Germany has declared that, as of July 1, 2025, it will no longer accept informal visa appeals from Indian applicants. Although it is expected that this action may expedite the visa application process, Indian applicants for Schengen visas may find it more challenging.
What’s Changing?
The mechanism, which gave applicants a convenient way to challenge visa denials at the embassy level without giving extra fees or requiring judicial action, has been eliminated by the German government. Rejected applicants will have two new options as of July 1: they can either file a new application or start a drawn-out and costly judicial appeal in German courts.
Impact on Indian Applicants
Higher Expenses and Longer timetables: Students and job searchers with time-sensitive plans may find it difficult to deal with the increased expenses and longer timetables faced by rejected applicants.
The elimination of the complaint process increases the pressure on Indian applicants to make sure that their first submissions are exact and complete because even small mistakes or missing papers could cause expensive problems.
Digital Changes to Ease Application Process
- Online Visa Application System: Germany has introduced an online visa application system for national visas, which covers skilled workers, students, apprentices, and those applying for family reunification.
- Consular Services Portal: The portal provides clear and intuitive step-by-step guidance to applicants, ensuring complete document submission and reducing delays caused by incomplete applications.
Statistics on Visa Rejections
– 206,733 Schengen Visa Applications Rejected: Germany rejected 206,733 Schengen visa applications in 2024, representing a 13.7% rejection rate. Indians account for a sizable share of applicants for German national and Schengen visas, particularly for tourism, skilled work, and higher education.
What to Expect?
Simplified Visa Procedure: It is expected that the removal of the remonstration procedure will simplify the visa procedure, possibly doing away with extended wait times and unclear rejection explanations.
Enhanced Efficiency: The German government expects that by removing the remonstration procedure, staff capacity will be freed up, enabling quicker processing of visa applications and shorter wait periods.
