Afghanistan Visa Policy

You can realize a planned trip to Afghanistan by getting an Afghanistan visa. Foreign nationals can apply for Afghanistan short-term visas for temporary reasons (tourism, business, cultural, and other short-term). If you want to stay in Afghanistan longer for any reason (such as education, work, etc.), you can also extend a visa or apply for Afghanistan Residence Permit.

You can apply for Afghanistan Short-term visa for realizing your temporary travel to Afghanistan. Reasons to apply for this type of visa can be tourism, visiting family or friends, business trips, short-term education, short-term work, and many other non-permanent nuances. Afghanistan Short-term visa’s validity period can be a maximum of 90 days. Short-term visas can be both single-entry and multiple-entry.

Required Documents for Afghanistan Short-term Visa

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Afghanistan.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Photo

• NEW! Should not be older than 6 months.
• A frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo.
• A uniform and white background.
• Clear facial features and eyes – not covered by hair or glasses frame.
• 3.5x4.5 size

4. ID Card Copy

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Afghanistan.

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Afghanistan.

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas
• Copy of visa for the final destination (if any)

7. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation (return ticket)
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Letter from Local Employer/Sponsor (Proof of Occupation)

• The letter must include:
  • Name, postal address, and telephone number of sponsor/company
  • Details regarding the applicant’s working position, starting date of the employment, and salary
  • The timeframe of work leave (expected date to resume duties) and purpose of travel
• Valid trade license copy and company ownership documents (if a person is an owner of the company).
• Letter from University (if student)
• Copy of sponsor’s valid passport and residence visa (if any) to be attached to letter from sponsor (if an applicant is a dependent)

9. Proof of Financial Means

• Bank statement with sufficient funds covering the travel and stay in Afghanistan

10. Medical Insurance (if applicable)

• It should cover all the duration you intend to stay in Afghanistan

11. Supporting Documents that Show Your Reason for a Trip

• For tourism:
  • Tourist visas are granted to all foreign nationals who intend to visit Afghanistan for tourism purposes or to visit their friends and family. Tourist visas are valid for a period of 3 months with a single entry. The period of stay in Afghanistan shall be 30 days within the period of validity.
    • Invitation letter from a Sponsor/Tour company (if applicable)
    • Confirmation of the accommodation (hotel confirmation, apartment rental contract, etc.)

For more information on places of interest, please visit the Afghan Tour Organization website.

• For business/congress:
  • Business Visa is issued to foreign nationals entering the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for Business, Investment, Marketing, Commercial Transactions, Custody, Liquidation, Handling of Corporate and Commercial Property, Sale and Purchase of Property, Participation in Exhibitions, Commercial Events and other similar issues.
• Business people and Investors can obtain Afghanistan visa in two different ways:
  • Applying for a visa in Afghanistan embassies/consulates
    • Invitation letter from the prospect local partner company in Afghanistan
    • Reference number issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan
    • Registration certificate of the company
    • Bank Statement of the Company
    • Letter from the company addressed to the embassy, introducing the businessman for visa issuance
    • Copy of the license (JAWAZ) of the prospect local partner company in Afghanistan
  • Getting Afghanistan visa on arrival

Visas will be issued to foreign Businessmen and Investors upon arrival at Hamid Karzai International Airport, through representatives of the Border Police of the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Afghanistan, and after evaluation of the required documents, in collaboration with the MoFA representative at the airport.

You must present the following documents at the airport:

• Notarized copy of a valid business license with at least six-month validity
• New notarized bank statement with having a minimum of US $100,000 deposit
• Visa application form with providing a recent photo
• The exact address of the company along with the valid commercial document in which the address of the company is cited
• An original copy of the business letter from the company
• The Police Clearance or No-Objection Certificate

