German Authorities Deny Reports of Refusal of Residence Permits for Russians 0 242

Humanitarian residence permits (RPs) in Germany "for individuals admitted to the country to protect the political interests of Germany can be extended, as before," according to a response from a representative of the Ministry of the Interior in Berlin to a DW inquiry on Friday, October 17. In Germany, the federal Ministry of the Interior determines the principles of migration policy. The issuance of residence permits is the responsibility of the federal states.

"The state government is unaware of the mentioned phenomenon, and there are no relevant instructions or notifications from our ministry," the Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees, and Integration of North Rhine-Westphalia responded to DW's inquiry. They noted that each extension of residence permits is considered on a case-by-case basis, with established legal requirements being checked. "The type of residence permit and the applicant's citizenship do not play a decisive role in this process," the ministry assured.

At the time of publication, the government of Schleswig-Holstein had not responded to DW's inquiry.

Cases of Refusal to Extend Residence Permits for Russians

On October 16, some Russian-language media and Telegram channels reported that several federal states in Germany had stopped extending humanitarian residence permits for Russian citizens. North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein were cited as examples.

For instance, the publication Sota wrote on social media X that, particularly in Cologne and Leverkusen, "migration authorities are canceling appointments and reporting a suspension of extensions until a new decree is adopted," and the extension of residence permits for Russian citizens after December 31, 2025, "is postponed until directives from the federal government are issued." Photocopies of notifications received by Russians were provided as evidence.

The Telegram channel "Yezh" reported on the change in the procedure for extending humanitarian residence permits by the migration service in Berlin. According to their information, "applicants are now asked to provide evidence that threats in their country of origin persist and remain grounds for protection."

In Practice, the Program for Russians in Germany is Closed

The expedited procedure for issuing humanitarian visas was launched in Germany in May 2022 against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ongoing repressions in Russia and Belarus. This concerns a provision based on §22 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz). Individuals "who are at special risk due to their commitment to the fight against war, as well as for democracy and human rights or due to actions criticizing the regime" can apply for such visas, DW explained at that time in the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

After the new government came to power in Germany in May 2025, all reception programs, including humanitarian visas, were suspended for review. In August, the German Foreign Ministry confirmed that these restrictions would be lifted; however, the "expedited admission procedure" for citizens of Belarus, Russia, and Iran, agreed upon by the Ministry of the Interior and the Foreign Ministry under previous governments, would no longer be applied.

About 3000 Russians and Belarusians Managed to Obtain Humanitarian Visas

According to data received in early October from the German Ministry of the Interior, during the period of the expedited humanitarian visa program, 2490 Russians and 410 Belarusians were able to enter Germany. In an official response from the ministry regarding one of the cases in DW's possession, it is emphasized that "this is a significant number," and Germany has thus "provided substantial support."

"The decision on whether the admission serves to protect the political interests of Germany is made by the competent political bodies, and there is no fixed catalog of criteria," the Ministry of the Interior noted.