Consular Services Portal Centralizes Online National Visa Applications
What changed
Germany has now set up its Consular Services Portal (Auslandsportal) across the country. This single government digital platform lets people apply for many national visas online. The Federal Foreign Office launched the portal worldwide on 1 January 2025. When it launched, all 167 German visa offices abroad were connected. People could apply online for 28 types of national visas. The portal lets people: Create an account online. Fill in their visa application digitally. Upload documents to support their application. Get a first digital check of their application. Fix any missing or wrong information before their in-person appointment. Book their needed in-person appointment through the portal. Follow their application digitally. However, this change does not make the whole visa process digital. People must still go to an in-person appointment. At this appointment, they must give their biometric data (like fingerprints and photos). They must show original documents. They must also pay the visa fee. The relevant German mission still handles the application. The system currently covers 28 types of long-term or national visas. People cannot yet submit applications for a Schengen visa completely online through this portal.
The detail
Policy history
Consular Services Portal Centralizes Online National Visa ApplicationsRelated changes
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