Southern Asia > Afghanistan > Governments: Customs and Visa Information

Entry/Exit Requirements: A passport and valid visa are required to enter and exit Afghanistan. Afghan entry visas are not available at Kabul International Airport. American citizens who arrive without a visa are subject to confiscation of their passport and face heavy fines and difficulties in retrieving ... Read this Article

Afghanistan representation in the U.S.A.

chief of mission: Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWAD
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6410
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6488
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Website: Embassy of Afghanistan

U.S.A. representation in Afghanistan

chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD
embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: U.S. Embassy Kabul, APO, AE 09806
telephone: [93] 0700 108 001
FAX: [93] 0700 108 564

Website: Afghanistan: Kabul

Passport Information and Travel Registration

The Passport Services Office provides information and services to American citizens about how to obtain, replace or change a passport.

This site will allow you to find the nearest location to apply for a passport. It is provided by the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs

The IATA (International Air Transport Association) provides reliable information on passport and visa requirements for personal and business travel to Afghanistan. Click here to Start.

Afghanistan at a Glance

Official Country Name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan

Government Type: Islamic republic

Administrative Divisions: 34 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul

Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

National Holiday: Independence Day, 19 August (1919)

Constitution: new constitution drafted 14 December 2003-4 January 2004; signed 16 January 2004

Legal System: based on mixed civil and Sharia law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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Snippets of Interest for Afghanistan

!	The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Registration / Embassy Location: Americans living or traveling in Afghanistan are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Afghanistan. Americans without internet access may register directly with ... Read this Article

Special Circumstances: Because of the poor infrastructure in Afghanistan, access to banking facilities is limited and unreliable. Afghanistan's economy operates on a "cash-only" basis for most transactions. Credit card transactions are not available. International bank transfers are limited. Some ATM machines exist at Standard Charter ... Read this Article

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law ... Read this Article

Government Type: Islamic Republic. Independence: August 19, 1919. Constitution: January 4, 2004. Branches: Executive--president (chief of state). Legislative--bicameral National Assembly (Wolesi Jirga (lower house)--249 seats, Meshrano Jirga (upper house)--102 seats). Judicial--Supreme Court, High Courts, and Appeals Courts. Political subdivisions: 34 provinces. Suffrage: Universal at 18 years. Economy GDP (2007 est.): $8.8 billion. GDP growth (2008 est.): 11.5%. GDP ... Read this Article

Government and Political Conditions On October 9, 2004, Afghanistan held its first national democratic presidential election. More than 8 million Afghans voted, 41% of whom were women. Hamid Karzai was announced as the official winner on November 3 and inaugurated on December 7 for a five-year term as Afghanistan's first democratically elected president. An election was ... Read this Article

...U.S. Embassy will be able to assist them. Safety Large parts of Afghanistan are extremely isolated, with few roads in mostly poor condition. Vehicular traffic is chaotic and contends with pedestrians, bicyclists, animals and non-motorized carts. While sections of Afghanistan’s limited road network are under ... Read this Article

Intercountry Adoption For information on how to proceed with an adoption, please visit the the Department of State�s Bureau of Consular Affairs, Overseas Citizens Services.

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