Visa

Information for U.S. Passport Holders:

Effective January 1, 2015, holders of U.S. passports applying for a visa to Afghanistan will be eligible for multiple-entry visas depending on the purpose and significance of the trip with a standard fee of $160.00 based on reciprocity and subject to change.

Note: Duration of visa (one month, up to 12 months) and the number of entries is based on reciprocity and the sole discretion of the Afghan embassy/consulate. It should be understood that a visa is not considered to be a right, and if individuals are not found eligible or do not have adequate supporting documents, issuance of visas will be denied or suspended without provision of any further clarification.

Types of Visas & Additional Documentation Required:

According to the Afghan travel and residency law for foreign nationals, the following types of visas are available.  

Diplomatic visa (DV)

• DV is issued for the holders of Diplomatic Passport. 

Official visa (OV)

• OV is issued by the Afghanistan Missions abroad to the foreign nationals who hold Service and Special Passports or UN Laissez-Passer. It can also be issued to those who enter the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for conducting official assignments in the diplomatic and consular missions of foreign countries, institutions, agencies or international organizations. Issuing visa for the staff of relevant authorities having Service Passport is free of charge, but for others, it will be issued based on reciprocity.

Business Visa (BV)

• Those who intend to travel to Afghanistan for investment and business purposes can apply for an Afghan Business Visa by providing the following documentation:
  • • Introduction or permission letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chamber of Commerce, or other related official bodies
    • Work permit and business license
    • Address of the company
    • Documents providing the type of commercial activities, payment of taxes and bank account number
• BV is issued to the foreign nationals who enter into the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for the purpose of business, investment, marketing, commercial transactions, guardianship, liquidation, handling of corporate affairs, and commercial property; selling and buying property; participation in exhibitions; commercial events and other similar issues.
• Multiple BV is valid for one (1) year and it can be issued by collecting a specific visa fee and based on the following conditions:
  • Introduction of BV applicant by the Chambers of Commerce or other competent authorities of the country to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
  • Providing work permit and description of business activities;
  • Providing the relevant company address (in Afghanistan, or in the country of origin)
  • Providing bank account
  • Note; BV can be issued inside Afghanistan to those applicants that have Business Passports and have been introduced by the Ministries of Commerce, Economy, Mines, Finance, Transport, and Chambers of Commerce and other relevant government bodies to MoFA. Business Visa shall be extended through the Ministry of Interior for up to one (1) year with multiple entries. For investors of neighboring or other countries, this type of visa is issued based on reciprocity or bilateral and multilateral agreements concluded with them.

New amendments are added to a part of the Travel and Residence Law for Foreign Nationals in Afghanistan:

Article 1: Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Article 10 and part 1 of paragraph 1 of the Article 27 of the Travel and Residence Law for Foreign Nationals in Afghanistan is published in the Official Gazette no. 1185 on 11/7/1394 (3/Oct/2015), and is amended in the following manner

1. Article 10: (2) Multiple entry visas which have been mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article authorized Afghanistan’s missions abroad to issue three months to three-year multiple entry visas for foreign nationals.
   (3) Business visas (multiple) are extended for up to three years inside the country by the Ministry of Interior Affairs upon the request of the business visa holder and letter of recommendations from the relevant government institutions.
2. Article 27: Business Visa: Three-month multiple visas for US $40; Six-month multiple visa for US $80; one-year multiple visa for US $160; two-year multiple visa for US $250; and three-year multiple visa for US $300 or equivalent sums in local currency (Afghani). For extending a business visa for up to one year, US $15 or equivalent sums in Afghani will be charged for every month. 

