Moving & living guides
Indians abroad, city by city
One long page per place for Indians and South Asians: the paperwork, housing, healthcare, groceries, temples, schools and community, written by the Namaste Community desk from official sources and checked on a date you can see.
- guides
- 44
- countries
- 12
- sections
- 619
- last checked
- 10 Oct 2026
How these guides are made
01
Checked and dated
Every guide carries the date it was last checked, and says so at the top.
02
Official sources
Fees, thresholds and rules come from the government pages listed at the end of each guide.
03
Readers keep it current
Every section has a “Correct or add” link. Reports go to the admins and are verified before the page changes.
04
Indians and South Asians
Nepali, Sri Lankan, Pakistani and Bangladeshi neighbours are named on every page, with their own temples, shops and groups.
Belgium
6 guides · Brussels, Ghent, Leuven, Antwerp, Mechelen
Country guide · 21 sections · 49 min read
Indians in Belgium: the 2026 guide to moving, settling in and finding your people
38,159 overseas Indians live in Belgium. Where they live, the single permit and D visa, Flanders versus Brussels versus Wallonia, rents, tax, temples, festivals and schools — for Indians and South Asians, checked Sep 2026.
The national rules once — permits, tax, healthcare, driving, schools — so the city guides can stay local.
Checked September 27, 2026Start here →
City guide · 19 sections · 54 min
Brussels
About 7,000 Indians live in Brussels, most in Evere, Etterbeek, Ixelles and the Woluwes. Commune registration, permits, rents, temples, grocers, schools and festivals — for Indians and South Asians, checked Sep 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 15 sections · 23 min
Ghent
Ghent has about 200 Indian students at UGent and a growing biotech and tech workforce. Registering at Stad Gent, rents and kots, tuition, the gurdwara, Himalaya Exotic, restaurants, cricket — for Indians and South Asians, checked Sep 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 15 sections · 25 min
Leuven
Leuven has Belgium’s largest Indian student community — 400+ a year at KU Leuven — plus imec and the research park. Registering, kots and rents, fees, ISAL, the Ganesh festival, Nepali restaurants, the nearest temple — for Indians and South Asians, checked Sep 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 14 sections · 21 min
Antwerp
Antwerp has Belgium’s oldest Indian community — the Gujarati Jain diamond families — plus the port, chemicals and the university. Registering in Deurne, rents, the Jain temple and BAPS mandir, the gurdwara, grocers, the AIA, cricket, schools. For Indians and South Asians, checked Sep 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 17 sections · 37 min
Mechelen
Indians in Mechelen: registering at the Huis van de Mechelaar, rents and house prices, schools, cricket, nearby temples and daily life. Checked Sep 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
Luxembourg
2 guides · Luxembourg City
Country guide · 16 sections · 29 min read
Indians in Luxembourg: the 2026 guide to moving, working and settling in the Grand Duchy
5,728 Indians live in Luxembourg, the fastest-growing non-EU community. The new visa D route, Blue Card €65,652, rents, free transport, licence conversion, schools, temples, festivals — for Indians and South Asians, checked Sep 2026.
The national rules once — permits, tax, healthcare, driving, schools — so the city guides can stay local.
Checked October 3, 2026Start here →
The Netherlands
10 guides · Amsterdam, Amstelveen, The Hague, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Utrecht
Country guide · 19 sections · 35 min read
Indians in the Netherlands: the 2026 guide to the knowledge-migrant permit, the 30% ruling, housing and the community
99,014 people of Indian background live in the Netherlands, and Indians are the #1 nationality for the highly skilled migrant permit. Thresholds 2026, the 30% ruling, BSN, health insurance, rents and the rent laws, temples, festivals, the six cities — for Indians and South Asians, checked Sep 2026.
The national rules once — permits, tax, healthcare, driving, schools — so the city guides can stay local.
