Visa Requirements For American Citizens Traveling To Afghanistan

The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations and the US government is unable to provide emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan. The US Department of State advises US citizens not to travel to Afghanistan for any reason, warning of a critical threat of terrorism, kidnapping, and crime.

US citizens in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately by commercial means if possible. Those seeking US government assistance to depart should email their complete biographic details, contact information, and US passport number to [email protected].

US citizens who require routine consular services can contact any US embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan for assistance, although the ability to assist US citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited.

US citizens who wish to travel to Afghanistan despite the Travel Advisory should follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter, review their personal security plans, and make contingency plans to leave that do not rely on US government assistance.

The US Embassy in Afghanistan does not assist US citizens in acquiring Afghan visas

US citizens in Afghanistan who require routine consular services can contact any US embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan for assistance. However, the ability to assist US citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited.

If you are located in Afghanistan, you must contact the Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul. If you are located outside of Afghanistan, you should contact the nearest Afghan diplomatic mission.

Please note that Afghan visas are not available upon arrival at Afghan airports or land borders. The visa application process can be started on the website of the Afghan Embassy in Washington, DC.

If you are located in Afghanistan, contact the Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul

If you are located in Afghanistan and are seeking to obtain an Afghan visa as an American citizen, you should contact the Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul.

It is important to note that the U.S. Embassy Consular Section does not assist U.S. citizens in acquiring Afghan visas. The U.S. government is also currently unable to provide any emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul has suspended its operations, and U.S. citizens are urged to depart Afghanistan immediately via commercial means if possible.

If you are an American citizen in Afghanistan and require routine consular services, you can contact any U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan for assistance. However, the ability to assist U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited.

If you are seeking U.S. government assistance to depart Afghanistan, you should email your complete biographic details, contact information (including an email address and phone number), and U.S. passport number to [email protected].

If you are located outside of Afghanistan, contact the nearest Afghan diplomatic mission

If you are located outside of Afghanistan and are wondering how to get an Afghan visa as an American, you should contact the nearest Afghan diplomatic mission. The U.S. Embassy Consular Section does not assist U.S. citizens in acquiring Afghan visas, but they do provide some information on the types of visas available and the application process.

Firstly, it is important to note that Afghan visas are not available upon arrival at Afghan airports or land borders, and travelers should expect inconsistency in the Afghan entry/exit control process. There are several types of visas available, depending on the purpose of your trip:

• Diplomatic Visa: Issued by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), typically valid for one year but sometimes for six months or less. Applicants must hold a diplomatic passport.
• Official Visa: Issued by the MFA, valid for six months or the duration of the stay if less than a year. Applicants must hold an official passport.
• Multiple Entry Visa: Issued to foreigners coming to work with organizations or corporations registered with the Afghan government or with ISAF. Valid for six months and allows the holder to work. Applications can be made at an Afghan Embassy or Consulate overseas, and the visa must be received before travel.
• Tourist Visa: Issued to foreigners coming for personal reasons or tourism. If applying overseas, foreigners must provide a statement describing the purpose of their travel. This visa is usually single-entry, valid for three months, with a one-month authorized stay, and cannot be renewed within Afghanistan.

To apply for a visa, you will need to follow these steps:

• Check the validity of your passport: Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in Afghanistan.
• Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160: Ensure that you answer every question on the application form. Incomplete or incorrect forms will be returned, and you will need to schedule a new interview appointment.
• Collect any supporting documentation: For the visa interview, you will need your passport, the DS-160 confirmation page, a 2 x 2 inch color photo taken no earlier than six months ago, and the forms listed in Step 2. Additional documents may be requested to establish your qualifications, such as evidence of the purpose of your trip, your intent to depart Afghanistan after your trip, and your ability to pay for all costs associated with the trip.
• Schedule an interview appointment: Consult the Embassy's online NIV Appointment System and have your DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form Confirmation Number ready.
• Submit your passport and visa application forms: At the interview, submit the completed DS-160 confirmation sheet, a 2 x 2 inch color photo (no older than six months), and a valid passport.
• Pay the MRV fee: On the day of your interview, pay the nonrefundable visa application fee. For B-1 (Business) and B-2 (Tourism & Visit) nonimmigrant visas, the fee is $160.
• Interview for your visa with the Consular Officer: The consular officer will determine whether you qualify for a visa and, if so, which category of visa is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
• Pay the Visa Issuance Fee: There is no visa issuance fee for Post Kabul.
• Return to collect your passport and visa: Normal NIV pick-up days are Wednesdays between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm, unless otherwise instructed by a consular officer.

