How do I get a visa to marry in Germany from Nigeria (Lagos) or Ghana (Accra)?
Short answer
To marry in Germany, you need a visa for marriage. The German Missions in Nigeria (Lagos) and the German Embassy in Accra (Ghana) both say it can only be issued if there are no legal or factual obstacles to the marriage and it is imminent. Both recommend contacting the German registry office well before you apply, and you must bring its confirmation that the document check is finished to the interview. 12
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When is the visa to marry issued?
Both missions use the same rule. The visa for marriage can only be issued if there are no legal and factual obstacles to the marriage and it is imminent.
Imminent means that the competent registry office in Germany has all the documents it needs to exempt you from providing the certificate of marriageability.
Why do I need the German registry office first?
Both missions say this usually involves a procedure to verify your documents: Nigerian documents for Lagos, Ghanaian documents for Accra.
Both recommend contacting the relevant registry office in Germany well in advance of your visa application. Ask which documents the marriage needs, then take the necessary steps.
At the interview you must present a confirmation from the registry office that the document verification is already finished. Both missions also want the documents you gave the registry office to be presented with your application.
How do I apply in Lagos (Nigeria)?
You apply online through the Consular Services Portal of the Federal Foreign Office. You fill out the form online and upload your documents.
To get an appointment, the Lagos page asks you to contact the Consulate General by email. Give your name, passport number and the file number of the document verification process. Attach the confirmation by the German civil registry office (Bescheinigung über die Anmeldung zur Eheschließung).
Your documents are then checked for completeness, and you get a link to book the appointment. At the appointment, your identity and original documents are checked, a short interview is held, your fingerprints and photo are taken, and the fee is paid.
The Lagos page also lists a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) under sections 66 to 68 of the German Residence Act. A person living in Germany signs it at the local immigration office in Germany. You present the original plus 1 copy. It must cover the entire duration of stay and be no older than 6 months.
Lagos lists several verification methods and says applicants are told if one is required and pay all the costs. The page says the fee is paid at the appointment, but it gives no amount.
Sources for this part1
How do I apply in Accra (Ghana)?
The Accra embassy's document list for the marriage visa includes:
- A confirmation from the German civil registry office that a date for the intended marriage has been scheduled (Bescheinigung über die Anmeldung der Eheschließung).
- A statutory declaration (as proof of premarital status) by one parent of the Ghanaian fiancé(e). If both parents have died, the head of family makes it. It has to be sworn before a notary public at the declarant's place of residence.
- Proof of sufficient German language skills: a recent A1 level certificate of an ALTE certified language school.
- A formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) under sections 66 to 68 of the German Residence Act, confirmed by the local immigration office. It must not be older than 6 months on the date you plan to enter the Schengen Area or Germany, and you need a new one for each visa application.
- Sufficient health insurance for the period from entering Germany until the marriage takes place.
Sources for this part2
What does it cost and how long does it take in Accra?
The Accra marriage visa page gives a visa fee of EUR 75. It is payable in cash in GHS at the embassy's current exchange rate, or by credit card.
The embassy says processing after the personal interview can take several months, depending on the case and the German authorities that may need to be involved. For this visa it is generally required to involve the relevant immigration authority in Germany, so the embassy says to apply in good time.
The embassy also says it cannot answer questions about the status of your application within the first 12 weeks after you apply.
Sources for this part2
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When do I need the registry office's confirmation?
Both missions say a confirmation from the registry office that the document verification is finished must be presented at the interview. They recommend contacting the registry office well in advance of the visa application. 12
How much is the marriage visa fee in Ghana?
The Accra marriage visa page says EUR 75, payable in cash in GHS at the embassy's current exchange rate or by credit card (checked 31 October 2026). 2
How long does the marriage visa take at the Accra embassy?
The embassy says processing after the interview can take several months, depending on the case and the German authorities involved. It will not answer status questions within the first 12 weeks after you apply. 2
Sources
- 1Reunification to get married in GermanyOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 31 Oct 2026
- 2Visa for getting married in GermanyOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 31 Oct 2026
Official is the embassy or a German government page. Applicant reports are what applicants say happened at their appointment. Secondary is everything else we checked.
General information, not legal advice. VisaRoom isn't connected to any embassy or government, and only the embassy decides on your visa. Something out of date? Tell us.