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BERLIN (CHATNEWSTV) — Germany has rolled out a digital Consular Services Portal, transforming its national visa application process into an entirely online system.
According to a press statement released on Thursday by the German foreign office, starting January 1, 2025, applicants worldwide can now submit their applications digitally at any of the 167 German visa sections globally, marking a milestone in modernising immigration procedures.
“Every year, Germany is short of at least 400,000 skilled workers,” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement. “At times like these, we need a national visa process that is state-of-the-art – modern, digital and secure.”
The new system allows applicants seeking employment, study opportunities, training, or family reunification in Germany to bypass traditional paper applications and lengthy postal wait times. The platform currently supports 28 categories of national visas.
Baerbock emphasised the broader economic benefits of the reform: “Our national economy is in global competition to attract trainees, apprentices, and students. The online visa application process is a real administrative revolution that both craft businesses and major companies have been calling for for a long time. It will strengthen Germany as a business location.”
The Federal Foreign Office initiated the overhaul over two years ago, starting with a pilot phase in select visa sections. In four subsequent cycles, the system expanded to integrate all German missions globally.
