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FAQs on general visa matters and their answers
Appointments and general questions on visa issues - Questions and their answers
Booking an Appointment for Visa
Kindly keep checking the online appointment system. New slots are regularly opened. Kindly keep checking the online Appointment system and some bookings are cancelled occasionally.
The embassy does not offer special appointments. Kindly cancel and rebook in case you find a more favourable appointment.
Please use our contact form to get in touch with us.
Your booking confirmation for your visa appointment contains a link to cancel you appointment. After cancellation you should be able to book a new appointment on the online appointment system.
If you are correctly registered on the waiting list for student or family reunion visa, you will receive an email with your date of appointment in the coming months. Due to high demand, the waiting time has increased significantly. We cannot give special appointments as all applicants face the same challenge. Please refrain from asking for an update, the answer will be the same. We kindly ask for your understanding.
General Questions on Visa Issues
As of 1 July 2025, it is no longer possible to object to a visa rejection by filing a remonstration with the mission abroad. Remonstrations submitted to the mission have no legal effect whatsoever and will no longer be processed. This means that no confirmation of receipt will be sent, and queries about the status of the remonstration will not be answered.
If you have submitted a remonstration against a visa rejection dated before 1 July 2025, this will still be processed in full.
As of 1 July 2025, you have the following options after a visa application is rejected:
1. You may submit a new visa application at any time; this will generally be subject to the usual fee.
For this new visa application, you will again have to present all relevant documents and documentary proof. The application will be reviewed neutrally on the basis of the current legal situation.
2. You may appeal against the visa rejection by filing an action with the Berlin Administrative Court at your own expense.
The rejection notice contains official information regarding legal remedies, including details on the form of remedy (filing an appeal), where this should be done (Berlin Administrative Court) and the deadline (1 month from the date on which the notice is served).
You can appoint a lawyer to file your appeal for you. However, there is no obligation to do so. If you do, separate lawyers’ fees may be incurred.
The language of the court is German (section 184 of the Courts Constitution Act – GVG).
Fees will be charged for the legal proceedings. The amount will be determined by the court. The fees must generally be paid in advance, immediately after you file your appeal. They will be based on the number of requested visas. The value of the claim is usually 5000 euro per visa applicant, meaning that the fees for court proceedings are currently set at about 480 euro. You can apply to the court for assistance with the costs, but this is usually only granted if your appeal has a good chance of succeeding. Only the Administrative Court can answer questions about costs and the relevant rules and regulations.
The court determines the exact duration of the proceedings and how they are conducted. The mission abroad cannot provide any specific information about this. However, processing times of several months can generally be expected. This can be reduced via a fast-track procedure in special cases only. For fast-track procedures (applications for interim measures), additional court fees must be paid.
Further information on administrative court proceedings in visa matters, particularly regarding costs, is available on the website of the Berlin Administrative Court:
https://www.berlin.de/gerichte/verwaltungsgericht
Information sheet from the Berlin Administrative Court on challenging a visa rejection:
This overview is for your information only. It is not binding and does not claim to be complete. Please ensure that you obtain all the information you need.
The validity of your passport should exceed that of the intended visa by three months.
If you have received a visa to study or do research in Germany within the last 3 months, your family can register on the waiting list for students. If you received a visa to enter Germany more than 3 months ago and have been in Germany for a longer time, your family must register on the waiting list for family reunification.
The necessary documents are listed in the information sheet on family reunification on our website.