Federal police officers at Leipzig-Halle Airport refused entry to two passengers arriving from Istanbul on 7 November, the incident becoming public after the police report was released on 10 November. An Afghan traveller could not prove the minimum funds stipulated in his German visa, while a Belarusian woman presented a valid Italian Schengen visa but admitted she intended to visit family in Saxony rather than travel onward to Italy. Both individuals were placed on the next flight back to Türkiye.
Under the Schengen Visa Code, a short-stay visa is valid only if the holder travels to or through the issuing state as the main destination. Airlines and companies arranging VIP services should remind travellers that intent matters: immigration officers routinely ask purpose-of-trip questions and may annul a visa if the itinerary diverges from the declared plan.
![Entry Denied to Afghan and Belarusian Travellers at Leipzig-Halle Airport]()
For Afghan nationals, Germany maintains enhanced scrutiny after designating Afghanistan as an area of “significant migration risk”. Proof of financial means—currently €45-€50 per day—must be carried and shown in original form. The case signals that even secondary airports are applying the Interior Ministry’s May 2025 directive on stricter verification of supporting documents.
Employers sponsoring Schengen visas should prepare invitation letters that reference the issuing consulate and clearly outline the travel route to minimise doubt at the border. Where multiple Schengen countries are to be visited, applications should be filed with the country of longest stay to avoid claims of “visa shopping”.
Leipzig-Halle’s police unit said 58 people have been refused entry at the airport since the enhanced checks began, a 32 % increase on the same period last year.
Under the Schengen Visa Code, a short-stay visa is valid only if the holder travels to or through the issuing state as the main destination. Airlines and companies arranging VIP services should remind travellers that intent matters: immigration officers routinely ask purpose-of-trip questions and may annul a visa if the itinerary diverges from the declared plan.
For Afghan nationals, Germany maintains enhanced scrutiny after designating Afghanistan as an area of “significant migration risk”. Proof of financial means—currently €45-€50 per day—must be carried and shown in original form. The case signals that even secondary airports are applying the Interior Ministry’s May 2025 directive on stricter verification of supporting documents.
Employers sponsoring Schengen visas should prepare invitation letters that reference the issuing consulate and clearly outline the travel route to minimise doubt at the border. Where multiple Schengen countries are to be visited, applications should be filed with the country of longest stay to avoid claims of “visa shopping”.
Leipzig-Halle’s police unit said 58 people have been refused entry at the airport since the enhanced checks began, a 32 % increase on the same period last year.
