Afghanistan visa and entry requirements

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists its visa types but does not say which nationalities need a visa; the UK government says a visa is required to enter Afghanistan, and the Canadian and German governments say their citizens need one. The Ministry says a visa on arrival at Kabul International Airport is issued on the basis of an official letter from a domestic organisation or an invitation from an international organisation, and that foreign nationals of Afghan origin can enter without a visa under stated conditions. The UK, Canadian and Australian governments advise against all travel; the UK says there is a high risk of British nationals being detained or kidnapped and that it cannot give in-person consular assistance.

Every fact on this page verified on or after: Aug 26, 2026· How this site works

Check requirements for your passport

Requirements differ by nationality. Select your passport above, or scan the full table below.

Visas & entry authorisations

Tourist Visa

Fee
80 USD
Processing
—
Validity
90 days
Stay per entry
30 days

The fee the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists. The Ministry states a validity of three months with a one-month stay; it does not say whether the visa allows one entry or more, how long it takes to issue, or whether it can be extended.

Arrival visa (Kabul airport, by official letter or invitation)

Fee
200 USD
Processing
—
Validity
30 days
Stay per entry
30 days

Granted at Kabul International Airport with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' approval, on the basis of an official letter from a domestic organisation or an official invitation from an international organisation operating in Afghanistan. The Ministry does not say whether it allows one entry or more.

Business Visa

Fee
Not published
Processing
—

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the business visa fee as USD 40 to USD 300 and the visa's validity as one month to three years; it does not say which fee goes with which validity. The visa is issued against a valid business licence, a copy of the passport and supporting bank statements.

Entry requirements

Passport validity

Canada's travel advice says your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Afghanistan.

Vaccinations

Conditional
  • Polio — The UK government says that when you leave Afghanistan, the authorities may ask for a certificate proving you have had a polio vaccine.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Travel insurance

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states whether travel insurance is required to enter Afghanistan. The UK Foreign Office advises checking before you travel that you have valid and appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.

Verified Oct 4, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Onward or return ticket

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states whether Afghanistan requires a return or onward ticket.

Proof of funds

Not officially stated

No official source we could read states a proof-of-funds requirement or amount. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a tourist visa is issued on the basis of the applicant's travel purpose and documents such as a valid passport and a hotel booking confirmation.

Customs & currency

The UK government says it is illegal to carry more than US$5,000 in cash through airports, or more than US$500 through land borders.

  • The UK government's travel advice says you may not use or bring into the country narcotics, alcohol or pork products, and that doing so could lead to arrest.
  • The UK government's travel advice says the Taliban may suspect you of spying and detain you if you carry weapons or explosives, tracking devices, large amounts of money or items considered unusual.
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Country in a nutshell

Currency
Afghan afghani (AFN, ؋)
Cards & payments
Canada's travel advice says Afghanistan is a cash-based economy where credit cards are not widely accepted, US dollars are accepted if the notes are in good condition, and ATMs exist in major cities but few or none in rural areas. The UK government adds that some ATMs and many banks accept foreign-issued cards, with limits on how much you can withdraw.
Safety — High risk
The UK government advises against all travel to Afghanistan, even with an organised tour group. It says the security situation is volatile, that there is a high risk of British nationals being detained or kidnapped, that terrorists often target places frequented by foreign nationals, and that it cannot give in-person consular assistance.Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab) · archived copy Aug 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Power plugs
C, F · 220V 50Hz
Emergency numbers
Police: 119 · Ambulance: 102 · Fire: 112
Languages
Dari, Pashto
Time zone
UTC+4:30
International Driving Permit

Canada's travel advice says you must carry an International Driving Permit. No Afghan official source we could read states whether an International Driving Permit is required.

Verified Oct 10, 2026 · Source: travel.gc.ca (opens in a new tab) Compare every country

Best time to visit

No official source we could read gives a best time to visit Afghanistan. Canada's travel advice says the rainy season generally runs from March to May, when heavy rain can cause severe flooding and landslides, especially in the northern and eastern provinces — and the UK, Canadian and Australian governments advise against all travel to Afghanistan.

Tips & warnings

The UK, Canadian and Australian governments advise against all travel to Afghanistan. The UK says there is a high risk of British nationals being detained or kidnapped, that detainees could face months or years in prison without clarity about the charges, and that it cannot give in-person consular assistance there.

