Germany Visa Refusal – Top 7 Reasons and Appeal Process
The Visa application process can strain anyone, too, when it’s a country as strict with its immigration laws as Germany. For this reason, therefore, a Germany Visa Refusal is not an experience you want to have first-hand. You could spend days going through the mail, wondering what the delay could mean for you, and you do not want to cap it off with a mail saying you’ve been denied.
If a visa rejection does happen, you do not want to be stuck wondering why you were rejected. Therefore, it is best to be clear on what you must have done wrong. This way, you can easily determine the best course of action.
To this effect, we have put this article together to outline the top 7 possible reasons for a Germany Visa refusal. Reading this article will help you make a more informed guess as to why you may have been rejected. Furthermore, we shall provide suggestions on what we feel to be the best following line of action following the rejection.
Germany Visa Refusal: What it Means
The phrase “Germany Visa Refusal” itself sounds quite explanatory on its own. That is because it is precisely what the name says it is. Simply put, Germany Visa Refusal means that one’s application for a visa to Germany has been denied.
“What does this mean for me?” you may ask. “Can I no longer travel to Germany? Does this mean I will never be able to make a trip to Germany?”
These questions might be going through your head as you peruse your rejected visa application. However, your visa refusal does not prevent you from going to Germany again. It simply means there was a problem with your application and interview process. You can either contest this decision or make the necessary corrections and reapply. More on these will be discussed subsequently. In the meantime, we shall now consider possible reasons you can be denied a Germany visa.
Top 7 Reasons Germany Refuses Your Visa
As already stated, the German government is very selective of those they let into their country. Therefore, after submitting your visa application, it will undergo various levels of scrutiny, and you will be called for an interview at some point. If, after the whole procedure, the embassy deems you worthy, they approve your visa and inform you. Else, they reject it and inform you ditto.
Here are the top 7 reasons you might expect a German visa refusal;
#1. Incomplete or False Documents
Submitting incomplete or false documents is one of the easiest ways to have your visa denied. The German embassy has its laid out visa requirements, taking every last one very seriously. Therefore, rather than rush to apply with an incomplete set of documents, it is advisable to take your time and gather what you need.
In like manner, if you try to complete your document set by submitting fake or forged ones, the German embassy’s thorough process will likely discover you. Hence, ensuring you have all the necessary documents would be wiser. If there are documents you do not have, plan yourself properly and make sure you get them. Compare what you have with the requirements before you make your submission.
However, if you get rejected on the grounds of incomplete/false documents, and you are sure you have a complete set of original documents, you are allowed to appeal the decision.
#2. Applying for the Wrong Type of Visa
There are various categories of Germany Visa; depending on the length of your visit, it could be the Germany Schengen Visa, Airport Transit Visa, or National Visa. Similarly, depending on your purpose of visit, it could be a Student Visa, a Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Medical Visa, etc. Therefore, when you state your purpose of visit, it should match the kind of visa you apply for.
For example, coming to Germany for studies and applying for a Schengen Visa or a Medical Visa will get you a rejection. To avoid this reason for rejection, go through the different kinds of Germany visas and choose the one that matches your purpose before you apply.
#3. Insufficient Funds
One of the most essential requirements for a Germany visa is proof of funds. If you are going to stay in the country, the government needs assurance that you have enough money to fund yourself for the period you’ll be staying there. Of course, the amount you need to show could differ based on the kind of visa you are applying for. However, most of them require at least €10,332 per year or €853 per month to survive.
The most common way to prove that you have such an amount is to open a Blocked Bank Account for the application process. One good thing here is that the proof of funds does not have to be from you; it could be a willing sponsor (spouse or relative, or even non-relative), a grant, or even a scholarship (for students). All the embassy needs are proof that you will be able to live comfortably once in the country. Else, it could just be another case of Germany Visa Refusal.
#4. Inadequate Travel Health Insurance
In Germany, it is mandatory for every resident, fleeting, temporary, or permanent, to have a health insurance plan. Hence, one of the requirements for a German visa application is that you provide an adequate travel health insurance plan.
Such a plan should cover your transit and your stay in Germany and remain valid throughout the Schengen Area. The absence of a purchased travel health insurance plan could lead to the denial of your Germany visa.
#5. Invalid Passport
Your national identity document (passport) is the primary means of identifying you as a foreign national in Germany. Hence, there are strict rules on the validity of this document.
- Your national passport must be no older than 10 years or expired.
- It must be valid for up to 3 months beyond your stay in Germany.
- There must be at least two empty pages in it; one where the German approval stamp goes and an extra empty page after.
Your passport must fulfill these requirements, or your visa will be refused.
#6. Unsatisfactory Itinerary
When applying for a Germany visa, you will present a complete itinerary of your travel. This should include the reason for your trip, where you will stay (proof of accommodation), how long you plan to stay, and when you plan to return. Sometimes, you may need to present what mode of travel you plan to return and your return tickets, a work contract, a letter of admission into a German university, etc.
If you provide an itinerary that is deemed unsatisfactory by the German consulate in your country, your visa will be rejected. Therefore, ensure you state all these things clearly in your application.
#7. Poor Performance in Interview
At some point, while processing your visa, the German Embassy will invite you for an interview. During your interview, ensure you dress neatly, speak clearly, and maintain calm. Do not cause a scene or show any form of irrational behavior. The interviewer will look out for these things and more.
Depending on what kind of visa you are applying for, you may also need to know how to speak some basic German. If you need that, ensure to learn and practise before your interview. In truth, your interview performance could make or mar your visa application process.
What to Do After Germany Visa Denial: Appeal Procedure
After your Germany visa refusal, you can appeal the decision free of charge in the form of a written request; that is, you or an authorized third party. German Schengen visa refusal appeals can be written in German or English. However, German national visa appeals must be written in German.
Your appeal should contain the following information;
- Your full name and date of birth.
- Date of the visa refusal letter and its reference number
- Your home address and email address.
- New, original documents directly counteract the reason for the Germany visa refusal. What documents you send here usually depends on the reason for the refusal.
- An envelope addressed to you, with which the embassy will return the original documents you sent as part of the appeal. This envelope must be a courier-service envelope and must be prepaid, as the German embassy will not cover the costs of returning your documents.
- If a third party wrote and signed the letter, you must sign a “Power of Attorney” document. Else, you can sign the letter yourself.
The deadline for submitting a German visa refusal appeal is one month after the embassy sends the refusal notice. However, if it is a German national visa and the refusal letter does not contain any advice on applicable legal options, the deadline is one year after the embassy sends the notice.
Finally, you can send your appeal to the embassy physically via postal service or electronically via email. If you appeal and still get rejected, you can go further to take legal action at the Administrative Court in Berlin or apply again for a new visa.
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