In a surprise policy reversal announced on 11 December 2025, Germany’s Interior Ministry confirmed it will terminate the “Human-Rights List” and “Bridging” admission schemes set up by the previous government for Afghans at particular risk under Taliban rule. Around 640 people – many of them women’s-rights activists, judges, journalists and NGO employees currently sheltering in Pakistan – had already received written assurances of relocation. Those pledges have now been withdrawn.
Background: Between 2021 and mid-2024 Berlin flew more than 19,000 Afghans to safety, partly to honour commitments to local staff who helped German forces. When Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May 2025, he froze all but the legally-binding “local staff” track while ordering a review of security vetting and integration capacity. Critics warned that Pakistan’s 31 December deportation deadline for undocumented Afghans left little room for delay.
The new decision aligns with Merz’s tougher migration stance designed to blunt support for the far-right AfD. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt argued in cabinet that only promises with the force of law should remain valid, citing “orderly migration” as a priority. NGOs such as Pro Asyl and Amnesty International condemned the move as a betrayal that undermines Germany’s credibility in future overseas missions. They fear reprisals against those now left behind.
![Berlin scraps two Afghan admission programmes, leaving 640 evacuees stranded]()
Practical implications:
• Companies with Afghan local hires awaiting visas should urgently reassess duty-of-care obligations and contingency plans.
• HR teams should expect renewed public scrutiny of corporate links to government projects abroad.
• The decision may also signal stricter interpretation of humanitarian admissions more broadly, potentially lengthening processing times for other at-risk groups.
Amid this uncertainty, VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) can help companies and individuals track real-time German visa requirements, pre-screen documentation and submit applications efficiently—providing a practical buffer against sudden policy swings and easing HR compliance duties.
Looking ahead: Opposition parties have requested an urgent Bundestag debate and may seek court challenges on constitutional-protections grounds. Legal experts note that applicants who can prove a “binding administrative act” may still compel issuance of visas. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s impending deportations could trigger ad-hoc evacuation flights if Berlin comes under international pressure.
Background: Between 2021 and mid-2024 Berlin flew more than 19,000 Afghans to safety, partly to honour commitments to local staff who helped German forces. When Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May 2025, he froze all but the legally-binding “local staff” track while ordering a review of security vetting and integration capacity. Critics warned that Pakistan’s 31 December deportation deadline for undocumented Afghans left little room for delay.
The new decision aligns with Merz’s tougher migration stance designed to blunt support for the far-right AfD. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt argued in cabinet that only promises with the force of law should remain valid, citing “orderly migration” as a priority. NGOs such as Pro Asyl and Amnesty International condemned the move as a betrayal that undermines Germany’s credibility in future overseas missions. They fear reprisals against those now left behind.
Practical implications:
• Companies with Afghan local hires awaiting visas should urgently reassess duty-of-care obligations and contingency plans.
• HR teams should expect renewed public scrutiny of corporate links to government projects abroad.
• The decision may also signal stricter interpretation of humanitarian admissions more broadly, potentially lengthening processing times for other at-risk groups.
Amid this uncertainty, VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) can help companies and individuals track real-time German visa requirements, pre-screen documentation and submit applications efficiently—providing a practical buffer against sudden policy swings and easing HR compliance duties.
Looking ahead: Opposition parties have requested an urgent Bundestag debate and may seek court challenges on constitutional-protections grounds. Legal experts note that applicants who can prove a “binding administrative act” may still compel issuance of visas. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s impending deportations could trigger ad-hoc evacuation flights if Berlin comes under international pressure.
