A commitment of admission under the German Federal Programme for the Reception of Afghanistan does not automatically guarantee visa issuance, according to a ruling released Thursday by the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg. The court clarified that additional requirements for visa approval must also be met, including the completion of security checks.
The case stemmed from an Afghan family currently residing in Pakistan who had received a commitment of admission from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. However, the Foreign Office denied their visa application citing incomplete security screenings. A previous ruling by an administrative court ordering the issuance of the visas was overturned by the Higher Administrative Court.
The court emphasized the necessity of personal attendance at the relevant German foreign representation to verify the applicants’ identities and address any potential security concerns. Automated data matching by security authorities cannot replace this in-person verification process. The decision, issued August 26, 2025 (reference: OVG 6 S 51/25), is final and not subject to appeal.