Please note that U.S. citizens are currently advised against all travel to Afghanistan due to terrorism, the risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations, and the ability to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited.

Afghan visas are not available on arrival at Afghan airports or land borders

Afghan Visas for American Citizens

The U.S. Embassy Consular Section does not assist U.S. citizens in acquiring Afghan visas. However, the following information is provided as a courtesy and is subject to change without notice.

Afghan Visas Not Available on Arrival

It is important to note that Afghan visas are not available on arrival at Afghan airports or land borders. Therefore, travelers must obtain their visas before travelling to Afghanistan. In addition, travellers should be prepared for inconsistencies in the Afghan entry/exit control process.

Visa Options

The visa options offered by the new government in Afghanistan through its foreign ministry remain limited. The following types of visas are available:

• Diplomatic Visa: Issued only by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), typically valid for one year but sometimes only for six months or less. The applicant must hold a diplomatic passport.
• Official Visa: Issued only by the Afghan MFA, valid for six months or for the duration of the stay if less than one year. The applicant must hold an official passport.
• Multiple Entry Visa: Issued to foreigners who come to Afghanistan to work with organisations or corporations registered with the Afghan government or with ISAF. A six-month multiple-entry visa allows them to work. Applications can be made at an Afghan Embassy or Consulate overseas, and the visa must be obtained before travel.
• Tourist Visa: Issued to foreigners visiting Afghanistan for personal reasons or tourism. If applying overseas, foreigners must provide a statement describing the purpose of their travel. Tourist visas are usually single-entry, valid for three months, with a one-month authorised stay, and cannot be renewed while in Afghanistan.
• Entry Permit: U.S. citizens born in Afghanistan (i.e. dual citizens) who do not have an Afghan passport should apply for an entry permit, rather than a visa, through the Afghan Embassy in Washington.

Visa Application Process

To apply for an Afghan visa, the following steps are typically required:

• Check the validity of your passport.
• Complete the online nonimmigrant visa application, Form DS-160.
• Collect supporting documentation, including a passport, DS-160 confirmation page, a recent colour photo, and other relevant forms.
• Schedule an interview appointment at the Embassy's online NIV Appointment System.
• Submit your passport and visa application forms, including the completed DS-160 confirmation sheet and photo, at the interview.
• Pay the nonrefundable visa application fee, which varies depending on the type of visa.
• Attend the visa interview with a consular officer, who will determine your eligibility and the appropriate visa category.
• Pay the visa issuance fee, if applicable.
• Return to collect your passport and visa.

Visa Fees and Validity

The fees and validity periods for Afghan visas vary depending on the type of visa and the applicant's country of origin. It is recommended to check the specific requirements for U.S. citizens when applying for an Afghan visa.

US citizens born in Afghanistan who do not have an Afghan passport should not apply for a visa in their US passport

If you are a US citizen born in Afghanistan and do not have an Afghan passport, you can find the application for an entry permit on the website of the Afghan Embassy in Washington.

It is important to note that the US Embassy Consular Section does not assist US citizens in acquiring Afghan visas. If you are located in Afghanistan, you should contact the Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul. If you are located outside of Afghanistan, you should contact the nearest Afghan diplomatic mission.

Additionally, it is important to be aware of the current travel advisory for Afghanistan, which is a Level 4: Do Not Travel due to terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime. The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations, and the US government is not able to provide any emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan. US citizens in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately via commercial means if possible.

Frequently asked questions