An Afghan visa issued in 2019

Citizens of all countries require a travel visa to visit Afghanistan. The only case allowing visa free access to ordinary passport holders is if the traveler was born in Afghanistan or to Afghan parents, including those born to at least one Afghan citizen parent or whose parent was born in Afghanistan.[1][2][3] Since 2026, however, citizens of almost all countries of the world can obtain a visitor e-Visa online, with some exceptions.

In June 2022, government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said: "Anyone can visit Afghanistan for the purpose of humanitarian activities and tourism."[4] Between March 2023 and March 2024, nearly 28,000 foreigners visited Afghanistan for work and tourism purposes.[5][6][7]

Israeli passports are not accepted for travel to Afghanistan, a policy that predates Taliban rule and reflects Afghanistan's continuous non-recognition of Israeli statehood.

The Taliban supports the People's Republic of China's (PRC) One China policy, explicitly denying the statehood of Taiwan, a firmer stance in support of the PRC than the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's mere recognition of the PRC over Taiwan.[8][9]

Despite the Taliban's denial of Taiwanese statehood, the Taiwanese passport is valid for travel to Afghanistan, and Taiwanese citizens are eligible for the tourist e-Visa, the least restrictive visa policy Afghanistan applies to any country.

Visa policy map

Visa policy of Afghanistan
  Afghanistan
  eVisa for citizens, except those residing in ineligible country
  Visa required for residents and citizens, except those residing in eVisa-eligible country
  Visa required for residents and citizens
  Admission refused for citizens; non-citizen residents require visa

Proposed reform

In February 2015, Afghanistan announced visa-on-arrival facility at Kabul International Airport for business visitors, journalists, athletes, airline staff and passengers in transit from countries that do not have a diplomatic mission of Afghanistan.[10][11]

In September 2017, some elements of the proposed reform were adopted.[12]

On December 10, 2022, the Taliban Ministry of Industry and Commerce opened the "Afghanistan Investment Desk" at Kabul Airport which will facilitate visas on arrival for certain foreign investors.[13]

Visa on arrival

Islamic Emirate visa on arrival stamp issued at Kabul Airport in 2022

United Nations laissez-passer and Interpol Travel Document — As of 2024, foreign citizens with a United Nations passport or an Interpol passport are issued a visa on arrival at only Kabul International Airport to enter, stay and travel across the territory of Afghanistan. Foreign citizens who are employees of the United Nations or its specialised agencies are also issued a visa on arrival during the period of work.

Electronic Visa (e-Visa)

Afghanistan launched a new online e-Visa system in March 2026 to simplify visa applications and encourage tourism. Currently, the portal issues only a single-entry tourist e-Visa, valid for stays of up to 30 days from the date of entry and expiring 90 days from the date of issue; the e-Visa may currently be used only when arriving through Kabul International Airport.[14][15]

Citizens of most UN member countries are eligible for the e-Visa as are citizens of Kosovo, Palestine, Taiwan, and Vatican City. Citizens and residents of every neighboring country except the People's Republic of China are ineligible as are residents of certain other countries.[14]

Citizens and non-citizen residents ineligible


Residents ineligible

Residents of the following countries are ineligible regardless of citizenship.

Entry prohibited

Admission is refused to citizens of Israel. No visas of any category are issued to them, and the Israeli passport is not a recognized travel document. Non-citizen residents of Israel may not obtain an e-Visa.[14]

Unauthorized diplomatic missions

Since July 2024, Afghanistan no longer accepts visas or any other documents issued by diplomatic missions of Afghanistan disloyal to the Taliban.[16][17]

Non-ordinary passports

Afghanistan has bilateral visa exemption agreements for holders of diplomatic and service passports with different countries including:[18][19][20][21][22][23]

30 days

D - Diplomatic passports
O - Official passports
S - Service passports

In 2024 Turkey suspended the agreement signed in 2008.[24]

Visitors

Country20182017201620152014
UzbekistanIncrease 38,276[25]Increase 32,130[26]Increase 18,900[27]Decrease 15,888[28]
17,802[29]
RussiaDecrease 1,450[30]Increase 1,463[31]
1,357[32]
Other
No data

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Afghanistan International Travel Information". travel.state.gov.
  3. ↑ Marcus, Lilit (14 February 2023). "What it's like to travel around Afghanistan now". CNN. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  4. ↑ Stancati, Margherita (20 June 2022). "Taliban Release Five Britons, Resolving Dispute With U.K." The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "Afghanistan sees 28,000 foreigners make inbound, outbound trips in 12 months". Xinhua News Agency. May 1, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  6. ↑ "Almost 28,000 foreigners visit Afghanistan in past year". Ariana News. May 3, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  7. ↑ "Nearly 28,000 foreigners visit Afghanistan last year: NSIA". Pajhwok Afghan News. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  8. ↑ "Taliban says they support 'One China' policy". Amu TV. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Five One-Chinas: The contest to define Taiwan". Lowy Institute. January 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  10. ↑ "Afghanistan to issue visas on arrival to cut red tape, boost business". Archived from the original on 2015-05-05. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
  11. ↑ "Afghanistan to issue visas on arrival to cut red tape".
  12. ↑ "Foreign investors to get visas on arrival at airport".
  13. ↑ Eqbal, Saqalain (11 December 2022). "Afghanistan Investment Desk Set Up at Kabul Airport to Facilitate Visa on Arrival". Khaama Press. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 "Single Entry Tourist e-Visa Eligibility Checker". E-Afghans. Consulate General of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  15. ↑ Chakraborty, Sneha (26 March 2026). "Afghanistan Launches E-Visa System — With A Catch For Indian Applicants". Travel + Leisure India. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Notice for all Afghan Nationals residing in European countries
  17. ↑ "The Taliban Stop Accepting Afghan Visas Issued in Germany & Several Other European Countries".
  18. ↑ "Convenios sobre exención de visado tabla actualizada-uniformada 2018" [Visa Exemption Agreements - Updated and Standardized Table 2018] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-11-24.
  19. ↑ "Agreement between the government of the Republic of India and the government of islamic republic of Afghanistan on exemption from visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  20. ↑ LIST OF STATES WITH SHORT-TIME VISIT VISA FREE AGREEMENT FOR DIPLOMATIC & SERVICE PASSPORT HOLDERS
  21. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ↑ "List of agreements on mutual visa exemption between the People's Republic of China and foreign countries". Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  23. ↑ "Visa System with foreign countries". Archived from the original on 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2024-09-29.
  24. ↑ "Türkiye suspends diplomatic visa deal with Afghanistan".
  25. ↑ "Распределение по странам числа граждан Республики Узбекистан, выехавших из Республики Узбекистан в 2018 году". stat.uz. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  26. ↑ "Распределение по странам числа граждан Республики Узбекистан, выехавших из Республики Узбекистан в 2017 году". stat.uz. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  27. ↑ "Распределение по странам числа граждан Республики Узбекистан, выехавших из Республики Узбекистан в 2016 году". stat.uz. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  28. ↑ "Распределение по странам числа граждан Республики Узбекистан, выехавших из Республики Узбекистан в 2015 году". stat.uz. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  29. ↑ "Распределение по странам числа граждан Республики Узбекистан, выехавших из Республики Узбекистан в 2014 году". stat.uz. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  30. ↑ "Выезд граждан РФ, 2018-17 гг" (PDF). atorus.ru. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  31. ↑ "Выезд граждан РФ, 2016-17 гг" (PDF). atorus.ru. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  32. ↑ "Выезд граждан РФ, 2016-17 гг" (PDF). atorus.ru. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Afghanistan