A commitment to accept individuals under the Federal Programme for the Admission of Afghan Nationals does not automatically guarantee visa issuance, according to a ruling released Thursday by the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court. The court clarified that additional requirements for visa approval must also be met, including the completion of security checks.
The case at hand involved 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 that a personal appearance at the relevant foreign representation is necessary to verify the identity of applicants and address any potential security concerns. Automated data exchange between security authorities cannot replace this in-person verification process. The decision is final and binding (Decision of August 26, 2025 – OVG 6 S 51/25).