Germany is now offering financial payments to Afghan asylum seekers to stop them from entering the country. This decision comes after the previous government had promised thousands of Afghans the right to relocate to Germany for safety. Many of these people had escaped Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The change in policy has created worry and frustration among the affected asylum seekers.
Under the earlier relocation program, more than 45,000 Afghans were moved to Germany, including many who previously worked for the Bundeswehr. However, the new government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz has tightened immigration rules. His administration stopped issuing visas in the summer, leaving around 2,300 Afghan refugees stuck in Pakistan even though they had already prepared to move.
Reports say that the German Interior Ministry is now sending letters to these Afghans, offering them money to give up their right to enter Germany. The offer includes up to €10,000 as a “starter bonus” if they agree not to travel. They are also being given around €2,500 to help them leave Pakistan. In some cases, families are being offered even more, depending on their size.
According to the German newspaper Die Welt, a family of four was recently offered €2,750 immediately and €11,500 after they returned to Afghanistan. These payments are being described as “voluntary return support,” but many critics say the refugees feel pressured and abandoned after believing they would be welcomed.
Officials in Berlin say the purpose of the payments is to discourage more people from coming to Germany. Their statement said the goal was to provide options for people “who cannot expect to be accepted in Germany.” The government believes that this approach will reduce irregular migration and keep border control tighter.
However, Afghan families who had been promised safety in Germany say they feel betrayed. Many say they are still in danger in Afghanistan or cannot safely live in Pakistan due to harassment, lack of legal documents, or risk from Taliban supporters. For them, returning is not a choice but a risk to their lives.
German courts have ruled several times in support of the stranded refugees, saying that the government must still honor the original visa approvals. Despite this, only a small number of people have been allowed to travel to Germany since the new administration took office. So far, only four flights have carried about 110 Afghans to Germany