The number of Indians visiting Germany is increasing day by day. As per the resources, in 2024, Indian tourist arrivals in Germany have jumped up to 8.6%. Then what has led Germany to end its visa appeal? Recently Germany has announced certain changes to its visa policy, which will initiate from July 1, 2025.
It has been seen that the country will abolish the informal visa appeal process, known as the remonstration procedure. Due to this reason, Indians are expected to face certain issues, as they form one of the largest groups of applicants for German Schengen and national visas.
What is the Actual Change?
There was a pilot project launched in 2023, which is the reason behind the decision to abolish the remonstration procedure. Additionally, the project found that eliminating the information appeal system helped free up staff and speed up the processing of new applications.
As per the German Missions in India, the pilot project showed how removing the remonstration process can allow embassy staff to reallocate resources more efficiently. Along with this, it can also help the staff process more visa applications and reduce wait times.
Impact on Indian Applicants
As we know, India is one of the largest source countries for international visa applicants—especially when it comes to education and employment sectors. According to the report, in 2024, Germany denied more than 2 million Schengen visa applications from India. The rejection rate for Indians was 13.7%. The incident has affected many Indians dreaming of going to Germany for higher studies, in search of employment, or for other businesses.
And the end of the remonstration means that Indian nationals will no longer have a free and relatively quick way to fix mistakes or clarify issues in a denied application. As a result, the pressure is growing greater than ever on applicants to ensure that their documentation and application are complete and accurate.
Higher Stakes for Applicants
Rejection of an informal visa application means the applicant will have to deal with higher costs and longer timelines. Because reapplication means submitting a fresh application, paying fees again, and possibly waiting months for a new appointment.
Here, the legal appeal can stretch for years and often requires hiring an attorney. The shift in visa application places greater pressure on first-time applicants to ensure that their application and documentation are completed with accuracy.
Digital Reforms Offer Some Relief
In order to assist applicants in this new environment, Germany has launched a digital Consular Services Portal. The portal rolled out in January 2025 and offers step-by-step instructions to assist applicants through the process of applying for the visa and minimize mistakes. The portal is basically a welcome development, considering more focus on accuracy and precision in the application process.
End Note
It is clear that the termination of the remonstration procedure by Germany is a significant change that will affect diverse Indian applicants. Meanwhile, the move aims to streamline the visa application process and reduce the wait times.
It also removes an accessible route for the rejected applicants to contest the visa decision without any legal intervention. The Indian applicants, especially job seekers, students, and tourists, will need to be more meticulous with their first attempts, as the cost of rectifying missing paperwork or mistakes is now much higher.
About The Author
