Germany quietly resumed limited transfers of vulnerable Afghans on Monday evening, when a scheduled Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul touched down in Hannover with eleven evacuees who hold legally binding admission promises from the Federal Republic. The passengers—journalists, women’s-rights advocates and close family members—had lived in limbo in Islamabad for months after Berlin froze the broader Bundesaufnahmeprogramm in May.
Legal context
Although the three-party coalition formally suspended the Afghanistan admission programme, several hundred applicants obtained German entry visas after German administrative courts ruled that the state is obliged to honour earlier commitments. Monday’s arrivals are the fifth such court-mandated group; they underwent security vetting by the Federal Police and the BfV before collecting visas at the German embassy in Pakistan.
![Fifth evacuation flight brings Afghan nationals with German admission pledges to Hannover]()
Journey & reception
According to the Interior Ministry, the group travelled on commercial tickets from Islamabad via Istanbul to avoid drawing attention that might endanger those still waiting. Upon arrival at Hannover-Langenhagen, Lower Saxony’s Central Reception Authority registered the evacuees and arranged onward travel to integration centres in five Länder. NGO Kabul Luftbrücke, which has litigated on behalf of many beneficiaries, arranged volunteer mentors and furnished SIM cards and winter clothing.
Business-immigration implications
• Employers that pledged work contracts for Afghan professionals can now proceed with onboarding once residence permits are issued—typically within two weeks of registration.
• The episode underscores the importance of court action when political programmes stall; legal counsel should be part of any corporate humanitarian relocation strategy.
• HR should budget extra time for security vetting and coordinate with local authorities on accommodation shortages, particularly in Berlin and Hamburg where state quotas are tight.
Next steps
Roughly 1,900 Afghans with confirmed German pledges remain in Pakistan. The Interior Ministry told reporters it is “examining options” for limited charter flights but gave no timeline. NGOs urge a predictable calendar to allow families and employers to plan. Meanwhile, legal challenges continue—eight more cases are scheduled before the Administrative Court of Cologne this month.
Legal context
Although the three-party coalition formally suspended the Afghanistan admission programme, several hundred applicants obtained German entry visas after German administrative courts ruled that the state is obliged to honour earlier commitments. Monday’s arrivals are the fifth such court-mandated group; they underwent security vetting by the Federal Police and the BfV before collecting visas at the German embassy in Pakistan.
Journey & reception
According to the Interior Ministry, the group travelled on commercial tickets from Islamabad via Istanbul to avoid drawing attention that might endanger those still waiting. Upon arrival at Hannover-Langenhagen, Lower Saxony’s Central Reception Authority registered the evacuees and arranged onward travel to integration centres in five Länder. NGO Kabul Luftbrücke, which has litigated on behalf of many beneficiaries, arranged volunteer mentors and furnished SIM cards and winter clothing.
Business-immigration implications
• Employers that pledged work contracts for Afghan professionals can now proceed with onboarding once residence permits are issued—typically within two weeks of registration.
• The episode underscores the importance of court action when political programmes stall; legal counsel should be part of any corporate humanitarian relocation strategy.
• HR should budget extra time for security vetting and coordinate with local authorities on accommodation shortages, particularly in Berlin and Hamburg where state quotas are tight.
Next steps
Roughly 1,900 Afghans with confirmed German pledges remain in Pakistan. The Interior Ministry told reporters it is “examining options” for limited charter flights but gave no timeline. NGOs urge a predictable calendar to allow families and employers to plan. Meanwhile, legal challenges continue—eight more cases are scheduled before the Administrative Court of Cologne this month.
