Nigerians planning to travel to Germany for work, study, or a long-term stay, need to know that Germany has officially ended the visa remonstration process starting from July 1, 2025.

The country, however, is implementing an efficient visa application system with simplified prerequisites.

The worldwide discontinuation of the visa remonstration procedure, is a major shift in Germany?s long-term visa policy.

Recall that previously, applicants whose visa was denied were able to file a written appeal, known as a ?Remonstration?, requesting the embassy to reconsider its decision. This process has ended from July 1, 2025.

This change means that intending travelers, including Nigerians, who are denied visas, can no longer appeal the embassy?s decision through a formal objection, otherwise known as remonstration.

According to an update from the Federal Foreign Office, the country?s decision to abolish the appeal procedure against visa rejections worldwide as of July 1, 2025, ?eliminates a legal remedy in the visa process that was not provided for by law but was previously granted voluntarily.?

The German government however noted that individuals will still have access to other legal options.

?Adequate legal protection will continue to be guaranteed, as the legal process provided for by law will not be shortened by the abolition of the remonstration procedure,? it stated.

With the development, applicants who are denied a visa will receive a clear explanation of the rejection. They also have two new options; to file a legal appeal through the German courts or submit a fresh visa application with revised documents or improved justification.

While this change might seem like a loss of flexibility, the shift aims to create greater transparency and faster processing times.

Germany?s new visa requirements and entry rules

Germany has also updated the rules for long-term stays. It has strengthened edits long-standing rules for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals intending to stay longer than 90 days or take up employment.

In other words, applicants from outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland must apply for a visa before entering Germany if they plan to stay more than 90days. Special exemptions are however made for citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States who do not need a visa before entry. They can apply for a residence permit after arriving in Germany.

Other intending applicants including Nigerians are mandated to complete the visa application process via the German diplomatic mission in their home country before traveling.

?Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America can also obtain the required residence permit after entering the country. ?The following applies to all other citizens: A visa for a longer-term stay must generally be applied for at the responsible foreign diplomatic mission before entering the country,? The statement said.

Now, the processing time for some visa types may be long. This includes visas that require approval from German immigration authorities such as for studies, family reunification, or self-employment. These can take up to three months or more.

The statement continues, ?Approval from the responsible immigration authority in Germany is generally required. The immigration authority of the place where the foreign national will take up residence is responsible.

?If the approval of the immigration authority is required for the visa process, the procedure can take up to three months, occasionally longer, as other authorities (such as the Federal Employment Agency) are often involved in addition to the immigration authority. The diplomatic mission may only issue the requested visa once the approval of the immigration authority has been obtained.?

Work visas on the other hand, are usually processed faster, as they often don?t need approval from additional agencies.

Applicants with a national D visa are allowed to travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period, giving them access to many other European countries during their stay.

However, they still need to apply before entering Germany. In addition, embassy processing times can take up to three months, especially for visas that require immigration authority approval.

Applicants are advised in their own interest to stay informed about the latest requirements on the official German embassy or consulate website for their country. (Vanguard)

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