Upon Arrival Visa Procedure for Foreign Business People and Investors:

• The upon arrival visas will be issued for the foreign business people and investors upon their arrival at Hamid Karzai International Airport through the representatives of Border Police of Ministry of Interior Affairs of Afghanistan and after the evaluation of the required documents in collaboration with the MoFA representative at the airport. This visa will be issued in accordance with the amendment of Article 27. 
• The required documents are as follows:
  • To provide a notarized copy of a valid business license with at least six-month validity
  • To submit a new notarized bank statement with having a minimum of US $100,000 deposit
  • To complete the visa application form with providing a recent photo
  • Providing the exact address of the company along with the valid commercial document in which the address of the company is cited
  • Visa payment fees are paid in accordance with the Article 27 of the Travel and Residence Law for the Foreign Nationals in Afghanistan. It is only applicable for issuing a business visa for business people and investors
  • Providing an original copy of the business letter from the company 
  • Providing the Police Clearance or No-Objection Certificate

Working Entry Visa (WV):

• Applicants applying for a Work Visa should be below the age of retirement (65) and must provide their educational documents along with the visa application, invitation or introduction letter from the employer company in Afghanistan (including passport information, the purpose of travel and duration of stay of the applicant). Additionally, they should also have a confirmation letter from Consular Affairs Directorate-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the I.R. of Afghanistan.
• WV is issued to employees, doctors, teachers, trainers, experts, engineers, pilots, the staff of ground transportation and foreign technical workers based on need and previous invitations for the purpose of working at Diplomatic and Consular Representations, UN Offices, International Organizations; Government and Non-Governmental Organizations; National and International Agencies. The WV Processing Fee is as follows: 
• The required documents are as follows:
  • For one (1) month, Single Entry is $100 USD;
  • Extension for one (1) year is $50 USD per month or payable in local currency and applicable through Ministry of Interior
  • To complete the visa application form with providing a recent photo;
  • Extension of WV is permitted based on the request of the inviting departments and is processed through MoI along with a letter from MoFA 

Tourist Visa (TV):

• TV is issued for foreign nationals who are interested to visit Afghanistan individually or with a group for the purpose of visiting natural, tourist and historic sites or their relatives. TOV is issued by the Afghan Missions abroad. The validity of this type of visa is for ninety (90) days and the period of stay would be for thirty (30) days, which can be extended only once by the MoI with the consent of the Afghan Tourism Department. 

Visit Visa (VV):

• VV is issued for foreign nationals, who are interested to participate in sports competitions, exhibitions, visiting their relatives and friends, and conduct pilgrimage to holy sites in Afghanistan. 

Student Visa (SV):

• SV is issued by the Afghan Missions abroad to the foreign students who intend to study, work and conduct research within Afghanistan Government and private educational/academic institutions. If a student has a government scholarship, the SV fee will be charged based on reciprocity.  

Upon Arrival Visa (UAV): 

• UAV is issued within Afghanistan International Airports and must accompany the request of the UN Offices and International Organizations along with a written approval by MoFA. Per the request of Visa Applicant, UAV could be changed to one of the visas set forth in articles 9, 10, 11, 16, and 17.  

Crew Visa (CV):

• CV is issued to the crews of foreign airlines (pilot, engineer, flight attendants and air technicians) who enter the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The validity of CV is for six (6) months with the number of the entry in exchange for US $600 or equivalent in local currency. CV shall be extended by MoI for a period of one (1) month to one (1) year based on the request of the relevant airline to the Independent Directorate of Civil Aviation and an official letter from MoFA. 

Transit Visa (TSV):

• TSV is issued to those foreign nationals who pass through Afghanistan with a valid visa or travel document. The validity of TSV for air passengers is for one (1) month and three (3) days of stay and six (6) days for those who travel by land. TSV is issued based on mutual agreement and reciprocity with the right to enter once (1) or twice (2). The visa fee for Single Entry is $80 USD and for Double Entry is $150 USD. 

Residence Visa (RV):

• RV is issued to the foreign nationals who enter the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with a visa set forth in articles 9, 10, 11, 14 and 16 of this Law, and continues to reside in Afghanistan. RV is issued by MoI for one (1) year with the right to enter Afghanistan three (3) times. 

Transit Visa (TV): 

• TSV is issued to those foreign nationals who pass through Afghanistan with a valid visa or travel document. The validity of TSV for air passengers is for one (1) month and three (3) days of stay and six (6) days for those who travel by land. TSV is issued based on mutual agreement and reciprocity with the right to enter once (1) or twice (2). The visa fee for Single Entry is US $80 and for Double Entry is US $150. 

