The German Federal Foreign Office has released a revised guide detailing the latest visa rules and exemptions for foreign citizens intending to visit the country.
Although citizens of most African nations, including Nigeria, must obtain a visa before travelling to Germany, citizens of two African countries continue to enjoy visa-free entry.
Under the revised regulations, holders of passports from these two countries are permitted to enter Germany for short visits without going through the usual Schengen visa application procedure.
Germany: African countries approved for free-visa entry
Based on the official records published by the German government, the two African countries whose citizens are exempt from Germany’s entry visa requirement are:
- Mauritius
- Seychelles
These island nations are regarded as having some of Africa’s strongest passports, allowing their citizens easier access to numerous destinations around the world, including countries within the Schengen Area.
Conditions for Germany visa waiver
Although the citizens of Mauritius and Seychelles are not required to obtain a visa before entering Germany, the Federal Foreign Office has stated that they must comply with the following conditions:
- 90-Day Stay Limit: Under Footnote 1 of the German immigration guidelines, travellers from these visa-exempt countries may not remain on German territory for more than 90 days within any 180-day period.
- Painful Employment is Prohibited: Individuals travelling under this visa waiver are strictly prohibited from taking up any form of gainful employment (work) while in Germany.
- Biometric Passport Requirement (For Seychelles): As specified under Footnote 5, the visa waiver for citizens of Seychelles applies only to holders of biometric passports. Those carrying non-biometric passports will still need to apply for a standard visa.
Meanwhile, Nigeria is still listed among the countries whose citizens must secure an entry visa before travelling to the Federal Republic of Germany.
However, Nigerians who possess dual citizenship with Mauritius, Seychelles, or any other country that enjoys Germany’s visa-waiver privilege, including the UK, the US, Canada, or EU member states, may travel to Germany without a visa by presenting their qualifying foreign passports.