Checked September 27, 2026Start here →
City guide · 16 sections · 41 min
Amsterdam
Amsterdam has 10,895 residents of Indian background, the most in the Netherlands. Where they live, registering, 2026 rents, mandirs, schools, festivals.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 16 sections · 38 min
Amstelveen
Amstelveen is 6% Indian: 5,955 residents of Indian background, five Indian supermarkets, Diwali on the Handelsplein 31 Oct 2026. Wijken, rents, schools.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 15 sections · 39 min
The Hague
Indians in The Hague: 6,407 residents of Indian background, the Hindustani heart of the Netherlands, nine mandirs, the Paul Krugerlaan, rents, schools, 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 15 sections · 39 min
Eindhoven
9,507 Indians in the ASML city: Meerhoven rents, the Holland Expat Center South, temples, grocers, GPs, taxes and the 2026 festival dates. Checked Sep 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 15 sections · 37 min
Rotterdam
Indians in Rotterdam: 4,548 residents of Indian background, eight mandirs incl. the oldest in the country, rents per wijk, 2026 taxes, schools, APNA Divali.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 16 sections · 37 min
Utrecht
Utrecht’s 5,098 Indians: Leidsche Rijn rents by district, International Center hours, temples, Panjab Supermarket and Diwali on 1 Nov 2026. Checked Sep 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 35 min
Jobs in the Netherlands for Indians (2026): the kennismigrant permit, the 30% ruling, where to look, salaries and the honest odds
How Indians get hired in the Netherlands in 2026: the €5,942 kennismigrant floor, recognised sponsors, the 30% ruling and 27% cut, salaries, net pay and scams.
Checked October 10, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 38 min
OCI card from the Netherlands (2026): naturalisation, surrender, the Embassy in The Hague, documents, fees and the e-OCI
OCI card from the Netherlands in 2026: no VFS since June 2025, the Embassy’s own counters in The Hague, €266, about three months, surrender first, the e-OCI.
Checked October 10, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 37 min
Indian passport renewal in the Netherlands (2026): the embassy’s own counters, the new fees, documents, children and lost passports
Renew an Indian passport in the Netherlands: the embassy in The Hague (no VFS since June 2025), €110 after 1 July 2026, documents, children, lost passports.
Checked October 10, 2026Read the guide →
The UK
9 guides · London, Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh
Country guide · 18 sections · 68 min read
Indians in the UK: the 2026 guide to visas, settling in and finding your people
1.86 million Indians live in England and Wales. Visas and fees, settlement, renting, tax, the NHS, driving, schools, temples and festivals — checked Sep 2026.
The national rules once — permits, tax, healthcare, driving, schools — so the city guides can stay local.
Checked September 27, 2026Start here →
City guide · 18 sections · 69 min
London
656,000 Indians live in London, from Harrow and Wembley to Southall and Ilford. 2026 rents, TfL fares, schools, temples, festivals, VFS and scams.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 16 sections · 44 min
Leicester
Leicester is 34% Indian (126,421 people, 2021). Belgrave, the Golden Mile, Rushey Mead, Oadby, rents, buses, temples, schools, Diwali 2026 — checked Sep 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 16 sections · 49 min
Birmingham
Birmingham has 66,989 Indians (2021), most in Handsworth Wood and Holyhead, and the UK’s largest Pakistani community. Rents, nBus, CAZ, temples, Diwali 2026.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 16 sections · 43 min
Manchester
Where Indians live in Manchester, 2026 rents and council tax, £2 buses, the temples and gurdwaras, the Mega Mela, Navratri and Diwali, schools and jobs.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
City guide · 16 sections · 44 min
Edinburgh
Where Indians live in Edinburgh, 2026 rents, council tax with water, Scottish tax bands, Lothian fares, the Leith mandir and gurdwara, Diwali, schools, jobs.
Checked September 27, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 27 min
Jobs in the UK for Indians (2026): sponsorship, where to look, salaries and the honest odds
How Indians actually get hired in the UK in 2026: the £41,700 sponsorship floor, the four routes that work, the sponsor register, CVs, salaries, the NHS and the scams to avoid.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 11 sections · 23 min
OCI card from the UK (2026): who qualifies, renunciation, VFS, documents, fees and the new e-OCI
How to get the Overseas Citizen of India card from the UK in 2026: eligibility, surrendering the Indian passport, the portal and VFS, the documents, £247.78 all-in, 6–8 weeks, and the e-OCI rules.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 11 sections · 22 min
Indian passport renewal in the UK (2026): VFS, the new fees, documents, tatkal, children and lost passports
How to renew an Indian passport from the UK in 2026: the Passport Seva portal and VFS, the fees after the 1 July 2026 revision (£93 normal, £185 tatkal, plus ICWF and VFS), documents, children, police verification and timelines.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Germany
3 guides
Topic guide · 13 sections · 31 min
Jobs in Germany for Indians (2026): the Blue Card, the Opportunity Card, where to look, salaries and the honest odds
How Indians get hired in Germany in 2026: the €50,700 Blue Card floor, the Opportunity Card points, anabin, where the jobs are, salaries, nurses and the scams.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 37 min
OCI card from Germany (2026): dual citizenship, surrender, the four missions, documents, fees and the e-OCI
OCI card from Germany in 2026: why a German passport still ends Indian citizenship, the €37 surrender, €254 at the mission (no Alankit), and the e-OCI.
