The German Mission in Nigeria has cautioned visa applicants against paying agents or sending documents by email in a bid to secure appointments.
In a statement posted on its ๐ handle on Wednesday, the mission said the warning followed confusion among Nigerians over how to begin the visa application process. It urged applicants to rely only on information from official German government channels.
“You do not need to pay an agent just to book a visa appointment. The official appointment booking is free,” the mission said.
The mission advised applicants to first identify the right visa category based on the purpose and length of their stay. A Schengen visa is generally required for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, including tourism and family visits. Those planning to stay longer than 90 days, for employment, study, vocational training or certain family reunification cases, may need a national visa.
Applicants were also told to confirm which German diplomatic mission is responsible for processing their applications, then use the official online appointment system for their visa category.
For some long-stay categories, the process can begin on Germany’s Consular Services Portal. The mission stressed, however, that an online submission does not replace the in-person appointment, where applicants must provide biometric data and original documents and go through other checks.
It warned that booking under the wrong category could cause delays or force applicants to book a fresh appointment.
The mission also urged Nigerians to be wary of individuals or organisations offering appointments in exchange for payment, adding that following the official procedure would help them avoid unnecessary expenses, wrong applications and processing delays.
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