Afghanistan launched its official e-Visa system in March 2026 — the first time in the country's history that tourists can obtain a legal entry visa entirely online. No embassy queues, no waiting weeks: apply through the official portal, pay online, and receive your visa by email as a PDF.
100%online process
~$133total cost (USD)
24 htypical approval
30 daysstay duration
3 monthsentry window
KBL onlyentry airport
What the Afghanistan e-Visa is and how it works
The Afghanistan e-Visa is an official tourist visa issued digitally by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Applications are submitted through the eAfghans Portal — the officially authorised platform operated on behalf of the General Consulate of Afghanistan in Dubai. It is a single-entry tourist visa valid for a 30-day stay, with a 3-month window to enter after issuance — accepted only at Kabul International Airport (KBL) for entry, though you may exit Afghanistan through any border crossing.
Cost: full fee breakdown (2026)
~$9Portal service fee — paid by card or Apple Pay immediately after you submit the application.
~$124Government visa fee — $120 + ~$3–4 card processing. The payment link arrives by email a few hours after the service fee.
~$133Total, all-in. Paid directly to the Afghan government — not included in any tour price.
Darya Expeditions clients: every tour package includes your Letter of Invitation (LOI) — a required document worth $200 — issued free after your deposit payment. The e-Visa fee (~$133) is the only visa cost you pay, directly to the government portal.
The Letter of Invitation (LOI)
An LOI is an official document from a licensed Afghan tour operator confirming your trip purpose, itinerary and sponsor details — you upload it during the portal application. Some travellers have received visas without one, but we strongly recommend it: it sharply reduces rejection risk and gives the authorities a verified sponsor, address and point of contact. Do not begin your e-Visa application until you have your LOI — Darya Expeditions emails it once your deposit is received. The name on the LOI must match your passport exactly; a mismatch leads to refusal.
Required documents
Valid passportMinimum 6 months validity beyond entry. Double-check issue and expiry dates — the portal has been known to auto-change them.
Passport bio page scanClear, high-resolution, fully legible photo page.
Passport photoRecent, 45×35 mm, plain white background, no glasses or filters.
Letter of InvitationIssued by Darya Expeditions after your deposit is paid.
Sponsor detailsName, Taskira (Afghan ID) number and address — all provided in your booking documents.
Address in AfghanistanYour accommodation address — provided in your booking confirmation.
How to apply, step by step
- Book your tour & receive your LOI
Book with Darya Expeditions and pay your deposit; your LOI arrives by email. Don't start the application without it.
- Create an account on the eAfghans Portal
Register at eafghans.com/e-visa. All payment links and your final visa arrive at this email — use one you check daily.
- Complete identity verification
A live check: you photograph yourself and your passport bio page in real time.
💡 Good lighting, plain background, passport text clearly readable.
- Fill in the application form
Visa type: Tourist (the only option). Duration: 3 months. Enter travel dates, your Afghan address and sponsor details from your booking documents.
💡 Some fields reject digits — spell numbers out in words ("twelve", not "12") if a field refuses your input.
- Upload your documents
Passport photo (white background), passport bio scan, and your LOI.
💡 Finish the whole application in one sitting — the portal may not save progress.
- Sign & review carefully
Add your digital signature, then verify every date — especially passport issue/expiry, which the portal has been known to auto-change.
- Pay the portal service fee (~$9)
A payment link arrives by email after submission; card and Apple Pay accepted.
💡 Payment failing? Try a VPN — necessary from some countries.
- Pay the government visa fee ($120 + ~$3–4)
A second link arrives a few hours later. Pay promptly — delays slow your approval.
- Receive your e-Visa and print it in colour
The approval email with your PDF usually arrives within 24 hours of the fee payment.
🖨️ Airlines and Kabul immigration require a printed COLOUR copy — a phone screen is not accepted.
