The Consul-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos, Mr. Daniel Krulls, has announced plans to significantly speed up visa processing for Nigerians, targeting a maximum turnaround time of three weeks for all categories of visas.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos to outline his priorities as the new Consul-General, Krulls said the initiative forms part of Germany’s broader effort to strengthen economic, cultural, and educational cooperation with Nigeria.
According to him, the Lagos Consulate currently processes over 10,000 visa applications annually, but intends to increase capacity through targeted reforms aimed at improving efficiency and transparency.
“Our main objective as a consulate is to be a facilitator — helping people from Germany and Nigeria connect,” Krulls said. “One of the most important services we provide is the visa process, and we are expanding our office capacity to double the number of visa counters. With new counters and more staff, we aim to shorten processing times to no more than three weeks.”
The Consul-General disclosed that the consulate would partner with external service providers for certain visa categories and establish a verification system for academic diplomas to fast-track processing for students.
He explained that the document verification initiative had been successfully piloted in New Delhi, India, where it helped accelerate study visa decisions, and would soon be replicated in Nigeria.
Beyond visa reforms, Krulls highlighted Germany’s interest in expanding collaboration with Nigeria in technology, innovation, and the creative industries.
He revealed that German IT companies are exploring investment opportunities in Nigeria’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem, while also expressing enthusiasm for film co-productions with Nollywood.
“Language barriers may have limited Germany’s presence in Nigeria’s film sector so far, but there’s significant room for improvement,” Krulls noted. “Germany is ready to support Nigerian creatives in securing royalties from international streaming platforms such as YouTube, Google, and Netflix.”
On cultural exchange, the envoy said both countries already run several people-to-people programmes, including a film workshop that brings together young movie students from Germany and Benin City for joint productions.
Krulls reaffirmed Germany’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, describing Nigeria as a key partner in Africa’s social, cultural, and economic development.
“Nigeria plays a vital role in Africa’s progress. Germany is committed to supporting that journey through stronger cooperation across all sectors,” he added.
