Afganistan

Passport validity requirements

If you decide to travel to Afghanistan against FCDO advice, check with your travel provider whether your passport and other travel documents meet requirements.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Vaccine requirements

On your departure, the Afghan authorities may ask for a certificate to prove you’ve had a polio vaccine.

For full details about medical entry and departure requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Afghanistan guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Afghanistan. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into Afghanistan

It is illegal to carry more than 5000 US dollars through airports and more than 500 US dollars through land borders in cash. For more information, see ‘Money’ on ‘Safety and security’ page.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Afghanistan. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking money into Afghanistan

It is illegal to carry more than 5000 US dollars through airports and more than 500 US dollars through land borders in cash. For more information, see ‘Money’ on ‘Safety and security’ page.

Emergency services in Afghanistan

Telephone: 119 (police)

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do. 

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO 

There is no British Embassy in Afghanistan and our ability to provide help to British nationals is severely limited and cannot be delivered in person.

The UK government cannot help British nationals who are in Afghanistan and who wish to leave. Anyone who wants to leave Afghanistan should do so by commercial means or through a land border. FCDO cannot advise on the safety of routes to leave Afghanistan.

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

For information about applying for a British passport, or to check on your passport application, see overseas British passport applications or call the Passport Adviceline.

Contacting FCDO

Help abroad  

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK  

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.  

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)  

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates  

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X

• travel advice on Facebook

FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan

You should not travel to Afghanistan. The security situation is volatile and tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have previously resulted in violent clashes in border regions. Travel throughout Afghanistan is extremely dangerous and a number of border crossings are not currently open.  

There is a heightened risk of British nationals being detained in Afghanistan. If you are a British national and you are detained in Afghanistan, you could face months or years of imprisonment. FCDO’s ability to help you is extremely limited and support in person is not possible in Afghanistan.

For more details about the risks in Afghanistan, see Safety and security.

Do not travel to Afghanistan    

You should not travel to Afghanistan. The FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan, even if you are part of an organised tour group. There is a high risk of British nationals being detained or kidnapped, and terrorists often target places frequented by foreign nationals. The FCDO’s ability to provide assistance in Afghanistan is severely limited.

Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions

There are heighted tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, including clashes in border areas. FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan. Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

UK government support

Support for British nationals is severely limited in Afghanistan. There is no British Embassy in Afghanistan and FCDO cannot give in-person consular assistance. If you are detained, the British government may not be informed.

If you are a British national in Afghanistan and need help from the UK government, you can:

• call FCDO on 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
• submit an enquiry
• contact us on X or Facebook

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel against FCDO advice, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates 

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.  

Follow FCDO:    

• travel advice on X 

• travel advice on Facebook 

• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

There are no formal internationally recognised structures or processes of law in Afghanistan and foreign nationals, including British nationals, have been detained without due process.

Afghanistan is an Islamic country. The country’s laws and customs are very different to those in the UK.

The Taliban do not tolerate the practice of religions other than Islam and may view religious activities that do not fit with their own version of Sunni Islam as suspicious, particularly any efforts to convert Afghan nationals to an alternative religion.

Laws on dress

The Taliban have set codes of dress for men and women and strictly enforce them.  

Women, including foreign nationals, must fully cover themselves in public. A woman must wear:

• loose-fitting clothing to conceal her body, arms and legs
• a headscarf to cover her hair
• a veil to cover her face

Men must dress modestly and avoid wearing clothing such as sleeveless shirts or shorts.

Lack of women’s rights

The Taliban have made it illegal for women to travel for more than 72km (44 miles) without being accompanied by their husband, father or brother (a ‘mahram’). Taliban officials regularly check transport and monitor public locations, including hospitals and schools. They can stop women from travelling, including leaving Afghanistan, and may penalise women in other ways, including detention, if they do not comply.

Ramadan

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country.

During this time, do not:

• eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, including in a vehicle
• play loud music or dance
• swear in public

Illegal food, drugs and alcohol    

You are not allowed to use or bring into the country narcotics, alcohol or pork products. If you do, you could be arrested.

Mobile phones, internet access and communications  

The Taliban have blocked, significantly slowed, or shut down landline, internet, and mobile services without warning in the past. This can be nationwide or localised. This can affect communication and location services on smartphones and other devices. You should: 

• not rely on mobile data, non-Afghan mobile apps or international calls for personal safety 
• always keep an alternative means of communication and navigation with you
• make sure friends and family know where you are

Previous internet blackouts have also impacted flights and access to cash.

Using cameras in secure areas

It may not be immediately clear whether taking photos could cause offence or suspicion. Avoid photographing local people without their agreement and pay close attention to local information and ways of doing things. Photographing certain buildings in Afghanistan is not allowed and may lead to detention, including:

• government buildings
• military installations
• palaces
• Taliban checkpoints

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal under the Taliban and has historically always been forbidden in Afghanistan.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Buying antiquities

Do not buy or try to export antiquities without getting a receipt from an authorised dealer. When you leave Afghanistan the authorities may ask for proof you bought the item. If you do not have a receipt, they could detain you, and you may get a fine or prison sentence.

Money  

If you travel to Afghanistan against FCDO advice, you may face problems with the authorities if you try to import foreign currency. It is illegal to carry more than 5000 US dollars through airports and more than 500 US dollars through land borders in cash, but you may not be able to use foreign-issued bank cards at ATMs and local banks.

Some ATMs and many banks accept foreign-issued bank cards, with restrictions on the amount of cash you can withdraw. Check with local branches.

Some international money transfer services continue to operate in Afghanistan. However, payouts will be in local currency, even when the payee has requested foreign exchange.