Afghan passport

Afghan passport
Front cover of an Afghan passport. New passports continue to carry this design despite the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in 2021.
TypePassport
Issued byGeneral Directorate of Passports[1]
First issued1880
PurposeIdentification; international travel[2]
EligibilityAfghan nationality
Expiration5-10 years[3]
Cost5,000-10,000 afghanis (AFN)[4]

Afghan passports are international travel documents issued by the General Directorate of Passports to nationals and citizens of Afghanistan.[1] Every person with a valid Afghan identity card (Tazkira) can apply for and receive an Afghan passport,[5][6][7] which is renewable every 5–10 years.[3]

The Afghan passport was introduced by Emir Abdur Rahman Khan in 1880. It recently became a biometric passport.[8][9] Abdul Karim Hasib is the current director of the General Directorate of Passports.[1] His predecessor was Alam Gul Haqqani.[10][11]

The cost of a new 5-year Afghan passport is 5,000 afghanis (AFN). A 10-year passport requires a fee of 10,000 AFN.[4][12] Currently, up to 10,000 Afghan passports can be issued daily.[13] This number is expected to reach up to 15,000.[14]

The Afghan passport has been labelled by the Henley Passport Index as the least powerful passport in the world, with its holders only able to visit 26 destinations visa-free.[15]

  1. ^ a b c "Passport Dept Chief Says 3 New Centers to Open in Kabul". TOLOnews. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Only e-IDs or passports accepted for SIM card purchases was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "Applicants above 15 to get 10-year passports". Pajhwok Afghan News. April 18, 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference refworld.org was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Passport office to verify paper ID cards of applicants". Pajhwok Afghan News. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  6. ^ "Online Application for Passport Resumes in Kabul". Khaama Press. April 9, 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  7. ^ "Passports to be issued only on e-ID cards". Pajhwok Afghan News. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Foreign ministry issues computerised passports was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Modernising the Afghan Passport Office was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Alam Gul Haqqani appointed Passport Department head". Pajhwok Afghan News. September 20, 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  11. ^ "Taliban govt resumes issuing Afghan passports in Kabul". Agence France-Presse. France 24. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-21.
  12. ^ "Requirement for obtaining Afghan passport". Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Canberra, Australia. 2018. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference TOLO-182784 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "15,000 Passports Distributed Each Day: Spokesman". TOLOnews. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Afghanistan ranks lowest in Henley Passport Index 2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).