The Federal Foreign Office has decided to abolish the remonstration procedure, which allowed applicants to appeal a visa rejection in Germany without going to court. This change will take effect from July 1, 2025, and will apply to all visa categories and all visa applicants.
- This decision is based on a pilot project conducted in several German visa sections, where suspension of remonstrations for both Schengen visas and national visas was tested from June 1, 2023.
- Evaluation of the pilot project has shown that ending the remonstration procedure would significantly increase staff capacity, allowing staff to process more visa applications and to reduce wait times.
What to Expect
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, any rejected visa applicant has the option of submitting a new visa application at any time in the case of a rejection.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Experts have warned that increased immigration raids could harm industries like agriculture, restaurants, and construction that rely on undocumented labor. Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.