Exit Visa (EXV):

• EXV is issued in the following cases to the foreign nationals who want to exit from Afghanistan:
  • If his/her visa has not been extended or exit has occurred after the expiration of the visa period; 
  • If he/she is banned from traveling by court order, and after lifting the travel ban, he/she will be issued EXV;
  • If he/she entered Afghanistan territory and was sentenced to prison, whereupon serving his/her prison time he/she will be issued EXV; and
• EXV is valid for six (6) days with a written letter from MoFA through MoI

Notices:

1. Applicants for an Afghan visa, regardless of the type of visa, are required to obey the laws of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
2. Currently, the standard visa processing time is 5-7 business days but this may vary on an individual basis. (Recently the Embassy has launched the Expedite Service with extra fees. Please contact the Embassy of Afghanistan to check your eligibility and fees.)
3. Foreign nationals who have entered Afghanistan on an Entry Visa or a Work Visa are eligible to work. This category of individuals must obtain a work permit from relevant agencies after entry to Afghanistan. Issuance of a visa to those foreign students who intend to travel to Afghanistan is based on agreements and on a reciprocal basis, after the authorization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan.
   • All foreign nationals can obtain an Afghan visa, except in the following cases:
     • 1. When the individual is banned from entering Afghanistan by the Afghan authorities;
       2. When the individual has not completed the previous ban period;
       3. When the individual has been expelled from Afghanistan for an unknown period of time;
       4. When the individual is suspected to disrupt security, disrupt general order, is suspected of moral corruption, or lacks respect for the rules of Islam;
       5. In specific situations when the authorities at the consular and political missions of Afghanistan abroad, based on sound reasons, deem it unfavorable to issue a visa to a certain individual;
       6. When there is a risk of spread of a contagious disease;
       7. When a high-ranking authority has decided to deny the visa.

Information for U.S. Passport Holders:

Effective January 1, 2015, holders of U.S. passports applying for a visa to Afghanistan will be eligible for multiple-entry visas depending on the purpose and significance of the trip with a standard fee of $160.00 based on reciprocity and subject to change.

Note: Duration of visa (one month, up to 12 months) and the number of entries is based on reciprocity and the sole discretion of the Afghan embassy/consulate. It should be understood that a visa is not considered to be a right, and if individuals are not found eligible or do not have adequate supporting documents, issuance of visas will be denied or suspended without provision of any further clarification.

Types of Visas & Additional Documentation Required:

According to the Afghan travel and residency law for foreign nationals, the following types of visas are available.  

Diplomatic visa (DV)

• DV is issued for the holders of Diplomatic Passport. 

Official visa (OV)

• OV is issued by the Afghanistan Missions abroad to the foreign nationals who hold Service and Special Passports or UN Laissez-Passer. It can also be issued to those who enter the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for conducting official assignments in the diplomatic and consular missions of foreign countries, institutions, agencies or international organizations. Issuing visa for the staff of relevant authorities having Service Passport is free of charge, but for others, it will be issued based on reciprocity.

Business Visa (BV)

• Those who intend to travel to Afghanistan for investment and business purposes can apply for an Afghan Business Visa by providing the following documentation:
  • • Introduction or permission letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chamber of Commerce, or other related official bodies
    • Work permit and business license
    • Address of the company
    • Documents providing the type of commercial activities, payment of taxes and bank account number
• BV is issued to the foreign nationals who enter into the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for the purpose of business, investment, marketing, commercial transactions, guardianship, liquidation, handling of corporate affairs, and commercial property; selling and buying property; participation in exhibitions; commercial events and other similar issues.
• Multiple BV is valid for one (1) year and it can be issued by collecting a specific visa fee and based on the following conditions:
  • Introduction of BV applicant by the Chambers of Commerce or other competent authorities of the country to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
  • Providing work permit and description of business activities;
  • Providing the relevant company address (in Afghanistan, or in the country of origin)
  • Providing bank account
  • Note; BV can be issued inside Afghanistan to those applicants that have Business Passports and have been introduced by the Ministries of Commerce, Economy, Mines, Finance, Transport, and Chambers of Commerce and other relevant government bodies to MoFA. Business Visa shall be extended through the Ministry of Interior for up to one (1) year with multiple entries. For investors of neighboring or other countries, this type of visa is issued based on reciprocity or bilateral and multilateral agreements concluded with them.

