AfghanistanResidence
Afghanistan residence visa
Residence visa
In short
Afghanistan’s residence visa lets foreign nationals continue a stay that began on a service, business, entry, student or crew visa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants it for one month to one year and charges USD 50 for each month.
checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- One month to one year
- Fee
- US$50Per month of stay, as published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul
- Where to apply
- Inside Afghanistan, while holding an eligible visa
Who can obtain it
Foreigners already in Afghanistan on a service, business, entry, student or crew visa who continue their stay. The Ministry does not list tourist, visitor, transit or arrival visas among the visas that lead to a residence visa.
Duration and fee
The visa covers a stay of one month to one year. The fee is USD 50 for each month, so a twelve-month residence visa would come to USD 600 at the published rate.
Where to apply
The residence visa is issued inside Afghanistan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose Directorate of Consular Affairs includes a Deputy of Foreigners Visas. The Ministry does not publish a document list or an application address for it; its general contact line is +93 20 210 0381.
- Check that your current visa is one of the types that can be followed by a residence visa.
- Contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul before your visa expires.
- Submit the documents the Ministry requests.
- Pay USD 50 for each month requested.
If the visa cannot be extended
A foreigner who could not extend a visa because of detention in Afghanistan, a judicial or legal order lifting a travel ban, or another justified reason can obtain an exit visa, valid for six days, for USD 50.
Documents
Required documents
Identity
- Passport with the current service, business, entry, student or crew visa
Money
- Fee of USD 50 per month
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Other
- Any further documents the Ministry requests
Frequently asked questions
How much is an Afghan residence visa?
USD 50 for each month, for one month up to one year.
Can tourists switch to a residence visa?
The Ministry lists only service, business, entry, student and crew visas as leading to a residence visa.
Who handles it?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul.
Official sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kabul – Residence visa
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kabul – Exit visa
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kabul (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) – Types of visa
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kabul – Directorate of Consular Affairs
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kabul – Embassy and consulate services
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kabul – Afghanistan’s foreign missions: Türkiye (Ankara embassy, Istanbul consulate)
- Embassy of Afghanistan in Ankara – Visa (visa section, office hours, required documents)
- Embassy of Afghanistan in Ankara – Contact
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Afghanistan
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: One month
- Transit visa Maximum stay: Three to six days
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: One to three months
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Validity: One month to three years
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: One to three months
Work
- Work visa Maximum stay: One month (continued with a residence visa)
Online travel permits
- Visa on arrival Maximum stay: One month