The UK government's travel advice says the Taliban have made it illegal for women to travel more than 72 km without their husband, father or brother (a mahram), and that women, including foreign nationals, must fully cover themselves in public, with a veil over the face. Canada's advice says the de facto authorities restrict women from travelling and going to public places such as parks and restaurants without a male guardian.

Canada's travel advice says there are checkpoints on all roads and throughout cities. The UK government's advice says photographing government buildings, military installations, palaces or Taliban checkpoints is not allowed and may lead to detention, and to avoid photographing people without their agreement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says a tourist visa is issued on the basis of the applicant's travel purpose and documents such as a valid passport and a hotel booking confirmation. A visa on arrival is granted at Kabul International Airport on the basis of an official letter from a domestic organisation or an official invitation from an international organisation operating in Afghanistan, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' approval.

The UK government's travel advice says the Taliban have set codes of dress for men and women and strictly enforce them, that you are not allowed to use or bring into the country narcotics, alcohol or pork products, and that there are no formal, internationally recognised structures or processes of law — foreign nationals have been detained without due process.

Visa requirements by nationality

Visa requirements by nationality. Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.
PassportsVisas & entry authorisationsMax stay
AfghanistanFree movement—
BarbadosEmbassy visa—
BulgariaVisa required—
CanadaVisa required—
ColombiaeVisa—
CzechiaEmbassy visa—
EcuadorVisa required—
FinlandVisa required—
GermanyEmbassy visa—
HungaryEmbassy visa—
IrelandVisa required—
ItalyVisa required—
JamaicaVisa required—
KazakhstanVisa required—
MoldovaEmbassy visa—
MontenegroEmbassy visa—
NetherlandsEmbassy visa—
PolandVisa required—
PortugalEmbassy visa—
SerbiaEmbassy visa—
SeychellesVisa required—
SloveniaEmbassy visa—
SpainVisa required—
TaiwaneVisa—
TajikistanVisa required—
TurkeyVisa required—
United KingdomVisa required—
United StatesVisa required—

Stay lengths are for ordinary tourist visits. Click a nationality for its full guide.

No official page we read states the rule for 171 nationalities, so the table leaves them out: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

China79 of 199 passports visa-freeIran43 of 199 passports visa-free · 1 eVisa/ETAPakistan7 of 199 passports visa-free · 186 eVisa/ETATajikistan93 of 199 passports visa-free · 50 eVisa/ETATurkmenistan1 of 199 passports visa-freeUzbekistan94 of 199 passports visa-free · 44 eVisa/ETA

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Afghanistan?

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says foreign nationals of Afghan origin can enter without a visa if their passport gives Afghanistan as their place of birth, or if they hold a tazkira, an Afghan passport or a certificate of identity from an Afghan diplomatic or consular mission. For everyone else, the Ministry lists its visa types but does not say which nationalities need a visa; the UK government says a visa is required to enter Afghanistan, and the Canadian and German governments say their citizens need one. A visa on arrival at Kabul International Airport is issued on the basis of an official letter from a domestic organisation or an official invitation from an international organisation operating in Afghanistan, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ approval.

Is Afghanistan safe to visit?

No. The UK, Canadian and Australian governments advise against all travel to Afghanistan. The UK says there is a high risk of British nationals being detained or kidnapped, that terrorists often target places foreigners visit, and that it has no embassy there and cannot give in-person consular help; Canada says its ability to help is extremely limited.

Can women travel to Afghanistan?

The UK government's travel advice says the Taliban have made it illegal for women to travel more than 72 km without their husband, father or brother (a mahram), and that women, including foreign nationals, must fully cover themselves in public. Canada's advice says the de facto authorities restrict women from travelling and going to public places without a male guardian, and that women are at a particularly higher risk of harassment and abuse, including from the authorities.

Can I use cards or ATMs in Afghanistan?

Canada's travel advice says Afghanistan is a cash-based economy where credit cards are not widely accepted, and that there are ATMs in major cities but none or very few in rural areas. The UK government says some ATMs and many banks accept foreign-issued bank cards with restrictions on the amount you can withdraw, and that it is illegal to carry more than US$5,000 in cash through airports or more than US$500 through land borders.

Sources & verification

Every fact on this page is compiled from and periodically re-checked against these official sources:

Something wrong or out of date? Tell us, with the official source