New amendments are added to a part of the Travel and Residence Law for Foreign Nationals in Afghanistan:

Article 1: Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Article 10 and part 1 of paragraph 1 of the Article 27 of the Travel and Residence Law for Foreign Nationals in Afghanistan is published in the Official Gazette no. 1185 on 11/7/1394 (3/Oct/2015), and is amended in the following manner

1. Article 10: (2) Multiple entry visas which have been mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article authorized Afghanistan’s missions abroad to issue three months to three-year multiple entry visas for foreign nationals.
   (3) Business visas (multiple) are extended for up to three years inside the country by the Ministry of Interior Affairs upon the request of the business visa holder and letter of recommendations from the relevant government institutions.
2. Article 27: Business Visa: Three-month multiple visas for US $40; Six-month multiple visa for US $80; one-year multiple visa for US $160; two-year multiple visa for US $250; and three-year multiple visa for US $300 or equivalent sums in local currency (Afghani). For extending a business visa for up to one year, US $15 or equivalent sums in Afghani will be charged for every month. 

Upon Arrival Visa Procedure for Foreign Business People and Investors:

• The upon arrival visas will be issued for the foreign business people and investors upon their arrival at Hamid Karzai International Airport through the representatives of Border Police of Ministry of Interior Affairs of Afghanistan and after the evaluation of the required documents in collaboration with the MoFA representative at the airport. This visa will be issued in accordance with the amendment of Article 27. 
• The required documents are as follows:
  • To provide a notarized copy of a valid business license with at least six-month validity
  • To submit a new notarized bank statement with having a minimum of US $100,000 deposit
  • To complete the visa application form with providing a recent photo
  • Providing the exact address of the company along with the valid commercial document in which the address of the company is cited
  • Visa payment fees are paid in accordance with the Article 27 of the Travel and Residence Law for the Foreign Nationals in Afghanistan. It is only applicable for issuing a business visa for business people and investors
  • Providing an original copy of the business letter from the company 
  • Providing the Police Clearance or No-Objection Certificate

Working Entry Visa (WV):

• Applicants applying for a Work Visa should be below the age of retirement (65) and must provide their educational documents along with the visa application, invitation or introduction letter from the employer company in Afghanistan (including passport information, the purpose of travel and duration of stay of the applicant). Additionally, they should also have a confirmation letter from Consular Affairs Directorate-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the I.R. of Afghanistan.
• WV is issued to employees, doctors, teachers, trainers, experts, engineers, pilots, the staff of ground transportation and foreign technical workers based on need and previous invitations for the purpose of working at Diplomatic and Consular Representations, UN Offices, International Organizations; Government and Non-Governmental Organizations; National and International Agencies. The WV Processing Fee is as follows: 
• The required documents are as follows:
  • For one (1) month, Single Entry is $100 USD;
  • Extension for one (1) year is $50 USD per month or payable in local currency and applicable through Ministry of Interior
  • To complete the visa application form with providing a recent photo;
  • Extension of WV is permitted based on the request of the inviting departments and is processed through MoI along with a letter from MoFA 

Tourist Visa (TV):

• TV is issued for foreign nationals who are interested to visit Afghanistan individually or with a group for the purpose of visiting natural, tourist and historic sites or their relatives. TOV is issued by the Afghan Missions abroad. The validity of this type of visa is for ninety (90) days and the period of stay would be for thirty (30) days, which can be extended only once by the MoI with the consent of the Afghan Tourism Department. 

