Germany warns Nigerians against visa appointment agents

Etim Ekpimah

The German Mission in Nigeria has warned Nigerians applying for visas against paying agents to secure appointments or sending visa documents to the consulate by email.

The mission issued the warning on Wednesday amid what it described as confusion over the procedures for starting German visa applications.

In a post on its X account, the mission advised prospective applicants to first identify the appropriate visa category and establish whether their applications should be processed through the German Mission in Lagos or Abuja.

Applicants were also advised to use the mission’s official online appointment or registration system, or the online visa portal where applicable to their visa category.

The mission said applicants should carefully follow the instructions for their appointments, prepare all required documents and appear in person to submit their applications where required.

It specifically warned against paying agents to secure visa appointments, stressing that the official appointment booking process is free.

“Applicants do not need to pay an agent to book a visa appointment,” the mission said.

It also clarified that emailing documents to the consulate is not the prescribed procedure for booking appointments or submitting visa applications.

The mission urged Nigerians seeking German visas to rely on the official procedures and guidance published through its authorised channels and avoid intermediaries claiming to have special access to visa appointments.