German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to process applications for asylum, visas and residence permits, with the aim of speeding up procedures and easing pressure on immigration authorities, dpa reported.
The bill comes as the number of applications remains high and agency staffing is limited.
The law also aims to standardize administrative practices across Germany by creating a legal framework for the development and use of AI-powered analysis and decision support systems.
Authorities such as the Federal Agency for Immigration and Refugees (BAMF), regional immigration offices and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be empowered to use application data to train, validate and test AI models.
The measure will also allow authorities to analyze data from previously completed cases to identify patterns in decision-making, harmonize processing standards and identify opportunities to speed up proceedings.
Additionally, the law would allow automated checks on publicly available online information. If the authorities have reasonable doubts about the information relevant to the application, it would be permissible to compare the applicant’s statement with publicly accessible data on the internet.
The government said AI would only serve as a support tool. Legal evaluation and final decisions regarding individual cases remain the responsibility of human caseworkers.