Visit Visa (VV):

• VV is issued for foreign nationals, who are interested to participate in sports competitions, exhibitions, visiting their relatives and friends, and conduct pilgrimage to holy sites in Afghanistan. 

Student Visa (SV):

• SV is issued by the Afghan Missions abroad to the foreign students who intend to study, work and conduct research within Afghanistan Government and private educational/academic institutions. If a student has a government scholarship, the SV fee will be charged based on reciprocity.  

Upon Arrival Visa (UAV): 

• UAV is issued within Afghanistan International Airports and must accompany the request of the UN Offices and International Organizations along with a written approval by MoFA. Per the request of Visa Applicant, UAV could be changed to one of the visas set forth in articles 9, 10, 11, 16, and 17.  

Crew Visa (CV):

• CV is issued to the crews of foreign airlines (pilot, engineer, flight attendants and air technicians) who enter the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The validity of CV is for six (6) months with the number of the entry in exchange for US $600 or equivalent in local currency. CV shall be extended by MoI for a period of one (1) month to one (1) year based on the request of the relevant airline to the Independent Directorate of Civil Aviation and an official letter from MoFA. 

Transit Visa (TSV):

• TSV is issued to those foreign nationals who pass through Afghanistan with a valid visa or travel document. The validity of TSV for air passengers is for one (1) month and three (3) days of stay and six (6) days for those who travel by land. TSV is issued based on mutual agreement and reciprocity with the right to enter once (1) or twice (2). The visa fee for Single Entry is $80 USD and for Double Entry is $150 USD. 

Residence Visa (RV):

• RV is issued to the foreign nationals who enter the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with a visa set forth in articles 9, 10, 11, 14 and 16 of this Law, and continues to reside in Afghanistan. RV is issued by MoI for one (1) year with the right to enter Afghanistan three (3) times. 

Transit Visa (TV): 

• TSV is issued to those foreign nationals who pass through Afghanistan with a valid visa or travel document. The validity of TSV for air passengers is for one (1) month and three (3) days of stay and six (6) days for those who travel by land. TSV is issued based on mutual agreement and reciprocity with the right to enter once (1) or twice (2). The visa fee for Single Entry is US $80 and for Double Entry is US $150. 

Exit Visa (EXV):

• EXV is issued in the following cases to the foreign nationals who want to exit from Afghanistan:
  • If his/her visa has not been extended or exit has occurred after the expiration of the visa period; 
  • If he/she is banned from traveling by court order, and after lifting the travel ban, he/she will be issued EXV;
  • If he/she entered Afghanistan territory and was sentenced to prison, whereupon serving his/her prison time he/she will be issued EXV; and
• EXV is valid for six (6) days with a written letter from MoFA through MoI

Notices:

1. Applicants for an Afghan visa, regardless of the type of visa, are required to obey the laws of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
2. Currently, the standard visa processing time is 5-7 business days but this may vary on an individual basis. (Recently the Embassy has launched the Expedite Service with extra fees. Please contact the Embassy of Afghanistan to check your eligibility and fees.)
3. Foreign nationals who have entered Afghanistan on an Entry Visa or a Work Visa are eligible to work. This category of individuals must obtain a work permit from relevant agencies after entry to Afghanistan. Issuance of a visa to those foreign students who intend to travel to Afghanistan is based on agreements and on a reciprocal basis, after the authorization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Afghanistan.
   • All foreign nationals can obtain an Afghan visa, except in the following cases:
     • 1. When the individual is banned from entering Afghanistan by the Afghan authorities;
       2. When the individual has not completed the previous ban period;
       3. When the individual has been expelled from Afghanistan for an unknown period of time;
       4. When the individual is suspected to disrupt security, disrupt general order, is suspected of moral corruption, or lacks respect for the rules of Islam;
       5. In specific situations when the authorities at the consular and political missions of Afghanistan abroad, based on sound reasons, deem it unfavorable to issue a visa to a certain individual;
       6. When there is a risk of spread of a contagious disease;
       7. When a high-ranking authority has decided to deny the visa.