Afghans Must Apply for German Work and Study Visas Online From 1 June

Afghan citizens applying for German work and study visas will have to submit their applications online from 1 June, the German Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, has announced. From that date, the embassy says it will accept visa applications exclusively through its online system.

Key facts

• Start date: online-only applications from 1 June
• Who is affected: Afghan citizens applying for work and study visas for Germany
• Where to apply: the Consular Services Portal of the German Federal Foreign Office
• Deadline: the in-person appointment system and waiting list close to anyone without an appointment by 1 May
• Handling mission: the German Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan

What is changing?

According to a statement from the embassy, Afghan applicants will be able to file work and study visa applications through the Consular Services Portal of the German Federal Foreign Office starting from 1 June. After that date, all applications must come through the online system.

The previous arrangement, which relied on in-person appointments and a waiting list for applicants who had not secured a slot, will no longer be available. That option closes to anyone who did not obtain an appointment by 1 May.

Who is affected?

The change covers Afghan citizens seeking work or study visas for Germany. The source highlights applicants currently in Pakistan awaiting migration procedures, for whom the switch may bring both easier access to the process and greater demands on digital readiness and competition among applicants.

Economic analyst Asif Stanikzai said providing legal work visas for labourers not only simplifies procedures but also helps protect workers' rights. Abdul Nasir Reshtia, also an economic analyst, argued that sending workers and young people abroad would generate foreign currency income and benefit Afghanistan's economy.

How do I apply?

From 1 June, applications go through the Consular Services Portal of the German Federal Foreign Office. The embassy's statement does not set out fees, required documents or processing times for the online route.

What this means for travellers

Afghan nationals planning to apply for a German work or study visa should be prepared to file online from 1 June. Anyone hoping to use the in-person system needed an appointment by 1 May; without one, the online portal becomes the only route.

Migrant rights activist Mohammad Jamal Muslim said a transparent process run through the embassy's consular section would be "a new and hopeful chapter" for work and study visa applicants, but warned that handing the process to service companies in Pakistan could raise concerns.

The source notes that visa applications by Afghans, particularly for study and work, have faced serious challenges in recent years, and that many Afghans have turned to Germany and other countries to continue their studies or find work. No further decisions or dates have been announced beyond the 1 June start.