The Afghan passport was introduced byEmirAbdur Rahman Khan in 1880. The country began issuingbiometric passports in September 2011 to diplomats and public servants, and in March 2013 for the general public.[7][8] Abdul Karim Hasib is the current director of the General Directorate of Passports.[9][10] His predecessor wasAlam Gul Haqqani.[11][12]
As of 2018, the cost of an Afghan passport is 5,000 afghanis (AFN) for a five-year validity and 10,000 afghanis for a ten-year validity.[4][13] In April 2023, it was reported that up to 10,000 passports could be issued daily.[14] This number was expected to reach up to 15,000.[15]
The Afghan passport has been labelled by theHenley Passport Index as the least powerful passport in the world, with its holders only able to visit 25 destinations visa-free.[16]
In September 2011, Afghanistan'sMinistry of Foreign Affairs began issuing two types ofbiometric passports (e-passports) for Afghan diplomats and public servants. These were produced in theUnited Kingdom.[7][17] The standard e-passports began being issued to the general public in March 2013.[18][8] According to then-spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Janan Musazai, "on the photo page, there are 16 security codes."[7] Issuance of national electronic Afghan identity cards (e-Tazkiras) were also discussed.[19] These changes were intended to prevent fraud in future elections and government corruption as well as to improve the overall security of Afghanistan.
In 2017, a new five-year Afghan passport was reported to cost 5,000 AFN.[4] Previously, passports had been hand written based on information found on paper Afghan ID cards, which are no longer accepted.[20] A ten-year passport later became available for 10,000 AFN. By January 2016, nearly one million of the new computerized Afghan passports have been issued.[21]
Passport distribution centers exist in manyprovinces of Afghanistan,[22][23][24] with the main ones located inKabul Province.[25] A total of four different locations within Kabul are believed to be distributing passports.[26] The General Directorate of Passports stated that it issued 500,000 passports in one year and collected over 4.2 billion AFN in processing fees.[1][14][27] In addition to being a travel document, the passport can also be used to purchase aSIM card; send or receive money throughMoneyGram orWestern Union; open bank accounts; rent a house; or stay in hotels.[2]
TheAfghan embassies and consulates also provide Afghan passports to theAfghan diaspora around the world.[28][29][30][31][32][33][34] After a pause following theTaliban takeover of the government in August 2021,[35] distribution of passports resumed before the end of that year.[36] Though it was reported in March 2022 that the Taliban had introduced a new design bearing the name "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan",[37] Shirshah Quarishi, deputy director of the Passport Department, said in August 2022 that passports would not carry a new design, which was likely a practical decision taken to ensure they would be accepted for travel by other countries, all of which continue to recognize the previous regime.[38]
As of April 2025,[update] Afghan citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 25 countries and territories,[39] ranking the worst passport in the world according to theHenley Passport Index.[40][41] Because the ruling Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is notinternationally recognized, it is continuing to issue passports bearing the name of the former, internationally-recognized government, theIslamic Republic of Afghanistan, which are accepted for international travel. However, obtaining foreign visas from within Afghanistan is difficult as manyembassies in Afghanistan have closed in the wake of theFall of Kabul on 15 August 2021.[36]
In 2015, Afghanistan'sTOLOnews reported that a number of citizens of Iran and Pakistan have fraudulently obtained Afghan passports.[42][36] It was reported recently "that a number of counterfeiters abroad had prepared passport booklets, smuggled them into the country and distributed them to the public."[43][44][45] It was also reported that some people pay hundreds of US dollars for fake emergency medical documents, which allow them to obtain Afghan passports expeditiously.[46] According toKabulNow, in 2023 middlemen quoted fees of US$2000-US$3000 for a passport, with much of the money going to Taliban officials.[47]
^"Afghan diplomats under pressure from Taliban regime".Agence France-Presse. France 24. 14 March 2022. Retrieved21 April 2022.New passports issued in Kabul now refer to the country by the Taliban's name, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
