Major visa shake-up for Nigerian students targeting Germany

The German Consulate has announced that Nigerians applying for student visas will now submit their applications through a visa application centre operated by VFS Global in Lekki, Lagos.

The update was disclosed in a post on X, where applicants were informed that visa submissions will no longer be handled directly at the consulate.

According to the notice, applicants are required to register online and will be invited to the VFS centre once an appointment is assigned.

“This means that you will be invited to the centre, not the consulate, when an appointment is assigned to you after registering online,” the statement said.

The development follows the official opening of visa processing operations at the Lekki centre on March 25, 2026, led by Gerald Wolf and Stephen Kubasu.

Authorities said the centre will handle application submission and biometric enrolment, while the German mission will continue to make final visa decisions.

Germany remains a top destination for Nigerian students seeking affordable and high-quality education.