Deadlines

In the case of Schengen visas, the time limit for remonstration is one month from receipt of the refusal notice. The refusal notification is handed over to the applicant or a person authorised in writing at the Embassy or Consulate General and is deemed to have been notified on the same day. If the notification of refusal is sent in a pre-addressed courier envelope, the date of delivery shall apply.

In the case of national visas, the time limit for remonstration is one year from the date of notification of the rejection decision, provided that it does not contain instructions on how to appeal. In the case of notifications with instructions on how to appeal, the time limit is one month. The notice of rejection sent by post or e-mail shall be deemed to have been notified on the third day after it was sent.

After expiry of the above-mentioned deadlines, a new visa application must be submitted.

Form, content and language

The remonstration must be in writing and contain the following details:

• First name and surname
• Date of birth of the applicant
• Date and reference number of the visa application
• Exact address and e-mail address of the sender
• Reasons for the remonstration, signed by the visa applicant himself/herself.
• If available, additional documents and records which were not available when the original application was submitted and which are suitable to invalidate the reasons stated in the rejection letter why the visa could not be issued. Documents that were already submitted when the application was made, however, do not have to be submitted again.
• If applicable, the applicant's signed power of attorney for the third person making the remonstration.
• A prepaid courier envelope from one of the represented courier companies to return your passport and original documents.

Remonstrations against Schengen visa refusals can be written in German or English.

Remonstrations against the refusal of national visas must be drafted in German, as the decision on the remonstration must involve the domestic German authorities who were also involved in the initial decision.

Sending

The remonstration can be submitted as follows:

Mail:

Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany 15, Walter Carrington Crescent Victoria Island, Lagos Federal Republic of Nigeria

Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, 9 Lake Maracaibo Close, off Amazon Street, Maitama, Abuja, F.C.T., Federal Republic of Nigeria

The processing of a remonstration usually takes several weeks. Requests for status are not answered. If, after examining the remonstration, the Embassy or the Consulate Generals comes to the conclusion that the visa can be issued, the applicant or the authorised representative will receive a corresponding informal notification. If the visa cannot be issued even after the remonstration, a formal remonstration decision is issued with instructions on how to appeal.

An appeal against this decision can be lodged with the competent administrative court in Berlin.

The applicant is also free to file a new application instead after a rejected remonstration.