Visa for Afghanistan from the United Kingdom: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. Citizens of the United Kingdom need a tourist visa to enter Afghanistan; no visa-free entry or visa on arrival is available to them. The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry and have blank pages for the visa sticker and stamps.

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

• Government feeNot published in a source we can verify

  Paid to the state, non-refundable if the visa is refused.

• Application centre feeVariable, set by the operator

  Only when the post uses an external centre. The amount is set locally and we do not publish a figure we cannot verify.

• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top

  Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

• ExtrasVariable

  Courier return, SMS tracking, compliant photo, insurance, sworn translation or legalisation, depending on what the post requires.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

Prepare a valid passport, the completed application form, recent passport photos, proof of accommodation or an invitation and, in many cases, evidence of sufficient funds. The exact visa fee is not published here: confirm it directly with the Afghan mission or the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs before paying.

British applicants apply at the Afghan embassy in London, or at the competent Afghan mission if the London consular service is interrupted. The application is made in person or by post depending on the mission's rules; contact it in advance to confirm the form, appointment system and accepted payment method. An invitation letter or a detailed itinerary is frequently required.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for the United Kingdom, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in the United Kingdom but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Processing times differ from one mission to another, so submit your file several weeks before travelling. Be sure to check your own government's travel advisory for Afghanistan, as many advise against all travel. Keep digital copies of every document you submit.

The most common mistake is relying on a visa on arrival or a non-existent e-visa for British travellers. Watch out too for a passport with insufficient validity and for overlooking security alerts and health requirements. Always verify the current rules with the official source before you leave.