Exploring Afghanistan: Unraveling The Entry Requirements For Us Citizens

The US Department of State currently advises US citizens not to travel to Afghanistan due to the risk of terrorism, wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime. The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations, and the US government is unable to provide any emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan. US citizens in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately by commercial means if possible. To enter and exit Afghanistan, US citizens require a passport and a valid visa. Visas are not available at Kabul International Airport, and US citizens who arrive in Afghanistan without a visa are subject to passport confiscation, heavy fines, and possible deportation.

US citizens need a passport and visa to enter Afghanistan

The US Department of State currently advises US citizens not to travel to Afghanistan, with a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory in place. This is due to the high risk of terrorism, wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime. The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations, and the US government is unable to provide emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan. US citizens currently in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately.

Despite this, US citizens still require a passport and visa to enter Afghanistan. The US Embassy Consular Section does not assist US citizens in acquiring Afghan visas. 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. US citizens should contact the nearest Afghan diplomatic mission for information on acquiring a visa.

There are several types of Afghan visas, including diplomatic, official, multiple-entry, and tourist visas. The type of visa required depends on the purpose of travel. For example, a diplomatic visa is only issued by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), typically valid for one year, and the applicant must hold a diplomatic passport. A tourist visa is issued to foreigners visiting Afghanistan for personal reasons or tourism. If applying overseas, foreigners must provide a statement describing the purpose of their travel.

It is important to note that American citizens who arrive in Afghanistan without a visa are subject to passport confiscation and heavy fines. The process of retrieving one's passport can be difficult, and one may even face deportation from Afghanistan.

US citizens should not travel to Afghanistan

The US Department of State currently advises US citizens not to travel to Afghanistan. The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended its operations, and the US government is unable to provide any emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan. The country is currently under the control of the Taliban, who have a history of harassing and detaining aid and humanitarian workers. Foreigners may be viewed with suspicion, and reasons for detention are often unclear. The Taliban does not regularly permit the US to conduct welfare checks on detained US citizens, and those detained may be denied access to medical attention and be subject to physical abuse.

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

US citizens who choose to disregard the travel advisory and travel to Afghanistan are advised to follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter, visit the website for Travel to High-Risk Areas, review their personal security plans, and be aware of their surroundings and local security developments at all times. They should also notify a trusted person of their travel and movement plans, make contingency plans to leave when it is safe to do so without relying on US government assistance, and draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney. Additionally, it is recommended to discuss a plan with loved ones regarding the care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, and non-liquid assets, and to leave DNA samples with a medical provider. Enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is also advised to receive security updates and ensure locatability in an emergency.

US citizens should be aware that Afghanistan entry visas are not available at Kabul International Airport. American citizens who arrive in Afghanistan without a visa are subject to passport confiscation and heavy fines, and may face difficulties in retrieving their passports and possible deportation.

US Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations

The US Embassy in Kabul has been closed since 31 August 2021, when the US government withdrew its personnel from the city. The embassy had been evacuated to Hamid Karzai International Airport on 15 August 2021, as the Taliban advanced on the city. The US State Department had issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Afghanistan, warning of the risk of terrorism, wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime.

US citizens in Afghanistan in need of routine consular services can contact any US embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan for assistance. A core group of Embassy Kabul personnel are currently working from the US Embassy in Doha, Qatar. US citizens seeking assistance should contact the Consular Affairs Afghanistan Call Center or email [email protected].

The US government is not able to provide any emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan. US citizens who are in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately via commercial means if possible. Those seeking US government assistance to depart should email complete biographic details and contact information, as well as their US passport number, to [email protected].

The US Embassy in Kabul continues to provide information via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), the Embassy web page, Travel.State.Gov, and Facebook and Twitter.

US citizens in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately

The US Department of State has issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory for Afghanistan, urging US citizens not to travel to the country for any reason. The advisory warns of severe concerns related to terrorism, the risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime. The advisory also mentions the presence of multiple active terrorist groups in the country, posing a threat to US citizens of kidnapping and wrongful detentions. The Taliban, in particular, has been assessed as a risk for the wrongful detention of US citizens.

The US Embassy in Kabul has suspended its operations, and the US government is unable to provide any emergency consular services to US citizens in Afghanistan. The Department of State advises that even if US citizens are registered with the appropriate authorities to conduct business, the risk of detention is high. The Taliban does not regularly permit the United States to conduct welfare checks on detained US citizens, and access to medical attention during detention is limited or nonexistent.

For US citizens who choose to disregard the Travel Advisory and travel to Afghanistan, the Department of State offers the following recommendations:

• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
• Visit the website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
• Review personal security plans.
• Stay aware of their surroundings and local security developments at all times.
• Notify a trusted person of travel and movement plans.
• Make contingency plans to leave when it is safe to do so, without relying on US government assistance.
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, and funeral wishes, among other things.
• Leave DNA samples with a medical provider in case they need to be accessed by family members.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and ensure they can be located in an emergency.
• Read the Country Security Report For Afghanistan.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to travel to Afghanistan.

Vaccinations and other health precautions are recommended for Afghanistan

Vaccinations and other health precautions are highly recommended for Afghanistan. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations: typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A, polio, rabies, hepatitis B, influenza, COVID-19, pneumonia, meningitis, chickenpox, shingles, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), and MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella).

It is also recommended to take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Dengue fever is prevalent in Afghanistan, so good protection against mosquito bites during the daytime is necessary.

There is also an increased risk of contracting measles in Afghanistan. A single lifetime booster dose of the MMR vaccine is recommended for adults who received a complete polio vaccination series as children.

Other recommended precautions include:

• Preventing bug bites by wearing long clothing and using insect repellents like DEET or picaridin.
• Researching local cuisine and practising good hand hygiene.
• Avoiding tap water and ice.
• Drinking in moderation.
• Carrying a travellers' diarrhea kit.
• Avoiding contact with animals.
• Avoiding swimming, wading, or rafting in bodies of freshwater.

Frequently asked questions