Germany Opens New Schengen Visa Centres in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Cyprus to Ease Processing Delays

Germany has opened four new Schengen visa application centres across Nigeria, Cameroon, and Cyprus in a move aimed at reducing long wait times and making the visa process easier for thousands of applicants. The centres, located in Abuja, Lagos, Yaoundé, and Nicosia, were launched under a new seven-year partnership between Germany’s Federal Foreign Office and global visa services company, VFS Global.

This development is part of Germany’s broader efforts to improve its visa services as demand for entry into the Schengen Area continues to rise, especially from African and Middle Eastern countries. The new centres will handle major parts of the application process, including collecting documents, taking biometrics, and scheduling appointments tasks that previously overwhelmed German embassies.

“This new partnership with VFS Global allows us to make the visa process more accessible and less stressful for applicants,” said a spokesperson for the German Foreign Office. “We are committed to making the process fair, clear, and responsive to people’s needs.”

Before now, many Nigerian applicants especially those who lived outside Lagos and Abuja struggled with long delays, few appointment slots, and technical problems when applying through the embassy. With no dedicated visa centres, many were forced to travel long distances or pay unofficial agents, making the process even harder.

VFS Global, which already runs visa centres for several European countries, said it would also introduce digital tools to make things faster and more transparent. “We are proud to support the German government in making visa applications easier,” said Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer at VFS Global. “Applicants will now have a safer, more consistent, and user-friendly experience.”

This launch comes as complaints grow over the high rate of Schengen visa refusals for African applicants. According to 2024 data, countries such as Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana had some of the highest rejection rates globally. Nigeria’s rejection rate stood at 45.9%, despite a relatively small number of applications.

An independent study by LAGO Collective estimated that African nationals lost nearly €60 million in non-refundable visa fees in 2024 alone. “There’s a clear difference in how African applications are treated compared to others,” said Dr. Anika Sorensen, a migration policy expert. “Germany’s new centres are a good step forward, but more changes are still needed.”

German officials acknowledged these concerns and said the expanded visa services are part of a larger plan to improve global cooperation and encourage travel for work, study, and cultural exchange. “We believe in promoting movement as a way to grow economic, academic, and cultural ties,” the Foreign Office said.

The new centres are expected to serve tens of thousands of people every year and will begin full operations later this month. Applicants can now book appointments on the VFS Global website, choose their preferred centre, and track their applications online.