VisaMate
German visas without the pain
Problem
A one-way ticket to visa hell
Moving to Germany is a bureaucratic nightmare. The visa process is packed with conflicting information and government jargon that even native speakers struggle to understand. Clunky government websites rarely provide consistent information and the lack of digitalization transports applicants back to 1985.
How might folks who want to live and work in Germany streamline their visa application process?
Stats
~2 million
Immigrants to Germany, 2024
5+ visa options
With different requirements
1-3 months
Average visa processing time
MY ROLE
Digitalize the German visa process
I worked with a Berlin-based startup to design a mobile app for folks seeking to live and work in Germany. As a former visa applicant (surviving the exhausting process 5 times), I knew firsthand the confusion and endless paperwork involved, and I was determined to help others avoid the same headache.
Alongside a product owner and 2 designers, I spearheaded research and collaborated on design strategy. We set out to pull the German visa experience out of a dystopian Kafka novel and into the modern age.
Tasks
Conduct research
Design and test prototype
Deliver MVP
DISCOVERY
An office visit that leaves scars
Our research uncovered something deeper than an inefficient visa process: emotional trauma. All interview participants described their assigned immigration official as cold and even downright hostile. Each appointment felt like stepping into an interrogation room where one wrong word could derail their entire future.
We realized the app had to do more than just streamline forms; it needed to give folks clear guidance and use plain language to make applicants feel supported before ever facing a visa officer.
Insights
3-6 months
Average wait time for appt.
4+ office visits
No digital appt. options
40,000+ cases
Pending visa applications
TESTING
Visa applications from your phone
I tested a mid-fidelity prototype with 7 non-EU residents who had recently completed the visa process, curious to see how easily they found the right visa through an interactive quiz, locate key documents, and track appointments.
I was surprised that every participant said that a tool like this would have saved them hours of stress while preparing for their own visa appointment.
Results
5/7
Expected reminders on home
6/7
Wanted autofill option
7/7
Successfully completed quiz
FINAL DESIGN
Willkommen to VisaMate
Inspired by Bauhaus design, VisaMate uses clean typography, minimal colors, and jargon-free language to guide folks through their visa process with confidence.
By transforming a paper-heavy, Orwellian ordeal into a clear and mobile-friendly experience, VisaMate helps applicants focus on what really matters: building their new life in Germany.
Impacts
500+
Applicants upon launch
10+ hrs
Time saved filling out forms
~3 visits
Visa office trips saved
REFLECTION
Lessons learned
This project reminded me that behind every stack of paperwork is a real human being, a person with hopes, dreams, and fears. It’s easy to get lost in legal terms and dry forms, but empathy proved to be the most valuable tool for our team.
I also learned to be strategic in conducting interviews, ensuring participants felt comfortable discussing a topic that had the potential of bringing up trauma. Relating to their experiences, having gone through the same process myself multiple times, helped build trust and genuine connection.
VisaMate ultimately shows government offices to focus on the people, not the paperwork.
Let's explore and create together
Made with a compass and a pot of Earl Grey by Ian Wright, 2025
