AfghanistanOnline travel permits
Afghanistan visa on arrival
Arrival visa (Kabul International Airport)
In short
Afghanistan’s arrival visa is not available to ordinary tourists. It is issued at Kabul International Airport with the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the basis of an official letter from a domestic organisation or an official invitation from an international organisation operating in Afghanistan. It costs USD 200 and allows a one-month stay.
checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- One month
- Validity
- One month
- Fee
- US$200As published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul
- Where to apply
- On arrival at Kabul International Airport, with prior official letter or invitation
Who can receive it
Only travellers backed by an official letter from an organisation inside Afghanistan or an official invitation from an international organisation operating in the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must approve the visa, which is then issued at Kabul International Airport. The Ministry does not mention other airports or land borders for this visa.
Documents and fee
Carry your passport and the official letter or invitation. The fee is USD 200 and the visa is valid for one month, for a one-month stay.
Required documents
Identity
- Passport
Money
- Fee of USD 200
Other
- Official letter from an Afghan organisation, or official invitation from an international organisation in Afghanistan
- Approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Before you fly
The Ministry grants the arrival visa with its own approval but does not describe how that approval is requested, so ask the inviting organisation before you fly. Travellers without such an invitation should obtain a visa from an Afghan mission abroad before departure.
- Obtain an official letter or invitation from your host organisation.
- Ask the host organisation how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval is obtained and confirm it before departure.
- Fly to Kabul International Airport and present your passport and letter.
- Pay USD 200 and leave or change status within one month.
Visas for other purposes
The arrival visa is approved in Kabul and issued at the airport, not by missions abroad. Travellers without a qualifying letter or invitation need another visa type, such as the tourist, business or entry visa, from the Afghan embassy or consulate responsible for their country of residence before departure.
Frequently asked questions
Can tourists get a visa on arrival in Afghanistan?
No. The Ministry ties the arrival visa to an official letter from an Afghan organisation or an invitation from an international organisation.
Where is the arrival visa issued?
At Kabul International Airport.
How much is it?
USD 200 for a one-month stay.
Official sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kabul – Arrival 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)
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)
Residence
- Residence permit Maximum stay: One month to one year