Verdict: Germany must issue visas to Afghans

The German government must grant an Afghan family visas to enter Germany based on existing admission commitments. The Berlin Administrative Court ruled this on Tuesday in connection with the federal admission program for particularly vulnerable people from Afghanistan .

No visa despite promises

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) granted the family admission in October 2023. They then submitted a visa application to the German Embassy in Islamabad, but it was not approved, even though the federal program for the admission of vulnerable Afghans had already started in autumn 2022.

The woman and her 13 family members subsequently filed an urgent application. They claimed they were entitled to visas and could no longer stay in Pakistan. There, they faced deportation to Afghanistan, where they would fear for their lives. The Berlin Administrative Court has now granted the application.

According to the court spokeswoman, the Federal Foreign Office (AA) is obligated to act immediately following the decision. However, an appeal against the decision can be filed with the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court. Should the agency do so, delays could occur.

Legal obligation through acceptance

The judges declared that the federal government had "legally bound itself to accept refugees through final, unrevoked admission notices." Germany could not "exempt itself from this voluntarily entered into commitment," they continued.

At the same time, the court emphasized that the federal government is, in principle, free to decide whether and under what conditions the admission program will be continued. However, in this specific case, those affected can rely on the commitment made.

Reception commitments after the Taliban takeover

After the Taliban seized power in August 2021, several admission programs were established for particularly vulnerable Afghans. In 2022, the then German government launched a federal admission program that would allow up to 1,000 people to enter the country each month.

In reality, however, significantly fewer arrived: According to the Federal Foreign Office, only around 1,400 people were admitted by the end of April 2025, most recently mostly women and children. The procedures are handled through Pakistan, as there is no longer a German embassy in Afghanistan.

The current federal government, comprised ofthe CDU/CSU and SPD , agreed in its coalition agreement to end the voluntary federal admission programs "as far as possible." According to the Federal Foreign Office, around 2,400 people are waiting in Pakistan for a visa.

Pro Asyl: Federal government commits criminal offense

The human rights organization Pro Asyl called on the German government to "do everything in its power to save these people." Pro Asyl also presented a legal opinion on the admissions on Tuesday. According to the opinion, the German government is committing a criminal offense if it abandons vulnerable Afghans who have been promised admission and then deports them from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Those affected face serious human rights violations in Afghanistan – from torture and abuse to sexual violence and killings.

ch/fab (dpa, afp, epd, KNA)