Afghans in Pakistan Face Hurdles to Germany as 30+ Family Visas Refused

Germany has rejected the visa applications of more than 30 Afghan families currently in Pakistan after reviewing their cases, the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau reported on Sunday, 18 October 2026. The families had been promised admission to Germany, and the re-examination left the earlier refusals unchanged.

Key facts

• More than 30 Afghan families in Pakistan had their German visa applications rejected.
• A second review of the cases did not change any of the previous decisions.
• Around 500 Afghan nationals in total are waiting in Pakistan to be relocated to Germany.
• Affected applicants include former judges, former intelligence agency employees and women's rights defenders.
• Germany's Constitutional Court has said each case must be reviewed individually before a promise of admission is withdrawn.

What has happened?

According to Frankfurter Rundschau, the German government re-examined the cases of the families and upheld the earlier refusals. The newspaper criticised how the government handled the files, saying the second review changed none of the previous decisions and that the government had complied with the Constitutional Court's order only in appearance.

Germany's Constitutional Court had previously stressed that every individual case must be examined separately before any promise of admission is revoked.

Who is affected?

The families concerned include former judges and former employees of an intelligence agency who face threats from the Taliban because of their past work. They also include women who fear torture and death at the hands of the Taliban over their work defending women's rights in Afghanistan.

Beyond the security threats, these women also face the risks of forced marriage and poverty, the report said. Frankfurter Rundschau added that the women could obtain legal protection if they were in Germany and applied for asylum, but they have been deprived of that opportunity.

How many Afghans are still waiting?

According to the report, around 500 Afghan nationals in total are waiting in Pakistan to be relocated to Germany. The source does not state how many of them have received decisions, nor what steps remain open to the families whose applications were refused.

What this means for travellers

Afghans in Pakistan who hold or expect a promise of admission to Germany should be aware that their cases are being reviewed individually and that a review does not guarantee a positive outcome. The source gives no information on appeal routes, fees or processing times for these files.

No further decisions or deadlines have been announced in the report.