The German media has reported extensively about cases of visa fraud at the German Embassy in Kosovo following original reports from the German magazine Focus. There are as yet no suspects from the embassy’s personnel and it is not known who forged the Goethe Institute language certificates. However, German officials have concluded that the persons who issued the fake language certificates had excellent knowledge of the German language.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the Ministry of Interior about the fraud. In addition, other German representations in the region have been informed and asked to be on alert about the case”, German foreign ministry officials told Focus.

A document from the German embassy, which the magazine claims to have seen, states that the forged language certificates have most likely also affected the Austrian embassy as well. However, Austrian media quoted a spokesperson from the country’s foreign ministry saying that there have been no such cases in Pristina or the region.