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Admission for Afghan Local Employees
From 2013-2015, Germany had already implemented an admission procedure for local employees from Afghanistan (Ortskräfteverfahren). This process allows persons who are in danger due to their work for German federal ministries to be admitted according to section 22 (2) of the Residence Act. The procedure was restarted after the Taliban came to power in August 2021. Since then, around 20,000 people have been admitted with members of their nuclear family.
How does the local employees procedure work?
Persons at risk can submit a risk report through their former employer. These reports are examined by the various federal ministries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of Defence, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development). After a positive review, the Federal Ministry of the Interior will issue a confirmation of admission for the applicant and the members of the core family. In exceptional cases, other family members may also be included in the admission confirmation.
Although numerous people have already been admitted to Germany through the procedure for Afghan local employees, there is a number of problems with the procedure: for example, people who have worked for subcontractors and were not employed directly by the federal ministries are excluded. Likewise, admission cannot take place if the employment relationship dates back too long. Thousands of Afghans are still waiting to be admitted through this procedure.
After arriving in Germany
In the first two weeks after their arrival, the admitted persons are accommodated in the initial reception facilities in Friedland or Doberlug-Kirchhain before being distributed to the federal states according to the official distribution system (Königsteiner Schlüssel). Within the federal states, they are then distributed to the municipalities. In the initial reception facilities, the refugees receive initial support and advice from the social services based there.
After entering the country, local Afghan workers receive a temporary residence permit for a maximum of three years according to section 22 (2) of the Residence Act, which can be extended for as long as the reason for admission continues to exist. They are also given a work permit from the beginning. Their residence status entitles them to take part in an integration course. They are also immediately included in the social security system and are entitled to social benefits under SGB II / XII in addition to health care, nursing insurance and compensation insurance.
Family reunification is generally only possible for humanitarian reasons or to safeguard the political interests of Germany.
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