Germany stops humanitarian visas for politically persecuted Belarusians – UPDATE
Germany has suspended all humanitarian admission procedures, including the issuance of humanitarian visas for politically persecuted persons from Belarus. The consequences are serious.
Update 12.08.2025: The Federal Ministry of the Interior provided us with an update on the current status:
Admission for the protection of the political interests of the Federal Republic of Germany according to Section 22, sentence 2 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) is limited to particularly exceptional individual cases. The Federal Ministry of the Interior can only consider admission and make a statement to the Federal Foreign Office if a well-founded request is submitted to the Federal Ministry of the Interior by the Federal Foreign Office.
In LIBERECO’s view, the procedure described corresponds precisely to the procedure applied before the suspension and does not represent a change. Despite the apparent consistency of the procedure, several cases entrusted to us have been on hold since at least April.
“All humanitarian admission procedures are currently suspended.” This sentence, displayed on the German Federal Ministry of the Interior’s website since the end of July, has far-reaching consequences for Belarusian refugees seeking protection in Germany to escape repression in their home country. Because the exact scope of this suspension was unclear, and our Legal Help Team received many inquiries, LIBERECO asked the Federal Ministry of the Interior for a statement.
We wanted to know whether this change also affects people who have already submitted an application under Section 22 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) but have not yet received a response to their case, and what further options are available to politically persecuted persons whose situation actually falls under Section 22 of the AufenthG.
The complete response from the Federal Ministry of the Interior (на русском языке):
In the coalition agreement, the parties supporting the federal government agreed to end voluntary federal admission programmes as far as possible. They’re currently looking into how this can be done for the different programmes. Until a decision is made, all procedures, including those for admitting people to protect the political interests of the Federal Republic of Germany under Section 22, sentence 2 of the Residence Act, have been suspended since mid-May. This means that no new admissions under Section 22, sentence 2 of the Residence Act are currently being declared. In addition, the issuance of visas to persons for whom admission has already been declared under Section 22, sentence 2 of the Residence Act is also suspended until further notice. This applies to Belarusian nationals and all other persons for whom admission has already been declared under Section 22, sentence 2 of the Residence Act. This does not affect persons who have already been granted a residence permit under Section 22, sentence 2 of the Residence Act.
Optionally, it may be relevant for individual persons to be issued with a different visa for a longer-term stay in Germany, e.g. to continue their studies or take up employment. Whether the requirements for this are met would have to be assessed by the competent German mission abroad as part of the visa procedure.
Suspension of humanitarian visas puts people at risk
LIBERECO is shocked by this change. It not only abandons politically persecuted Belarusians, but also deliberately puts them in danger.
We are already in close contact with other civil society organisations. Together, we are trying to find a quick solution for those who are affected and are seeking contact with the relevant German authorities. However, it is currently unclear when and how humanitarian visas will be issued again.
Our Legal Help Team provides legal counselling to Belarusians who are forced to flee their home country due to political persecution and repression. We rely on donations to provide ad hoc support to those affected and pay specialist lawyers.
Полный ответ Федерального министерства внутренних дел на русском языке:
В коалиционном соглашении партии, формирующие федеральное правительство, договорились по возможности максимально прекратить добровольные федеральные программы приема иностранных граждан. В настоящее время проводится проверка того, как это может быть реализовано в отношении различных программ. До принятия решения все процедуры в целом приостановлены. С середины мая также приостановлены и процедуры по приему лиц в целях защиты политических интересов Федеративной Республики Германия в соответствии с § 22 предложение 2 Закона о пребывании иностранцев (AufenthG, Gesetz über den Aufenthalt, die Erwerbstätigkeit und die Integration von Ausländern im Bundesgebiet). Это означает, что в настоящее время прием новых граждан согласно § 22 предложение 2 не осуществляется. Кроме того, выдача виз лицам, в отношении которых уже был объявлен прием согласно § 22 предложение 2, также в целом приостановлена до дальнейшего уведомления. Это касается граждан Беларуси, а также всех других лиц, в отношении которых уже был объявлен прием согласно § 22 предложение 2 Закона о пребывании иностранцев. Для лиц, которым уже был выдан вид на жительство на основании § 22 предложение 2, это, как правило, не имеет последствий.
Дополнительно, в отдельных случаях может быть актуальной возможность получения другой визы для долгосрочного пребывания в Германии, например, для продолжения учебы или начала трудовой деятельности. Соответствие требованиям для этого должно быть оценено компетентным немецким зарубежным представительством в рамках визовой процедуры.