New Wave of Afghan Refugees Arrive in Germany Amid Admission Program Restrictions
Despite halting official programs, Germany continues to receive Afghan refugees with admission guarantees amid increasing legal arrivals and ongoing challenges.
- • 14 vulnerable Afghan refugees arrived in Hannover from Pakistan via Istanbul under federal resettlement program.
- • New German government stopped official intake program for vulnerable Afghans in May 2025 but legal arrivals continue.
- • Approximately 1,900 to 2,300 Afghans remain in Pakistan awaiting admission to Germany.
- • Arrivals include former Bundeswehr staff, human rights activists, and others at risk from the Taliban.
- • The coalition government plans to largely end voluntary intake programs for Afghan refugees.
Key details
On October 31, 2025, 14 vulnerable Afghan nationals landed in Hannover, Germany, under the federal resettlement program designed for Afghans who had secured admission guarantees. These arrivals traveled from Pakistan through Istanbul and included two families, continuing the efforts to relocate those at high risk despite the German government's halt on the intake program for vulnerable Afghans since May 2025. This flight marks the fourth such operation since the new CDU-led government took office, following previous arrivals of 47 and 28 Afghans in September 2025.
The individuals transferred primarily consist of former local employees of the Bundeswehr and other German institutions, human rights activists, and women's rights advocates, all at risk of persecution by the Taliban. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, all newcomers underwent strict security checks prior to entry. The Interior Ministry confirmed that the newcomers will be distributed among Germany’s federal states.
Despite the program's official suspension, Afghan nationals continue to assert their rights through legal channels, prompting German authorities to issue visas where applicable. Currently, approximately 1,910 to 2,300 Afghans remain in Pakistan, mostly in Islamabad, waiting to leave for Germany. The German embassy in Afghanistan remains closed following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, necessitating processing abroad.
The new government coalition between CDU, CSU, and SPD has notably curtailed federal intake and resettlement programs, with intentions to end voluntary admission initiatives like those for Afghanistan, a shift from promises made by previous administrations. Meanwhile, Pakistan has reportedly intensified deportations of Afghans, including individuals previously promised admission to Germany.
Future flights with additional Afghan families are expected in early November, although the identities and specific details about the refugees remain undisclosed.
This situation highlights the ongoing complexities and humanitarian challenges Germany faces in balancing restrictive asylum policies with commitments to protect vulnerable Afghan refugees following the Taliban's rise to power.