The Federal Police has repeatedly raised concerns in internal reports about problems with the 2022 federal intake program for especially vulnerable people from Afghanistan. According to files cited by “Welt am Sonntag”, over several months the reports mentioned falsified or incorrectly notarised passports, illegal proxy passports, forged marriage certificates and suspicions of bribery in obtaining visas.
In spring 2023, a document from the Federal Police complained that in more than 100 cases relevant security information about Afghans had not been taken into account by the visa office when making its decisions. The confidential files also refer to “various irregularities concerning visa‑related travel documents”. Earlier this year, the agency opened several investigations into possible document forgery by Afghans who had been deported.
In March 2025, the German Police Union (DPolG) sent a letter to former Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Union chairman Heiko Teggatz demanded the cancellation of a charter flight from Islamabad to Berlin that was to transport Afghans to Germany, citing safety reasons. He said he had solid evidence that since the start of the program there have been multiple discrepancies in clarifying the identities of passengers on such flights. He added that, given the current highly tense security situation regarding Islamist terrorism, he considers the practice to be highly risky and irresponsible.
