Afghans in danger: Fifth flight to Germany – hope for many!

Afghans in danger: Fifth flight to Germany – hope for many!

In a remarkable development, eleven Afghan citizens traveled to Germany on November 11, 2025 on a scheduled flight from Islamabad to Hanover, which included a stopover in Istanbul. This is the fifth flight of this type since the change of government in Berlin. The need is enormous, because around 1,900 Afghans in Pakistan are waiting to leave for Germany. The situation cannot be underestimated, as many of them are threatened by the Taliban due to their connection to Western institutions or because of persecution. Lip wave reports on these developments and illuminates the critical background.

The new federal government discontinued the admission program for particularly vulnerable Afghans in May. This program included former local employees of German institutions as well as Afghans whose lives were in danger because of their work. While under the previous government people were flown in on chartered planes, refugees now have to travel to Germany via regular scheduled flights. Despite the stop, some of those affected have received visas due to lawsuits in Germany, supported by the “Kabul Airlift” organization.

Current situation and programs

The following groups are currently affected as part of the admission process: around 220 former local employees, around 60 people on a “human rights list”, almost 600 from the bridging program and around 1,000 from the federal admission program for Afghanistan. According to the Federal Admission Program Afghanistan, the federal government is now examining the implementation of the coalition agreement regarding the admission of these at-risk people. Entries will remain suspended until final clarification is made.

Over 45,000 Afghans at risk and their eligible family members have the prospect of being admitted to Germany. This includes more than 25,100 former local workers and over 19,900 other people at risk who have been identified by civil society. In order to make it easier for them to enter the country, a specific federal admission program was launched, which has been in implementation since October 17, 2022.

Visas and entry regulations

Contact is usually made via the federal government's service providers, while individual applications are not possible. In the current situation, the question naturally arises as to what the visa application process is like. The embassy in Kabul remains closed, but applications can be processed in Islamabad. Applications for family reunification, studies, language courses or employment can be submitted there. Applications should be fully prepared, otherwise delays can quickly occur. The fees for a national visa are 75 euros. The website of the German embassy in Kabul provides further information on this.

Currently, waiting times for visas are very high, especially for other purposes, which means applicants need to be patient. After entering the country, it is important to register with the responsible residents' registration office and the immigration authority. Processing applications can take several months, and applications for those eligible for subsidiary protection are currently suspended until July 23, 2027.

The situation for the people of Afghanistan remains tense. Vulnerable groups, especially women and people who advocate for human rights, are at great risk. It is therefore crucial that Germany does not lose sight of its responsibility and continues to offer support and protection.