The German Embassy in Abuja has announced the closure of its Visa Section for two months, spanning December 2026 and January 2027, due to ongoing construction work at the facility. The embassy communicated this development via its official X account, @GERinNigeria, advising all Nigerian applicants planning to apply for a German visa during this period to make alternative arrangements well in advance.
Closure Details and Official Announcement
The announcement, made on October 22, 2026, confirmed that the Visa Section would be shut throughout the two-month window. The embassy did not specify a resumption date beyond the closure period, leaving applicants to anticipate the section reopening in February 2027. The post urged applicants to factor in the disruption when planning travel or visa submissions.
According to the embassy, the closure is necessitated by construction work currently underway at the Abuja facility. This is a temporary measure to facilitate the ongoing renovations, and the embassy expressed gratitude to the public for their understanding, acknowledging that the disruption may affect applicants with time-sensitive visa needs.
Alternative Application Venue: Lagos Consulate
During the closure, all visa applications and appointments that would normally be handled in Abuja should be redirected to the German Consulate General in Lagos. This means that the Lagos consulate will serve as the processing centre for all visa categories that would otherwise have been processed in Abuja.
For applicants from northern and north-central Nigeria, this change of venue may entail longer travel distances to submit documents. The embassy did not provide details on whether appointment slots at the Lagos consulate would be expanded to accommodate the expected increase in demand from Abuja-based applicants.
Advice for Nigerian Applicants
Nigerians intending to travel to Germany during or shortly after the closure period are advised to schedule their appointments at the Lagos consulate. The embassy recommended that applicants plan well in advance to avoid last-minute complications, given the venue change.
The announcement did not specify whether any visa categories would be exempt from the redirection, implying that all visa services previously handled in Abuja will be processed in Lagos during the closure.
Related Warning on Consular Services Portal
In a related development, the German Embassy in Nigeria issued a public warning to Nigerians about inaccurate information being spread by visa agents regarding the country's Consular Services Portal. The embassy used a series of image cards to highlight discrepancies between what agents reportedly tell clients and the official process.
According to the embassy, some visa agents have been telling prospective applicants that every German visa application can now be submitted through the Consular Services Portal and that the old application process no longer applies. The embassy described this claim as incorrect, urging applicants to rely only on official channels for accurate information.
This warning comes as part of the embassy's broader efforts to ensure that Nigerian applicants are not misled by unofficial sources. The embassy's communication underscores the importance of following official procedures, especially with the upcoming closure of the Abuja Visa Section.
