Germany to end visa appeal process on July 1, forcing rejected applicants to court
The German Federal Foreign Office announced the decision, stating it aims to speed up the processing of tourist, student and skilled worker visas, which often face significant delays.
Germany has announced that, effective July 1, it will end its visa remonstration process, which allowed applicants, including those from Kenya, to appeal visa rejections directly without going through the courts.
The German Federal Foreign Office announced the decision, stating it aims to speed up the processing of tourist, student and skilled worker visas, which often face significant delays.
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The move follows a pilot project launched on June 1, 2023, in select German visa sections, where the remonstration process for both Schengen and national visas was temporarily suspended.
The pilot showed that scrapping the appeals procedure freed up significant staff capacity, allowing visa sections to process more applications and cut waiting times compared to the same period the previous year.
As a result, applicants in Nairobi and other global centres will now need court orders to challenge rejected visa applications. They will also face steeper fees and longer processing times.
"The Federal Foreign Office has decided to abolish the remonstration procedure for visa rejections worldwide from 1 July 2025. This eliminates a legal remedy in the visa application procedure that is not statutorily prescribed and which up to now has been granted voluntarily," the Foreign Office said.
Before this, applicants could easily and free of charge appeal Schengen visa rejections through Germany's remonstration process, which also required authorities to provide reasons for the denial.
Schengen visas grant non-EU citizens access to the EU's border-free travel area, although movement in and out of the zone is regulated.
The German government has defended ending the process, saying it consumed too many resources and slowed down the handling of other visa categories, especially work visas, which are now a priority.
Since 2023, Germany has been piloting reforms to streamline visa procedures, aligning with broader European efforts to tighten immigration controls and reduce border management costs.
The changes coincide with the appointment of Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union in May, who has advocated for stricter immigration measures.
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