Foreigners applying for a visa for Germany will no longer have the opportunity to have their rejected visa application reassessed through the remonstration process.
The Federal Foreign Office of Germany has decided to abolish the remonstration procedure for visa rejections worldwide from 1 July 2025.
“Germany’s upcoming visa reform, effective from July 2025, is a double-edged sword for Indian students and travellers,” says Ankit Mehra, Founder & CEO of GyanDhan.
“By removing the appeals process for rejected visa applications, the system promises faster processing and administrative efficiency. However, it also eliminates a crucial safety net. Applicants will no longer have the option to appeal rejections, making it essential that their documents and application meet all criteria from the start,” adds Mehra.
However, judicial review under law will still exist, and adequate legal protection will also be guaranteed in the future, and that right will not be limited by the abolition of the remonstration procedure. All applicants will have the option of submitting a new visa application at any time in the case of a rejection.
“Germany’s visa reforms, coming into effect in July 2025, are a welcome development for Indian travellers and professionals. By ending the visa remonstration process, Germany is eliminating a lengthy and often unclear appeals system. This allows applicants to either reapply or pursue a formal legal route, bringing more transparency and predictability to the process,” says
Pavan Kavad – Managing Director of Prithvi Exchange(India).
Termination of the remonstration procedure eliminates a legal remedy in the visa application procedure that is not statutorily prescribed and which, up to now, has been granted voluntarily.
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This decision is based on a pilot project conducted in several German visa sections, where suspension of remonstrations for both Schengen visas and national visas was tested from 1 June 2023.
The pilot project’s evaluation reveals that removing the remonstration procedure has significantly increased staff capacity in visa sections, enabling more national and Schengen visa applications and reducing waiting times.
The processing of a greater number of visa applications and a reduction in waiting times benefit all applicants.
Starting January 1, 2025, the Consular Services Portal allows worldwide citizens to apply for national visas for skilled workers, apprentices, students, or family reunification purposes.
The remonstration system allows visa-denied individuals to challenge their decision through an internal review by the Federal Foreign Office, free of charge, and allows additional documentation. The end of the remonstration system has necessitated increased caution from visa applicants regarding the submission of necessary documents.