Public Services
A Guide to Afghan Visas for American Citizens
Travelers should expect inconsistency in the visa process when entering or exiting Afghanistan. The information outlined below is a guide. If you have further questions, please contact the Foreigners’ Visa Section of the General Passport Office at the Afghan Ministry of Interior, 020-220-0177.
DIPLOMATIC VISA – Only issued by the Afghan MFA, as per reciprocity, valid for one year, but some allow only a six-month or less duration of stay. Applicant must hold a diplomatic passport.
OFFICIAL VISA – Only issued by the Afghan MFA, valid for six months, but some limit the duration of stay. Applicant must hold an official passport.
MULTIPLE-ENTRY VISA – a multiple-entry visa is most commonly issued to foreigners who are coming to Afghanistan to work with organizations or corporations registered with the government of Afghanistan or with ISAF. A six-month multiple-entry visa allows them to work. Application can be made at an Afghan Embassy or Consulate overseas; the visa must be received before travel.
DURATION OF STAY – For the three visa categories above (diplomatic, official, and multiple-entry), typically, Afghan visas will be valid for one period of time, but allow a shorter duration of stay. This duration of stay begins upon the first arrival in Afghanistan. For example, if you are issued a six-month multiple-entry visa with a three-month duration of stay, the three-month period begins upon your first arrival in the country and expires three months later, even if you stay only three weeks. If you plan to leave and return after more than three months, you will need a new visa. You should apply to extend or renew your visa at the General Passport Office, prior to the expiration of your duration of stay.
TOURIST VISA – A tourist visa is issued to foreigners who are coming to Afghanistan only for personal reasons or tourism. If applying overseas, foreigners must provide a statement describing the purpose of their travel. If applying after being issued an entry visa upon arrival in Afghanistan, a letter from Ministry of Tourism or the Ministry of Information and Culture is required. Tourist visas are initially valid for one month and can be extended for one additional month inside Afghanistan. Application can be made at an Afghan Embassy or Consulate overseas; the visa must be received before travel.
FEES – The fee for a multiple-entry or tourist visa depends upon the length of stay:
One month = $30
Two months = $60
Three months = $90
Six months = $180
Fees for applications submitted outside of Afghanistan may vary. For instance, the application fee at the U.S. Embassy in Washington depends on the amount of time it takes to process the application: $100 for a visa in 24 hours, $70 for a visa in three days, and $50 for a visa in two weeks. Once in Afghanistan, the visa can be extended on a month-to-month basis, provided the additional $30 is paid. Tourist visas can only be extended once.
Americans who are also Pakistani citizens, be aware that if you travel to Afghanistan on a Pakistani visa you may be limited to three trips in and out of Afghanistan with a six-month multiple-entry visa. On an American passport, there is no limitation to the number of entries or exits. This restriction is due to a similar limitation imposed by Pakistan on Afghan nationals.
Please see the visa section of the Afghan Embassy in Washington for details on application in the United States: http://www.embassyofafghanistan.org/
ENTRY PERMIT – Americans born in Afghanistan (i.e., dual citizens), who do not have an Afghan passport, should not apply for a visa in their American passport. Instead, they should submit an application for an entry permit. This application can be found on the website of the Afghan Embassy in Washington (http://www.embassyofafghanistan.org/).
TRANSIT VISAS – Transit visas cost the same as multiple-entry visas and must be obtained prior to arrival in Afghanistan.
VISA EXPIRATION – If a visa expires, then the bearer must pay a fine of $2/day for the first month and $5 per day for the second month, for a maximum fine of $210. After two months, the bearer of an expired visa faces deportation.
ENTRY VISA – If a traveler arrives in Kabul without a valid visa, his/her passport will be confiscated and he/she will need to pay a $100 fine. Please follow the process outlined below to obtain an entry visa:
1) You or your employer should write a letter explaining your situation and why you arrived in Afghanistan without a visa. You will need to take the letter to the Consular Section at the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Consular Section.
2) The MFA will draft a letter to the Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior (MOI). The MOI will draft a letter to the General Police Office, which is located inside the MOI. The General Police Office will provide you with a letter addressed to the Border Police Office at the Kabul International Airport. It may take a few days to complete this process.
3) You bring this letter to the Border Police Office at the airport along with two photos. They will ask you to fill out forms and pay the $100 fine, and then issue an entry visa valid for 15 days. If you decide to stay longer than 15 days you must apply for a multiple-entry or tourist visa at the General Passport Office, Foreigners’ Visa Section; phone: 020-220-0177.
EXIT VISAS – Those who arrived in Afghanistan without a visa via military air but intend to leave by land or by commercial air, or those who arrived with a valid visa but allowed it to expire will require an exit visa in order to leave the country. Exit visas are valid for six days. The fee depends on the length of time since the visa expired ($2/day for the first month, $5/day for the second month). Please follow the steps below to obtain an exit visa:
1) Your employer should write a letter explaining your situation and why you came to Afghanistan without a visa (or allowed it to expire). You will need to take the letter to the Consular Section at the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
2) The MFA will draft a letter to the General Passport Office, Foreigners' Visa Section. You will need to take this letter personally to the General Passport Office, phone: 020-220-0177.
3) When at the Passport Office, Foreigners’ Visa Section, you should show your military ID if you have one and explain why you are in the country without a visa. If you do not have a military ID, you should expect to pay a fine of $100 plus $2/day for each day under a month you have been in the country without a visa or with an expired visa; if you have been without a visa for more than a month, then $5/day for each day since you entered the country. If you have a valid military ID, the Foreigners' Visa Section may choose to waive part or all of the fine.
4) The visa section will give you a fine letter you will need to pay at the D'Afghanistan bank. The bank will give you a receipt you will need to bring back to the Foreigners’ Visa Section of the Passport Office. That day or the next, the visa section will issue you an exit visa.
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