THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
On 1 January 2025, Germany’s federal government introduced a digital portal to simplify its visa application process. Accessible at https://digital.diplo.de/visa, the platform allows applicants to apply for 28 types of national visas online, cutting down on paperwork and processing delays. This innovation is intended to benefit those seeking work, education or family reunification in Germany.
Despite the platform’s supposed global rollout to all 167 German visa offices, significant gaps remain. The service is unavailable in several African countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon. This exclusion has left applicants in these nations feeling sidelined, sparking frustration over unequal access to the new system.
For many Africans aspiring to move to Germany, the online platform had promised to ease the burdens of the manual visa application process. However, in its absence, applicants in countries like Nigeria must still grapple with extensive bureaucratic challenges, long appointment delays and crowded consulates.
Germany’s Foreign Office has not yet provided a timeline for when the portal will be accessible in these nations. Officials have cited logistical and technical hurdles, though critics argue that the delay reflects a deeper issue of unequal integration of African countries into global systems.
This exclusion places African applicants at a clear disadvantage. For instance, applicants in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon must endure outdated manual processes, often waiting sometimes over a year to secure an appointment. Meanwhile, individuals in countries with portal access can complete their applications much faster.
Additionally, the manual system requires in-person visits to consulates, which can involve significant expenses for travel, lodging and repeated trips due to incomplete paperwork. In countries like Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria where German consulates are sparse, applicants may have to travel hundreds of kilometres, creating additional financial and logistical burdens.
Moreover, the lack of a digital option deprives African applicants of the transparency and efficiency offered by the portal, such as real-time application tracking. This creates uncertainty and communication delays, leaving many in the dark about the status of their applications.
By excluding key African nations, Germany risks undermining initiatives like the “Make it in Germany” campaign, which aims to attract skilled migrants. Without digital access, professionals such as Nigerian IT specialists and Ghanaian healthcare workers face avoidable obstacles, limiting their contributions to Germany’s workforce.
Extending the portal to African countries is essential to bridging the digital divide and ensuring fair opportunities for all.
Sola Jolaoso
