Germany toughens visa conditions, says report

Germany toughens visa conditions, says report

Germany is testing three different methods of obtaining unfalsifiable proof of identity from visa applicants from 32 countries, the German news magazine Der Spiegel says in its latest edition to be published on Monday.

The magazine said Germany was testing the use of fingerprints in Nigeria, biometric face-checking in Indonesia and eyeball examination in a third location, not named, in order to establish which is most effective.

These will include countries like Nigeria who refuse to readmit their nationals when deported from Germany, and from so- called risk nations from which suspected terrorists could arrive, the magazine said.

The procedure will apply to long-term visa applications only. The report said that last year more than half the visas issued in Lagos were short-term for between one and three months.

The German interior ministry could not be reached for confirmation. -- Agencies