If a Foreign Service mission has turned down the visa application, an appeal may be submitted to the Foreign Service mission within three weeks. The Foreign Service mission may either reverse its decision or forward the appeal to the Directorate of Immigration. The Directorate of Immigration will then make the final decision as to whether or not a visa shall be granted.

Also in cases when the first-instance decision is made by the Directorate of Immigration, the appeal should be submitted to the Foreign Service mission. Unless the Directorate of Immigration reverses its decision – for instance because of new information or new documents – it is the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) that will make the final decision regarding the appeal.

The appeal must be submitted by the applicant in person, or by a person representing the applicant pursuant to a written power of attorney from the applicant.

The processing of the appeal is free of charge.