As of next week Monday, 19 January 2026, all Schengen visa applications previously handled directly by the German Embassy will be processed exclusively through an external service provider called TLS Contact. This development will see the total Schengen Visa application fee increase by about N$500 because in addition to the visa fee, applicants will now have to fork out a non-refundable service fee of €24.51 charged by TLS Contact. 

This TLS service fee covers appointment scheduling, document handling, biometric capture and passport delivery. Payments at the TLS Contact centre must be made by card only, as cash is not accepted.

The standard Schengen visa fees remain unchanged and are set by the European Union, which are €90 for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 12 and free of charge for children under the age of 6. 

According to the German Embassy, the outsourcing of visa application services is expected to make the process more efficient, allow applicants to book appointments more easily, and provide clearer guidance on required documentation. This is expected to ultimately make it more convenient for Namibian residents to obtain Schengen visas for travel to Europe.

TLS Contact, which already operates in several other African countries, is a regional partner of the German Federal Foreign Office. 

The German Embassy in Windhoek yesterday announced this major shift in service provision for Schengen visa applications for Namibian residents, with the aim of reducing waiting times and improving customer service. While TLS Contact will manage the administrative process, the final visa decision remains the sole responsibility of the German Embassy in Windhoek.

The new system applies to visa applications for travel not only to Germany, but also to six other Schengen states represented by the German Embassy in Windhoek, namely Belgium, Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Under the new arrangement, applicants will be required to submit their visa application forms and supporting documents at the TLS Contact German Visa Application Centre, located at Maerua Mall (Regus Office Tower). The centre is centrally located and accessible to persons with physical disabilities.

Biometric data collection and the return of passports will also be handled at the TLS Contact centre which will operate on Mondays to Fridays, from 08h30 to 15h30.

This means that as of 13 January 2026, appointments for Schengen visa applications can only be booked via the TLS Contact website for Namibia. As of Monday, 19 January 2026, the TLS Contact German Visa Application Centre will officially commence operations at Maerua Mall.