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Schengen visa refused: Appeals no longer possible since 01.7.2025: Your legal options
Expert article in migration law
Schengen visa refused: Appeal no longer possible since 01.7.2025 – My legal options
Was your Schengen visa application rejected? Until June 30, 2025, you had the option of appealing the rejection by filing a formal objection (remonstration) with the German embassy or consulate. However, this option was abolished on July 1, 2025. Since then, applicants have only two options for responding to a visa rejection: filing a lawsuit with the Berlin Administrative Court or submitting a new visa application.
As a lawyer specializing in immigration law, I advise and represent you in strategically selecting the right course of action and reliably support you in appealing a visa refusal. I examine your case individually and enforce your rights with legal expertise.
As a lawyer specializing in immigration law, I advise and represent you in strategically selecting the right course of action and reliably support you in appealing a visa refusal. I examine your case individually and enforce your rights with legal expertise.
Lawsuit against visa refusal: My chance before the Berlin Administrative Court
From July 1, 2025, appeals will no longer be possible – your only remaining option is to file a lawsuit directly with the Berlin Administrative Court. This lawsuit represents your primary legal recourse against the refusal of a Schengen visa.
Please note the deadline for filing a lawsuit: You only have one month.
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The deadline for filing a lawsuit is one month from receipt of the rejection notice.
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Within this timeframe, I must file a lawsuit against the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the Federal Foreign Office, with the Administrative Court of Berlin.
Contact me now and secure a consultation – I can help you if your visa has been rejected.
Contents of the statement of claim
The grounds for rejection must be refuted in detail in the lawsuit. Possible arguments include, for example:
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My willingness to return is proven (e.g., through employment, family or property in my country of origin),
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I have sufficient ties to my home country,
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All formal requirements for the visa have been met.
Advantage compared to a new application
A significant advantage of filing a lawsuit is that I can avoid the often months-long waiting times for a new visa appointment at the embassy – particularly important in countries with high application volumes. In such cases, a court decision can lead to the desired outcome much more efficiently.
As an experienced immigration lawyer, I will assist you in assessing your chances of success and handle the entire legal process. I will represent you competently before the Berlin Administrative Court – nationwide and internationally.
New visa application after rejection – When it makes sense to submit a follow-up application
In addition to filing a lawsuit with the Berlin Administrative Court, I also have the option of submitting a new visa application after my Schengen visa was rejected. This option may prove useful if my personal or financial circumstances have changed significantly since the initial application.
When a new application is likely to be successful:
A renewed application has a chance of success if I can submit new and convincing documents, such as:
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Changes in personal circumstances (e.g. marriage, new family ties),
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Additional financial documentation (e.g. payslips, sponsorship statements, bank statements),
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Supplementary or new travel documents that were not previously submitted.
Note: A follow-up application without new evidence is usually unsuccessful.
An identical follow-up application without improved documentation will, in most cases, be rejected again. Therefore, thorough preparation and sound documentation are crucial.
As a lawyer specializing in immigration law, I will work with you to determine whether a new application is the better strategy – or whether a lawsuit before the administrative court would be more effective in your case. I will assist you in compiling all the necessary documents and increase your chances of success.
Lawsuit or new visa application – which strategy makes sense?
After a visa application is rejected, many applicants face the crucial question of whether to appeal or submit a new application. Which course of action is more sensible in a specific case depends on several legal and factual circumstances and should be carefully considered.
Filing a lawsuit with the Berlin Administrative Court offers the advantage that the authority's rejection is subject to independent judicial review. Particularly when the rejection is based on legally dubious considerations or the reasoning is incomplete and incomprehensible, there are often realistic chances of success. Another practical aspect is that filing a lawsuit allows me to avoid the often lengthy waiting times for a new appointment at the German mission abroad.
A new visa application can be a sensible alternative if my circumstances have significantly improved since the initial rejection. This is especially true if I can provide new or supplementary evidence, such as updated financial documents, changes in family ties, or additional travel documents. However, I should bear in mind that a new application incurs new fees and often involves longer processing and waiting times. Furthermore, without demonstrable improvements compared to the first application, there is a risk of another rejection.
As an experienced immigration lawyer, I analyze your individual situation and provide you with transparent advice on the chances of success for both options. Whether it's court proceedings or a new application – I support you in making the best possible decision.
Conclusion: Visa rejected – now it's a matter of choosing the right strategy.
With the abolition of the right to appeal on July 1, 2025, the legal remedy procedure following a visa refusal has changed considerably: The possibility of an informal review by the embassy is no longer available – only the formal legal action via the Berlin Administrative Court remains.
This means that anyone wishing to appeal a rejection of their Schengen visa must be well prepared strategically and legally.
Whether an appeal against the rejection notice or a new visa application is advisable in your case depends on many individual factors. As an experienced immigration lawyer, I will support you in a well-founded assessment and enforcement of your rights – both out of court and in court proceedings.
Whether or not to appeal a visa rejection or submit a new visa application is worthwhile depends heavily on your individual circumstances. As an experienced immigration lawyer, I am here to provide you with a sound assessment and to enforce your rights – whether out of court or in court proceedings.
