Last year the German government withdrew a prior promise to grant visas to hundreds of Afghans who fled from the Taliban. Now the country's top court says the authorities cannot lawfully deny admission to the entire group.
On Friday, Germany's Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe ruled in favour of an Afghan mother and her two minor sons, saying their case must be re-examined.
The woman had initially been accepted under a refugee scheme set up by the previous German government.
The case potentially has life-changing implications for hundreds of Afghan refugees who were promised visas in Germany under the previous government.
The case was brought by an Afghan woman who wants entry visas for herself and her two underage sons. She is currently in Pakistan.
