Visa Requirements
1. General information on visas
Schengen visa, category C (short term visa - for visits to Germany of up to 90 days)
According to the Schengen Agreement, tourist and business visas issued by a mission of one of the following countries are valid for travel to all other countries listed: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. However, you always have to apply at the mission of the country which is your main destination.
Please note that the processing of a Schengen visa, category C application takes two weeks. It is not possible to expedite the visa processing.
It is crucial to make an appointment and apply for a visa in time!
All Nigerian citizens are required to obtain a Schengen visa before travelling to Germany for up to 90 days.
Airport transit visa, category A
With effect from 1 May 2008, Nigerian citizens do not need an airport transit visa if they are in possession of a valid visa for an EU member state, a state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area of 2 May 1992, Japan, Canada, Switzerland or the United States of America; or if after using the visa they return to Nigeria from any of these countries. In all other cases, Nigerian citizens transiting Germany are required to obtain an airport transit visa.
National visa, category D (long term visa - for permanent stays in Germany)
A national visa is required for a stay in Germany exceeding a duration of 90 days, e.g. family reunion, student visa, au-pair visa, etc.
2. Visa fee
The visa fees are fixed in Euro and payable in naira according to an exchange rate which we revise from time to time. The current fee for all visa categories is 60,- Euros (about 13.000,- Naira, depending on the exchange rate).
Children under the age of 6 years are exempt from the visa fee if applying for a Schengen Visa, the visa fee for minors aged 6-12 years is 35,- Euros.
The fee for a long-term visa for all children under the age of 18 is 30,- Euros (about 6500,- Naira).
Spouses and minor children of German nationals as well as parents of German minor children are exempt from the visa fee for all visa categories.
Under certain conditions there might be a reduction / exemption from the general visa fee - however, these circumstances are checked by the visa officer during the submission of the application.
3. How to apply for a visa
All applicants requesting an appointment for submitting their applications are obliged to download a formal letter according to the purpose of stay and send it to the visa section of the German Consulate-General 6-8 weeks prior to the intended time of travel.
All letters have to be mailed to the Consulate-General, it is not accepted to submit them at the front gate. You are therefore advised to send this letter via a reliable courier service.
Please download the formal appointment request letter according to your purpose of stay. Please note that only complete letters - signed personally by the applicant - will be processed. Furthermore, a copy of the applicant's passport data page must be attached to the letter (do NOT send original documents and passports with your letter!). Please also provide further copies as requested on the specific formal appointment request letter.
The time and date of the appointment will be sent to the e-mail address you stated in the formal letter of request. Due to the visa section's limited capacity, the availability of daily appointments is restricted. It might take several weeks until an appointment can be given. Please refrain from making inquiries.
4. Download the formal request letter
Short-Term-Visas:
- business visa (except importers of vehicles, spare parts and other goods) business visa (except importers of vehicles, spare parts and other goods) [pdf, 81,02k]
- business visa (importers of vehicles, spare parts and other goods) business visa (importers of vehicles, spare parts and other goods) [pdf, 81,26k]
- visitor visa (visiting family or friends) visitor visa (visiting family or friends) [pdf, 82,75k]
- tourist visa tourist visa [pdf, 46,96k]
- visa for trade fare visitors visa for trade fare visitors [pdf, 46,63k]
- group visa group visa [pdf, 96,29k]
- Vielreisende/ Interview Waiver
Vielreisende / Interview Waiver [pdf, 71,03k]
- all other visas (e.g. medical treatment, participants in sport or cultural events etc.) all other visas (e.g. medical treatment, participants in sport or cultural events etc.) [pdf, 82,37k]
Long-Term-Visas:
- Family reunion - spouses Family reunion - spouses [pdf, 82,47k]
- Family reunion - children Family reunion - children [pdf, 82,33k]
- Students Students [pdf, 80,99k]
- All other long-term visas (Au-Pair, work permit, etc.) All other long-term visas (Au-pair, work permit, etc.) [pdf, 83,66k]
The following applicants do not need an appointment:
- frequent travellers (applicants who have travelled to Schengen states, USA, UK or Canada at least three times within the past 24 months)
- applicants for transit visas
- urgent medical treatment
- applicants on official duty ("note verbale holders" only)
- experts participating in scientific / academic conferences
These applicants may appear in person at the visa section of the German Consulate-General from Monday to Friday at 6.30 a.m.
Only those applicants who present a complete application form together with all the required documents (including one copy of each original) will be admitted.
Attention: Due to the limited number of applicants who can be dealt with each day, access to the visa section for the above mentioned applicants cannot be guaranteed. Given the very high demand for visas during the German summer months, it is highly recommended to book an appointment in advance in order to avoid any inconveniences and ensure admission to the premisses of the Consulate-General.
5. Important notice
All applicants for Schengen visas are requested to present a complete application form together with all the required documents (including one copy of each original). Applicants for national visas are requested to present two complete application forms toghether with all the required documents (including two copies of each original). All applicants are requested to present a printout of their appointment confirmation.
Applicants who are late or who present incomplete applications will NOT be admitted to the visa section.
