London/Berlin – Outsourcing provider TLScontact has informed applicants that its online portal for Germany visa applications will be offline tonight, 16 October 2026, from 23:00 to 00:00 UTC (01:00–02:00 CEST). The company operates visa-application centres for German missions in multiple countries, including the UK, Iran and Nigeria. Appointments, payment functions and document uploads will be unavailable during the maintenance window. TLScontact recommends that travellers download copies of confirmation pages or QR codes in advance and avoid last-minute form submissions. Files already uploaded will remain in the system; no data loss is expected, but uploads in progress at shutdown will need to be repeated. Visa-on-premise appointments scheduled for 17 October are unaffected. The maintenance notice also highlights the recent launch of a new national-visa category – the "Chancenkarte" (Opportunity Card). Effective 1 October 2026, German missions worldwide can now issue D-category visas that let qualified non-EU talents enter Germany for up to twelve months to search for skilled employment or complete recognition training. Eligibility is determined by a points system (minimum six points) covering qualification, language skills, experience and age. Employers planning to recruit via the Chancenkarte should note that holders may work up to 20 hours per week in any job while searching for qualified positions and may undertake two-week trial employments. Once a qualified job contract is secured, the holder can convert the visa into an EU Blue Card or Skilled-Worker Residence Permit without leaving Germany. HR teams should update immigration instructions and ensure assignment planners schedule online-portal tasks outside the announced downtime. Given high global demand, early slot booking and complete digital files remain crucial to avoid delays.
Source: TLScontact