For information about visa on arrival please check this website

• For entry visa:
  • Entry visas are issued for employers/employees of companies registered in Afghanistan. The entry visas are non-convertible but may be extended in Afghanistan through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also, for a foreigner who is married to an Afghan national with a validity of 90 days and a period of 30 days stay. It can be extended by the Ministry of Interior Affairs for a period of up to 1 year with multiple entries.
    • A clearance letter/reference number from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan or an Afghan work permit
    • Proof of Address
    • Marriage Certificate: if issued by the government of the applicant in another country, it should be attested by the embassy of the applicant. If issued in Afghanistan, should be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan
    • Passport copy of the spouse
• For visiting visa:
  • Visit Visa is issued to foreign nationals who intend to participate in sports competitions, exhibitions, visits to their relatives and friends or to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Places in Afghanistan.
    • Reference Number from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan
    • Original invitation letter by inviting person
    • Letter from the employer/organization of the applicant;
    • The original document that confirms the ownership of estate (home) of your inviting person, if you are going to stay there
    • Copies of passport, ID card/residence permit of your inviting person
    • A notarized written statement of the host person (indicating his full details), as well as the purpose, date of travel, intended place of residence;  
    • Certificate of absence of HIV infection (must be valid for three months) (if applicable)
• For studying:
  • A student visa is issued to a foreigner who intends to study or conduct research within the public and private educational/academic institutions. If a student has a government scholarship, a visa fee will be charged on the basis of the principle of reciprocity.
    • Reference number issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Govt. of Afghanistan
    • Admission/Bonafide or introduction letter from the university or institution he/she is admitted to
    • Copy of school leaving certificate or higher education diploma
    • Other supporting documents (if any)
• For media:
  • Media visas are issued for all media visits to Afghanistan. Media visas are not convertible or extendable.
    • Original invitation letter by a company in Afghanistan
    • A letter from the applicant’s employer addressed to the media section of the embassy. Besides, confirming the applicant’s employment the letter should mention the purpose of the applicant’s visit to Afghanistan.
    • A copy of the applicant’s press card
• For spouse:
  • The spouse of an Afghan national wishing to visit Afghanistan is granted a visa for his or her spouse. Spouse visas are issued for a period of 3 months with a single entry and for a period of 30 days.
    • Proof of Address
    • Photocopy of the Afghan partner’s passport or Tazkera
    • Marriage certificate or their child’s birth certificate indicating both parent’s names (if applicable)
    • Applicant’s personal statement describing the purpose of the journey. The statement should also indicate that the applicant is aware of the risks involved in traveling to Afghanistan.
    • Invitation letter from Afghanistan (if applicable)
• For crew:
  • Crew Visa is issued to foreign crew members (pilots, engineers, flight attendants, and air technicians) of the airline. Crew Visa shall be extended from one (1) month to one (1) year by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the basis of a request from the airline concerned to the Independent Directorate of Civil Aviation.
    • Reference Number issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afghanistan
    • Contract agreement/appointment letter with the airline
    • Copy of the most relevant educational documents
    • Pilot certificate/license if the applicant is a pilot
• For transit:
  • Transit Visa is issued to foreigners intending to travel to another country via Afghanistan. Transit Visa is valid for one (1) month with a stay of three days for those traveling by air and a stay of six days for those traveling by land. Transit Visa is issued on the basis of mutual agreement and reciprocity with the right to enter once (1) or twice (2).
    • Copy of the valid visa of the destination country;
    • Air Ticket

12. For Minors:

• Copy and English translation of either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced/death certificate of parent
• Letter of consent from parent/s or legal guardian/s, if traveling unaccompanied

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for Afghanistan Short-term Visa

The average processing time for an Afghanistan Short-term Visa is 3-15 working days. It depends on your visa application country.

Afghanistan Short-term Visa Fee

Afghanistan Short-term Visa fee is 40-800 USD/EUR/GBP (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

NB: Currencies vary depending on your country and nationality.

Where to Apply for Afghanistan Short-term Visa?

You will apply for an Afghanistan Short-term visa in Afghanistan visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

Child e-Travel Permit (For ages 16 and over) is required for children of Afghan descent, born outside Afghanistan, who do not have the Afghan Passport or Tazkera. If the child's place of birth is shown as Afghanistan in their non-Afghan passport, he/she does not require an entry permit. 

Child Visa (Child e-Travel Permit), can’t be made in person or by post. Child Visa (Child e-Travel Permit) applications must be made by email.

Child e-Travel Permits are valid for a period of 5 years for children under the age of 16 from the date of issue.

Child e-Travel Permits are valid for a period of 1 year for children aged 16 years and over from the date of issue.

Required Documents for Child e-Travel Permit

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the return date
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport

3. Photocopies:

• Child’s passport copy
• Child’s birth certificate illustrating both parents’ name
• Father’s passport copy
• Mother’s passport copy

*Additional documents can be required by the embassy.

Processing Time for Child e-Travel Permit

The average processing time for a Child e-Travel Permit is 1-15 days. It depends on your visa application country.

Child e-Travel Permit Fee

There is no visa fee in case a person applying for a Child e-Travel Permit. It depends on your nationality or your country of submission.

Where to Apply for Child e-Travel Permit?

You will apply for a Child e-Travel Permit in Afghanistan visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If there is none of them in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.

If you intend to stay in Afghanistan for a long period, you can extend your visa or apply for a residence permit in Afghanistan in most cases. However, it is advisable to contact the nearest Afghanistan embassies/consulates for the exact information for Afghanistan Residence Permit. In some cases, they can issue a Residence Permit for you or they can issue a short-term visa for you, so you can enter Afghanistan with that visa and apply for an extension or residence permit in Afghanistan.