Arrival in Afghanistan

Before travelling, confirm that the passport is valid and that the Afghan visa matches the purpose of the stay. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) lists tourist, business, service, entry, residence, student, visit, arrival, crew, transit, e-permit and exit categories. Published examples include a tourist visa valid for three months with one month of stay for USD 80, a student visa valid for three months with one to three months of stay for USD 40 to 100, and a residence visa valid for one month to one year at a published fee of USD 50 per month. Business visas range from one month to three years and USD 40 to 300; entry visas are listed for three months with one month of stay and a USD 100 fee; transit visas are listed for one month with three to six days of stay and USD 80 to 150. The issuing mission should confirm the current fee, validity and conditions before tickets or accommodation are booked. The required evidence depends on the visa category. Tourist applications generally require the travel purpose, a valid passport and a hotel booking. Business applications can require a valid Afghan business licence, a passport copy and bank evidence. Student applications require an agreement with a recognised Afghan university and education records. An entry visa requires an official invitation from a licensed Afghan organisation and MFA approval. An arrival visa at Kabul International Airport requires an official letter from a domestic organisation or an invitation from an international organisation together with MFA approval. Transit applicants need a visa or travel document for the destination country. Applicants under 18 need a written request from a parent or guardian under MFA rules. A foreign passport holder of Afghan origin can enter without a visa when the person can prove an Afghan birthplace or present a Tazkira, Afghan passport or identity certificate. A Tazkira or e-Tazkira is an Afghan citizen identity document, not a general residence permit for foreign nationals. People who have relinquished Afghan citizenship are treated as foreign nationals for entry purposes. Carry originals, copies and a secure digital copy of identity, family and status documents. Foreign nationals should complete the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) foreign-national information form before entry through the NSIA website, an Afghan consulate, an airport or a land port. Entry takes place through Kabul International Airport or an official land crossing. The MFA, Ministry of Interior (MOI), General Passport Directorate, border police, airport staff and border authorities may check travel documents and entry permission. Border conditions, transport availability, opening times and security conditions can change quickly, so confirm them shortly before departure. Afghanistan has no single public welcome, registration or settlement system for all new arrivals, and the state does not provide general accommodation or guaranteed onward transport for ordinary foreign visitors. Returnees from Pakistan use status- and vulnerability-based assistance pathways. Relevant documents and status terms include Proof of Registration (PoR), Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF), slips, asylum certificates, Gorizah or refugee cards, Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) and undocumented status. At Torkham in Nangarhar, the Omari Reception Center operates Saturday to Friday from 08:00 to 21:00. At Spin Boldak in Kandahar, the Takhtapol Reception Center operates Saturday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:30. At Bahramcha in Helmand, the Lashkargah Reception Center operates Saturday to Thursday from 08:00 to 16:30. Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad Encashment Centers were reported closed in the cited UNHCR update. Outside opening hours, people may receive only transit support and have to return for assistance processing on the following day. Do not surrender original documents; keep photographs and copies. UNHCR assistance for returns from Pakistan requires status documentation, completed registration and a vulnerability assessment. Relevant vulnerability factors include a female-headed household, disability, age 60 or older, pregnancy, a life-threatening illness, an unaccompanied or separated child or a heightened protection risk. Eligible households may receive AFN 11,500 once, with an AFN 2,300 supplement for a disability or a female-headed household, generally through a HesabPay prepaid card. Depending on capacity and assessment, reception services can also include basic health care, vaccination, overnight accommodation, protection counselling, mine-risk education, child-friendly spaces and malnutrition screening. These services and payments are not guaranteed, and UNHCR services are free. People returning from Iran or elsewhere may use reception, transit or assistance facilities near Islam Qala and Herat, Milak and Nimroz, Zaranj and other crossings. Depending on the crossing and current capacity, support may include registration, cash, food, non-food items, transport, water and sanitation, health care, vaccination, medication, protection screening, referrals, psychosocial support, legal aid and mine-risk education. Check availability on the day of travel because services, opening times and capacity can change. A person with PoR, VRF, a slip, an asylum certificate or other refugee documentation should seek UNHCR return processing. A person with an ACC or undocumented status should ask about IOM Transit Centers. A person who needs international protection should request referral to UNHCR or another protection organisation. Assistance depends on status, vulnerability and available capacity; registration does not automatically create a residence permit or guarantee accommodation, transport or long-term support. After arrival, a foreign national planning to stay for a longer period should clarify the residence-visa process with the MFA, the MOI or the responsible Afghan mission. A visa or entry permission does not automatically grant residence, permission to work or a broad right to settle. No direct equivalent to general municipal registration was identified in the research. Foreign-national forms, visa and residence records, Afghan Tazkira or e-Tazkira records, UNHCR registration and returnee registration serve different purposes and must not be treated as interchangeable. The health system is fragmented and unevenly available. About 33 percent of the population was reported to be underserved, and at least 422 primary health-care facilities were reported closed in 2025, reducing access for about 3.3 million people. Do not assume that treatment is free for every new arrival. Registered refugees and asylum seekers can use public hospitals and clinics without charge according to UNHCR information, but they should carry their certificate. Support for private care is handled case by case after public-care options and UNHCR approval. In an emergency, go to the nearest available health service immediately. People seeking asylum can contact UNHCR Afghanistan through its official email. The Kabul ICON Compound receives walk-ins on Mondays and Wednesdays from 08:30 to 12:30; outside those times, there are no walk-in appointments. Provide complete and accurate information. UNHCR registration is not a residence permit, resettlement decision or guarantee of assistance. Women, children, people with disabilities, people who are alone, older or seriously ill, and returnees without a local support network should clarify protection, health, water, accommodation and transport needs before departure or immediately after arrival. A separate service space for women and girls can be requested at return reception where available.