How long does the German spouse visa take from Nigeria or Ghana?
Short answer
There is no official fixed processing time for a German spouse visa from Nigeria or Ghana, and the German Embassy in Accra says processing after the interview can take several months. Accra and the German Missions in Nigeria both say they will not answer status questions in the first 12 weeks. In Lagos, appointments go out in strict order of the consulate's waiting list.
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Is there an official processing time?
The German Missions in Nigeria say the processing time of visa applications may vary depending on the individual case. They do not give a number of weeks or months.
The German Embassy in Accra says processing after the personal interview can take several months, depending on the case and the German authorities that may need to be involved.
So any waiting time you see from applicants, including the ones further down this page, is one person's experience, not a rule. The only official figure is the Nigeria missions' 'typically 6–8 months' for document verification. We checked both mission pages on 23 October 2026.
How do spouse visa appointments work in Lagos?
The Consulate General in Lagos schedules spouse visa appointments in strict chronological order of its waiting list, and says the list is still valid.
If you registered for an appointment before and already have a registration number, you do not need to create an account on the Foreign Portal (the online visa portal). You get an appointment when it is your turn.
People who registered on the Foreign Portal get appointments only after everyone on the waiting list has received one. The consulate does not say how long that takes.
Sources for this part1
Why does it take months after the interview?
Your file does not stay with the mission alone. The Nigeria missions say the Consulate General must involve the competent authority in Germany, and that depending on previous stays, its response may take some time. The Accra embassy says it is generally required to involve the relevant immigration authority in Germany.
Both missions give the same advice: apply for the visa in good time.
Status questions: the Nigeria missions will not answer them within the first 12 weeks for family reunion visas. The Accra embassy will not answer them within the first 12 weeks after you apply.
How much time does document verification add in Nigeria?
The Lagos consulate can order a document verification (a check of your documents by an investigator) when documents show inconsistencies, such as different names or dates of birth. It also says that if your marriage was only traditional, you should complete the civil marriage registration before you apply; otherwise a document verification will be required. You are told if a verification is needed, and you pay its costs.
The Nigeria missions' document verification page says processing is 'typically 6–8 months' and adds that it may vary. During the investigation they ask you not to send status questions, because they cannot answer them. See our page on document verification in Nigeria for the fees and steps.
How long did it take for other applicants?
These are personal accounts from YouTube videos. None of them gives the year of the application, and timelines change, so treat them as stories, not as what will happen to you.
- A Nigerian applicant married to a German citizen (mission not named) says getting an appointment takes about a year: you apply, and roughly a year later you get the appointment email. She says the lawyer doing the verification gets in touch two weeks to a month after you submit, and that verifications last from three to six months.
- A mother applying with her toddler (country not stated) reports an interview in February, then an email in March asking for her passport, travel date and health insurance. She says her visa came back at the end of March, and that a one-month gap was caused by documents she had to submit after the interview.
- A Lagos applicant says that, in her experience and her friends', the invitation with the interview date and time arrives about 3 weeks before the appointment.
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Do I need a new Foreign Portal account if I am already on the Lagos waiting list?
No. The Lagos consulate says applicants who already registered and have a registration number do not need a Foreign Portal account. They get an appointment when their turn comes on the waiting list. 1
When can I ask about the status of my spouse visa?
Not in the first 12 weeks. The Nigeria missions say status questions for family reunion visas cannot be answered within the first 12 weeks, and the Accra embassy says the same for the first 12 weeks after application. 23
Why is my spouse visa taking months after the interview?
The missions involve the authorities in Germany, such as the immigration office (Nigeria says it must; Accra says it is generally required). Accra says this can make processing after the interview take several months. In Nigeria, a document verification, if ordered, has its own processing time of 'typically 6–8 months' according to the missions. 324
Sources
- 1Reunification with spouseOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 23 Oct 2026
- 2National visa for long term staysOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 23 Oct 2026
- 3Family reunion to a spouseOfficialGerman Embassy Accra · checked 23 Oct 2026
- 4Document verification for identity establishmentOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 23 Oct 2026
- 5Reunion visa process as the spouse of a German citizenApplicant reportsFumzyjen Tv (YouTube) · checked 12 Oct 2026
- 6Family reunion interview with a toddler, and what happens afterApplicant reportsFive & Six Duo (YouTube) · checked 12 Oct 2026
- 7Family reunion interview day in Lagos and about 50 common questionsApplicant reportsDorathy Udoisoh (YouTube) · checked 12 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.