A new online platform designed to streamline the visa application process for Nigerians hoping to work, study, or reunite with family members in Germany has been unveiled by the German authorities.
Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Foreign Minister, hailed the launch of the digital portal as a significant step forward, emphasising that it will play a crucial role in addressing the nation’s growing need for skilled labor.
Ms Baerbock said: “Every year, Germany is short of at least 400,000 skilled workers. 400,000 clever minds and even more agile hands to keep our country running – in the skilled crafts sector, in the care sector, in tech companies. Our national economy is also in a global competition to attract trainees, apprentices, and students.
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“At times like these, we cannot afford to downright put the best off coming here to roll up their sleeves because of long paper application forms and even longer waiting periods.
“At times like these, as one of the biggest economies and as a modern country of immigration, we need a national visa process that is state-of-the-art – modern, digital and secure.”
The new portal, available worldwide, offers applicants the option to choose from 28 types of national visas and is accessible through all 167 German visa offices across the globe.
This move is part of Germany’s wider strategy to modernize its immigration system and tackle the ongoing shortage of skilled workers.
By streamlining the visa process, Germany aims to draw in skilled professionals while creating a more efficient and inclusive immigration framework that meets the demands of today’s global landscape.
