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Afghanistan → Germany

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Afghanistan
To
Germany
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
58,482
Change since 2018
+367.0%
Share of all arrivals in Germany, 2023
3.44%
Inflow 202358,482OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Afghanistan to Germany

Inflows of nationals of Afghanistan recorded by Germany; stock of nationals of Afghanistan living there; and acquisitions of Germany's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

42k85k200020032006200920122015201820212023
42k85k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20006,434
20016,384
20023,896
20032,606
20042,313
20051,600
20061,283
20071,201
20081,855
20094,622
20107,377
20119,321
20128,581
20139,088
201412,922
201584,881
201675,763
201712,489
201812,523
201913,011
202014,101
202140,144
202268,510
202358,482
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—419,410—
202358,482377,2406,520
202268,510309,8204,205
202140,144271,8053,175
202014,101263,4202,880
201913,011257,1102,675
201812,523251,6402,545
201712,489253,4852,400
201675,763131,4542,482
201584,88175,3852,572
201412,92266,9743,000
20139,08861,7633,054
20128,58156,5632,717
20119,32151,3052,711
20107,37748,7523,520
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Afghanistan who live in Germany: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

179k359k19901995200020052010201520202024
179k359k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990607
19958,522
200021,132
200546,763
201077,856
2015101,950
2020265,648
2024358,767
Estimate, 2024
358,767
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
2.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
9
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Germany's consulates in Afghanistan

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Germany's consulates located in Afghanistan.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202195226770.5%
201940611227768.2%
20171,05938947344.7%
20162,6881,3511,16343.3%
20152,2191,0111,07448.4%
20142,4441,3201,07944.1%
20132,8281,3091,46551.8%
20122,8921,5711,32145.7%
20113,4882,0651,42340.8%
20103,5072,1881,32937.9%
20093,2571,7811,48145.5%

Applications by year

1,7543,50720092010201120122013201420152016201720192021
1,7543,507200920112013201520172021
Data table
20093,257
20103,507
20113,488
20122,892
20132,828
20142,444
20152,219
20162,688
20171,059
2019406
202195
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Germany

First residence permits issued by Germany to citizens of Afghanistan (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Other reasons33,484
  2. Family5,100
  3. Education387
  4. Work247
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202539,2189600
202442,5088810,0951,051
202355,516986,520914
202263,761724,205722
202129,121723,175728
202020,276402,880623
201921,397352,6800
201839,469182,5550
201752,82472,4030
201613,546102,4840
20153,13392,5710
20146,62083,0010
20135,38833,0560
20123,73922,7210
20112,51202,7170
20102,53903,5210
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities189
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)26
  3. EU Blue Card24
  4. Researchers8
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
335,257
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
11,274
Changed status into work, 2025
106
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Germany in Afghanistan, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyKabulafghanistan.diplo.de
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Residence status in Germany

Citizens of Afghanistan living in Germany on 31 December, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

31 DecAllEU free movementPermanent residence titleEmploymentEducation and trainingFamily reasonsInternational law, humanitarian or political reasonsTolerated stay (Duldung)Permission to reside during the asylum procedure
2025449,78039533,8952,74087023,850249,48010,29536,130
2024442,01541032,7603,18575524,585260,6859,35550,210
2023419,41541030,2353,25570521,800232,01512,48052,035

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

225k450k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
225k450k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
201475,385
2015131,454
2016253,485
2017251,640
2018257,110
2019263,420
2020271,805
2021309,820
2022377,240
2023419,410
2024442,020
2025449,780
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Germany, 2023; Afghanistan ranks 7.

Inflows to Germany, 2023
  1. Ukraine283,631
  2. Romania202,039
  3. Syria128,742
  4. Türkiye115,937
  5. Poland97,945
  6. Bulgaria65,871
  7. Afghanistan58,482
  8. India54,123
  9. Italy38,460
  10. Hungary34,003
  11. Russia26,720
  12. Serbia24,155
Other destinations for people from Afghanistan, 2023
  1. United States35,630
  2. Canada20,180
  3. Türkiye12,732
  4. France10,974
  5. Australia4,275
  6. Belgium3,934
  7. Austria3,530
  8. Switzerland3,466
  9. Sweden3,125
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more