Faith Nyasuguta
Germany has significantly expanded its visa processing network with the launch of four new Schengen visa application centres in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Cyprus. The move, announced in early August 2025, is part of a seven-year partnership between Germany’s Federal Foreign Office and international visa outsourcing firm VFS Global. It marks a major step towards improving the accessibility and efficiency of visa services for applicants from Africa and the Middle East.
The new centres are now operational in Abuja and Lagos (Nigeria), Yaounde (Cameroon), and Nicosia (Cyprus). These additions are meant to reduce the burden on German embassies and consulates, which have often been overwhelmed by a growing number of visa requests – particularly from African and Middle Eastern nationals seeking travel for education, medical treatment, tourism, or employment.
Prior to this rollout, there were no operational visa centres run by VFS Global in Nigeria. Applicants had to submit documents directly to German embassies or consulates – a process frequently marred by limited appointment slots, long wait times, and logistical challenges, especially for those living far from the embassies.
With the new centres in place, VFS Global will now handle the early stages of the visa application process. This includes collecting applications, capturing biometric data, and scheduling appointments. By decentralising these services, the system is expected to become more accessible and applicant-friendly.
Germany’s decision to invest in these new centres is timely. Over the past few years, African nationals have faced some of the highest Schengen visa rejection rates in the world. According to recent data, five of the top six countries with the highest rejection rates for Schengen visas in 2024 were African.
Comoros topped the list with a staggering 62.8% rejection rate, followed by Guinea-Bissau at 47%, Senegal at 46.8%, Nigeria at 45.9%, and Ghana at 45.5%. These figures are well above the global average, highlighting a persistent and deeply rooted disparity in how visa applications are processed and assessed.
The financial implications have also been severe. Since Schengen visa application fees are non-refundable, African applicants lost roughly $67.5 million in 2024 alone. In Kenya, for instance, rejected Schengen applications cost citizens nearly KSh 235 million in total. These numbers point to not just procedural hurdles, but also real economic losses for thousands of people whose travel dreams are routinely blocked.
Experts attribute these high rejection rates to a mix of factors, including perceptions of overstay risk, weak passport strength, and, in some cases, discriminatory practices. A report by Henley & Partners noted that African applicants are nearly twice as likely to be denied a Schengen visa compared to their Asian counterparts, despite submitting far fewer applications overall.
The European Commission has also acknowledged that countries with lower application volumes tend to face disproportionately high rejection rates – though critics argue this only reinforces existing imbalances.
By increasing its consular presence and outsourcing application logistics to VFS Global, Germany hopes to tackle these bottlenecks and bring more transparency and fairness to the visa application process. The new centres will also incorporate digital tools and improved appointment systems to reduce delays and increase efficiency.
For many African travellers, this expansion represents more than just convenience – it’s a chance at better access, reduced bureaucracy, and perhaps, a small shift toward visa equity. While significant challenges remain, Germany’s investment signals a recognition of the growing demand for mobility from Africa and the need to respond with improved systems and services.
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