Who can get the e-Visa
✅ e-Visa available (~190 nationalities)Nearly all nationalities can apply online, including EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and most of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
⚠️ China, Russia, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye + 6 more — where you LIVE decides your routeCitizens of these countries can use the online e-visa only if they do not currently live in their own country (or another restricted country). A Chinese citizen living in mainland China, a Russian living in Russia or an Indian living in India cannot apply online — they must apply in person at an Afghan embassy or consulate (Dubai, Islamabad or Doha). The same passport holder living abroad — say in Bangkok, London or Dubai — can use the portal normally. Tell us where you live when you book and we will confirm your route before you pay anything. Our free Letter of Invitation supports the embassy application too.
🚫 Visa in advance / refusedResidents of Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan need a standard embassy visa. Israeli citizens are refused entry.
Validity and entry rules
3 monthsto enter, from issue date
30 daysstay, from entry at KBL
Single entryexit + re-enter = new e-visa
KBL onlyland borders: exit yes, entry no
⏰ Apply 2–3 weeks before departure. Approval usually lands within 24 hours of paying the visa fee, but leave buffer for hiccups — airlines will not board you without a valid printed e-Visa. Don't apply months too early either: the visa expires 90 days after issue.
📄 As soon as your e-Visa arrives, send us a copy immediately. Your travel permits are processed in Kabul before you land, and permit offices are closed on Fridays. We need your visa at least 2 working days (excluding Friday) before arrival — a visa sent Thursday afternoon cannot produce permits for a Friday or Saturday arrival.
Afghan consulate contacts (non-e-Visa enquiries)
For business, medical or long-stay visas not covered by the tourist e-Visa:
🇦🇪 Consulate General — Dubai
Villa 23, 29B Str., Al Jafiliya, Dubai
📞 +971 4 398 8229
✉️ dubai@afghanconsulate.ae
🕐 Mon–Fri 08:30–14:00
🇵🇰 Afghan Embassy — Islamabad
House 56, Main Nazimudin Road
📞 +92 51 282 4505 / 6
✉️ afghanembassyisb@gmail.com
🇶🇦 Afghan Embassy — Doha
Building 109, Street 804, Zone 66
📞 +974 4493 2319
✉️ doha.sr@mfa.af
Frequently asked questions
Is there a visa on arrival for Afghanistan?
No. You must obtain your e-Visa before flying — airlines will not allow boarding without one. Apply at least 2–3 weeks before departure.
Can I apply for an Afghanistan visa online?
Yes — since March 2026 the official e-Visa system is fully online at eafghans.com. No embassy visit needed for tourist visas.
How much does the e-Visa cost in 2026?
About $133 total: a ~$9 portal service fee plus the $120 government fee (+ ~$3–4 processing), both paid online at different stages.
Do I need a Letter of Invitation?
Strongly recommended, and included free ($200 value) with every Darya Expeditions booking after your deposit. Without one you must supply a verified Afghan sponsor's Taskira number and address yourself.
How long does processing take?
Usually a few hours to 24 hours after paying the government fee. Still, apply 2–3 weeks ahead to leave buffer.
What if my application is rejected?
Most rejections are documentation issues — wrong passport dates, wrong photo background, missing sponsor info. Contact us immediately; most problems are fixable and resubmission is possible.
Do I need to print my e-Visa?
Yes, in colour. You show the printed copy at airline check-in and at Kabul immigration. A digital copy is not sufficient.
Which countries cannot get the e-Visa?
Residents of Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan need an embassy visa instead. Israeli citizens are refused entry. Citizens of 12 countries (China, Russia, India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and others) qualify for the ONLINE e-visa only when they are not living in their home country or another restricted country — for example a Chinese citizen resident in mainland China must apply in person at an Afghan embassy or consulate (Dubai, Islamabad, Doha), while the same person living abroad can apply online. Tell us where you live and we will confirm which route applies.
Before you book, see our honest safety guide, our travel insurance guide and the complete practical guide to travelling to Afghanistan.
Still have visa questions?
We're an Afghan-owned, Kabul-based operator — we answer every message ourselves, usually within 12 hours, and we walk every client through the e-Visa personally.
Ask the Kabul office
