Germany has introduced a new online portal this January to make it easier for people from around the world to apply for entry visas.
For visitors from countries without a visa waiver agreement with Germany, getting an entry permit is a necessary step before traveling to the country.
In the past, applicants had to complete lengthy paper forms and send them to the nearest German embassy or consulate, which could be far away—sometimes hundreds of kilometers.
They also had to include physical documents and deal with long waiting times and high postage costs.
Now, as of January 1, 2025, a digital system called the Consular Services Portal has been launched.
It allows people to apply online for 28 different types of visas, including those for tourists, students, family members, and skilled workers, from anywhere with an internet connection.
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The German Federal Foreign Affairs Office (BAA) said the portal has been in development for over two years.
After testing it in three locations, the system is now available at 167 embassies and consulates worldwide.
By digitising the visa process, the government hopes to speed up applications and attract more skilled workers to Germany.
Welcoming the portal, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock highlighted the urgent need for skilled workers.
“In these times, we cannot afford to discourage the best people from working in our country with long paper applications and even longer waiting times.
“We need a state-of-the-art national visa procedure—modern, digital, and secure,” she said.
She also called the new system a “genuine administrative revolution” and emphasized its role in strengthening Germany’s position as a business hub.
The launch of the visa portal builds on earlier efforts to digitize residence permit and citizenship applications in regions like Berlin, Hamburg, and Bavaria.
In Berlin, for instance, online naturalisation applications became available in early 2024, with residence permit and renewal applications added later in the year.
Currently, the portal only supports individual applications, so family members still need to apply at local German consulates.
However, the government plans to expand the system to allow group applications for families and authorized representatives in the future.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
