Germany ends visa appeal process globally. How will it affect Indians?

What is changing?

Until now, applicants whose Schengen visa requests were rejected could initiate a free and informal process known as the remonstration procedure, allowing them to challenge the decision without going through the courts. That option is now being globally phased out.

“The Federal Foreign Office has decided to abolish the remonstration procedure for visa rejections worldwide from July 1. This eliminates a legal remedy in the visa application procedure that is not statutorily prescribed and which up to now has been granted voluntarily,” the German Missions in India said.

Why the change?

A two-year pilot project found that eliminating the informal appeal system helped free up staff and speed up the processing of new applications.

“Dispensing with the remonstration procedure has released considerable staff capacity in visa sections,” the German Missions said.

Indian applicants disproportionately affected

Indians are likely to be disproportionately affected. In 2024 alone, Germany denied 2,06,733 Schengen visa applications, a rejection rate of 13.7 per cent. From July, rejected applicants will have just two choices: file an entirely new application or initiate a formal (and often costly) legal appeal in German courts.

“Adequate legal protection will also be guaranteed in the future, for judicial review under law will not be limited by the abolition of the remonstration procedure. Furthermore, it goes without saying that all applicants have the option of submitting a new visa application at any time in the case of a rejection,” the German Embassy said.

Schengen visas allow holders to travel across the 29-country Schengen zone for up to 90 days in a 180-day period but do not grant employment rights.