Checked October 10, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 37 min
Indian passport renewal in Germany (2026): the missions after Alankit, euro fees, documents, children and lost passports
Renew an Indian passport in Germany in 2026: the four missions since Alankit left, €109 after 1 July 2026, documents, children, no tatkal, and your eAT.
Checked October 10, 2026Read the guide →
The US
3 guides
Topic guide · 12 sections · 33 min
Jobs in the US for Indians (2026): the H-1B after the $100,000 fee, OPT, L-1, the green-card queue and the honest odds
How Indians get hired in the US in 2026: the $100,000 H-1B fee and the courts, the wage-weighted lottery, OPT, L-1, salaries, the green-card queue, the scams.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 11 sections · 29 min
OCI card from the US (2026): who qualifies, renunciation, VFS, documents, fees and the new e-OCI
OCI card from the US in 2026: who qualifies, surrendering the Indian passport, the portal and VFS by mail, $297 all-in, six to ten weeks, and the e-OCI rules.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 33 min
Indian passport renewal in the US (2026): VFS, the new fees, documents, tatkal, children and lost passports
Renew an Indian passport in the US in 2026: portal, VFS by courier, fees after 1 July 2026 (US$125 normal, +US$125 tatkal), documents, children, lost booklets.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Canada
3 guides
Topic guide · 12 sections · 37 min
Jobs in Canada for Indians (2026): Express Entry, LMIA, where to look, salaries and the honest odds
How Indians get hired in Canada in 2026: Express Entry cut-offs, LMIA work permits, the study-permit cap, salaries, take-home pay and the scams to avoid.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 11 sections · 39 min
OCI card from Canada (2026): who qualifies, renunciation, BLS, documents, fees and the new e-OCI
OCI card from Canada in 2026: who qualifies, surrendering the Indian passport, BLS in person, C$377.70 all-in, six to eight weeks, and the e-OCI rules.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 43 min
Indian passport renewal in Canada (2026): BLS, the new fees, documents, tatkal, children and lost passports
Renew an Indian passport in Canada: Passport Seva portal, BLS by appointment or post, the July 2026 fees (C$177.70; tatkal C$350.70), documents, children.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Australia
3 guides
Topic guide · 12 sections · 42 min
Jobs in Australia for Indians (2026): the Skills in Demand visa, points, where to look, salaries and the honest odds
How Indians get hired in Australia in 2026: the 482 salary floors, the 65-point test and its real cut-offs, MATES, student rules, pay, tax and the scams.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 11 sections · 35 min
OCI card from Australia (2026): who qualifies, renunciation, VFS, documents, fees and the new e-OCI
OCI card from Australia in 2026: who qualifies, surrendering the Indian passport, VFS appointments and biometrics, A$414 plus fees, eight weeks, and the e-OCI.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 39 min
Indian passport renewal in Australia (2026): VFS, the new fees, documents, tatkal, children and lost passports
Renew an Indian passport in Australia: VFS’s six new centres, fees after 1 July 2026 (about A$295 all-in), documents, children, lost passports, ImmiAccount.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
The UAE
2 guides
Topic guide · 12 sections · 38 min
Jobs in the UAE for Indians (2026): Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the visa, where to look, salaries and the honest odds
How Indians get hired in the UAE in 2026: the employer-paid visa, the job-seeker visa, Emiratisation, Dubai salaries and rents, gratuity, ECR rules and scams.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Topic guide · 12 sections · 38 min
Indian passport renewal in the UAE (2026): Al Hind replaces BLS, the new fees, documents, tatkal, children and lost passports
Renew an Indian passport in the UAE (2026): Al Hind’s 16 centres, not BLS; AED 450 normal / AED 900 tatkal since 1 July; documents, children, lost passports.
Checked October 9, 2026Read the guide →
Ireland
1 guide
Singapore
1 guide
New Zealand
1 guide
More places with a community
No written guide yet — these pages are built from what members post: events, groups, businesses and first-hand stories. A guide follows once there is enough to say.
After the guide
Everything a page cannot keep current is in the app, ranked by distance
This week's events, the WhatsApp-style groups near you, businesses with reviews, and a place to ask the people who moved last year. Free to join, works in every country.