Relief coming for Nigerians as Germany plans major visa reform

Germany has announced plans to fast-track visa processing for Nigerians, cutting the waiting period to a maximum of three weeks for all categories of visas.

According to a report by The Nation, the Consul-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos, Mr. Daniel Krulls, disclosed this during a media briefing to outline his priorities as the new Consul-General.

Krulls said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen economic, cultural, and educational cooperation between Germany and Nigeria.

He revealed that the Lagos Consulate currently handles more than 10,000 visa applications annually, but plans are underway to boost capacity and improve efficiency.

“Our main objective as a consulate is to be a facilitator, helping people from Germany and Nigeria connect,” Krulls said. “We are expanding our office capacity to double the number of visa counters. With new counters and more staff, we aim to shorten processing times to no more than three weeks.”

He added that the consulate will work with external service providers for some visa categories and set up a diploma verification system to speed up student visa applications.

Krulls explained that the verification model had already been tested in New Delhi, India, where it helped accelerate study visa decisions, and would soon be introduced in Nigeria.

Beyond visa reforms, he said Germany is also looking to deepen collaboration in technology and the creative industries, particularly in Nollywood.

“Language barriers may have limited Germany’s presence in Nigeria’s film sector so far, but there’s significant room for improvement,” he said.

Krulls added that Germany is ready to help Nigerian creatives secure royalties from international streaming platforms like YouTube, Google, and Netflix.

He also mentioned ongoing cultural exchange programmes, including a film workshop involving young movie students from Germany and Benin City.

Krulls reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to Nigeria, describing the country as “a key partner in Africa’s social, cultural, and economic development.”