Following the German government's push to conclude Afghan admissions by end-2025, 32 individuals from the halted federal program have arrived from Pakistan. They secured visas through legal challenges after years of waiting in Islamabad.
A Federal Ministry of the Interior spokesperson confirmed that 32 Afghan nationals from the now-ended federal admission program arrived in Germany on January 8, 2026. The group flew commercially from Pakistan, landing in Berlin.
This comes despite the black-red coalition terminating the program in May 2025, targeting former local staff of German institutions and Taliban-persecuted individuals like journalists and lawyers. As previously reported, the government aimed to admit around 535 remaining cases by December 2025 amid a Pakistani ultimatum, with 609 arrivals since September but ~650 rejections finalized in December.
These 32 secured visas via court challenges, aided by groups like the 'Kabul Air Bridge.' The coalition agreement (CDU/CSU/SPD) commits to ending such voluntary programs. Pending cases total ~220 from local staff, 60 from the human rights list, 600 from bridging, and ~1,000 from the federal program.
