Germany to scrap appeal process for rejected visas starting July

Germany’s Federal Foreign Office announced on Tuesday that its remonstration procedures for visas, which allow an applicant to challenge a rejected application, will be dissolved starting July.

The decision was made after their 2023 pilot project showed a smoother process and higher staff capacity without remonstration cases to deal with.

“This is to ensure that there is more staff capacity in visa sections to process more visa applications as well as reduce waiting times,” they said in a statement via the German Embassy in Manila.

Starting July 1, rejected applications will not be available for remonstration. Incoming requests will also not be processed.

However, you can challenge the decision by taking legal action at the Administrative Court in Berlin, Germany (Verwaltungsgericht Berlin). This is a formal court procedure that must be conducted in German and involves court fees and potentially significant legal costs if you hire a lawyer.

Previously, the remonstration procedure only required a written explanation and additional documents for clarity, free of cost and court processes.

The Federal Foreign Office reminded applicants to double-check their applications to prevent conflicts.

“You can reduce the risk of rejection by submitting all required documents with your application. In case the visa department requests further documents, please submit these as soon as possible,” they added.

The office also reiterated that applicants can submit a new application upon rejection.

If you are traveling to European countries like Germany, here are some tips on how to get a Schengen visa.

Additionally, we have provided a list of the easiest countries for Filipino tourists to apply for a Schengen visa.