Please reply directly to an email previously sent by us so that we can see the full conversation. Our only contact email is info@lago.auswaertiges-amt.de.

Include the following information:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Passport number
• Barcode/reference number (if available)

Please explain your request in complete sentences and with proper context. Messages that do not contain the above details or are unclear will not receive a response.

This is the German Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria. We are responsible only for applicants within our consular district, which covers visa questions in Nigeria.

If your issue concerns another country, please contact the appropriate German mission there.

We do not forward such messages.

All appointments must be booked exclusively via our online portal. New slots become available regularly throughout the day — please check back often.

If you are part of a group of at least 5 persons, you may book one appointment and then contact us at least 8 weeks before your desired appointment with the details so we can schedule a group appointment.

Please do not ask for manual bookings or exceptions.

Due to high demand, waiting times may be long. Rest assured the waiting list is active and functioning.

The waiting-list is processed in chronological order. Appointments are assigned as capacity allows. We cannot prioritize or fast-track your spot.

No. If you selected the wrong category or entered incorrect information, you must cancel your appointment and book a new one.

We cannot make manual corrections.

You may cancel and rebook using the link provided in your confirmation email.

Important: If you book multiple appointments in different categories, only one will be retained. The others will be deleted without prior notice.

To retain a specific category, cancel the others yourself.

Please visit the relevant section of our visa page

We cannot assist you in gathering your documents or provide individual consultations by email.

All required documents, procedures, and forms are listed clearly on our website.

No. Your documentation must be complete at the time of your visa interview.

If documents are missing, your application may be rejected.

Exception: In family reunion cases, an A1 language certificate may be submitted later if not yet available at the time of the interview.

No. The only way to ensure faster processing is to:

• Submit complete and correct documentation at your appointment
• Respond to any requests from the consulate promptly and clearly

We do not offer expedited processing.

Processing times vary depending on visa category and individual circumstances.

We cannot provide a specific time frame, but all applications are handled as quickly as possible.

You do not need to follow up for updates or request faster processing — doing so will not change your timeline.

The VIDEX form is the official electronic visa application form for Germany. When you fill it out online, we are able to transfer your data directly into our system through the barcode on the form. This speeds up your appointment at the counter. Please completre the form online and then print it and bring it along with your other documents.

Handwritten forms are not recommended and will slow down the process.

Please avoid requesting status updates unless more than three months have passed without any communication from us.

Repeated inquiries delay processing for everyone. Your application is being reviewed and you will be contacted when a decision is made.

If your visa application was formally rejected, you will receive a rejection letter. This letter is usually sufficient for the bank to release your account or for the university to (partially) refund your tuition fees.

If you cancelled your application or withdrew due to incomplete documentation and did not receive a formal rejection letter, or if your rejection letter is not accepted, the German Consulate General can issue an informal email confirming that you do not have an ongoing application at our mission. You may try to use this message to request the release of your funds.

If the informal email is not accepted and your bank or university insists on formal confirmation, you must book an appointment via our website for a consular declaration. This falls under:

> Legal and consular affairs > Consular services for Germans and Nigerians abroad

Please note:

• Each applicant must book a separate appointment
• The fee for this service is 25 EUR payable in Naira
• We cannot contact the bank or university on your behalf
• We are not able to assist with fees or deposits that are non-refundable. You must handle all financial claims directly with the institution involved. All investments and payments are at your own risk

The Consular Services Portal is part of Germany’s new digital visa application process.

Certain visa categories are already processed through the portal; others will follow.

If instructed, please complete your application on the portal as directed.

No. If you are already on the waiting list, please wait for your appointment.

Only new applicants should use the portal.

The A-List now corresponds to the portal category “Students with Specific Qualifications.”

Please read the student section on our website to see if you qualify, and select the correct category during your application.

Incoming Krankenversicherung (Incoming Health Insurance) provides medical coverage for your initial period in Germany — from the time you arrive until your permanent insurance (e.g. from an employer) begins.

Even if you will be insured later through a job or family insurance, you need coverage for this transition period.

The policy must meet the standards set by SGB V (German Social Code, Book V). Not all plans qualify — it’s essential that your insurance remains valid even after your official residence shifts to Germany.

⚠️ Usually, only German providers offer such qualifying insurance.

Please register for an appontment for a long term visa. In the dropdown menu, select Re-Entry. Contact us via E-Mail including:

• your appointment reference number
• a scan of your residence permit
• your entry stamps to Nigeria

afterwards to receive an appointment in the near future.

We will assist you in obtaining a travel document for your return.

For further information, please check our page on Re-Entry visas.

Translations into German are generally recommended, but for most visa categories, English documents are accepted.

Please refer to the document checklist for your visa category on our website to confirm translation requirements.

Applications for minors must include a letter of consent signed by all individuals who hold legal custody. You must also include copies of the passports or ID cards of the custodial persons. If only one parent has custody, please provide legal proof (e.g. custody order).

More information can be found here