the German side says little during that time. Our guide Can dentists work in Germany with a foreign degree? explains the licence route.
4. Visa. With the Defizitbescheid in hand, you apply for your visa at the German mission in India. At her appointment, staff were unsure how to classify her case; one call from Dr. Bhati explained it and her documents were accepted. Dr. Aswathi from Kerala got her visa six days after her Defizitbescheid.
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 that put a dentist’s visa at risk

• Going to the appointment without a contact to call. New visa-centre staff may not know these cases.
• Assuming silence means a problem. The authorities go quiet during the wait; that is normal.
• Not knowing what you are paying for. Bhavya knew where every rupee went.
• Missing the slot after the Defizitbescheid. Having the visa slot ready saved her weeks.

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. Bhavya’s video interview. Last updated: 20 October 2026.