The German Embassy in Nigeria has issued a clear warning to visa applicants: no agent, intermediary, or “connection” can guarantee visa approval.
In a series of public advisories on its official X account (@GERinNigeria) on Wednesday, the German Missions in Abuja and Lagos said they do not work with any “visa agents.” The embassy said all official information about visa requirements, appointments, and procedures is freely available on its website.
“We do not work with any ‘Visa Agents’!” the embassy declared. “All information is freely available on our website.” Officials urged Nigerians to ignore third-party claims and contact the mission directly with questions.
The warning highlights a common scam in which agents demand large sums of money, often millions of naira, in exchange for promises of a secured job and visa, faster appointments, or special influence at the embassy. German authorities stressed that visa decisions rest solely with them and are based on the applicant’s eligibility and documents, not on payments to middlemen.
In a recent post, the embassy noted that it had received reports from applicants who paid large fees to agents promising jobs and visas, only to discover the promises were false. Booking an appointment through official channels is free, the mission emphasised, and applicants should not pay anyone simply to secure a slot.
The embassy has also cautioned against sending documents by email in an attempt to obtain appointments and against relying on unofficial advice about the Consular Services Portal, which currently applies only to certain long-stay (national) visas.
Applicants are advised to use only official German government websites (nigeria.diplo.de and digital.diplo.de/visa), book appointments through the official system at no charge, verify the correct visa category for their purpose of travel and contact the embassy or consulate directly with any questions
The campaign forms part of an ongoing effort by the German Missions to combat misinformation and protect Nigerian applicants from fraud.
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