Afghanistan Travel Guidelines 2025

RJ Travel specializes in authentic, culturally immersive travel experiences in Afghanistan — a land of breathtaking landscapes, rich heritage, and deep complexity. What makes our Afghanistan tours unique is not just the destination, but the way we operate: through a true partnership model with our Afghan team.

Unlike traditional tour setups where services are simply contracted, our presence in Afghanistan is rooted in co-ownership and friendship. The people organizing and guiding your journey are not just hired providers — they are part of RJ Travel itself. This trusted collaboration ensures unparalleled safety, continuity, and quality of service.

We work directly with dedicated partners across Afghanistan, ensuring every tour is not only safe and legal, but also deeply connected to the country’s soul. From hotel choices and transportation to local guides and logistics, our team is involved at every level — on the ground, in person, and in partnership.

Afghanistan, often misunderstood, is also one of the most rewarding destinations for those who seek authentic adventure, ancient history, and meaningful human connection. Our tours are crafted to reflect the best of the country while respecting local customs, ensuring safe access, and honoring the evolving political context.

This guide provides all the essential information you need to prepare, travel, and enjoy your journey to Afghanistan — with full transparency, professionalism, and genuine care from the RJ Travel family.

📥 Download Full Afghanistan Travel Guidelines (PDF)

Destinations Open To Tourism In Afghanistan

Afghanistan is now fully accessible to travelers, with all provinces open under the current administration. Our itineraries explore both the well-known cultural capitals and the hidden gems of the country — from bustling markets and shrines to serene valleys and ancient Buddhist cities. RJ Travel operates its Afghanistan tours in strategic partnership with trusted local providers, ensuring authentic cultural immersion and reliable, on-the-ground logistics.

Legal & Security Framework

Travel in Afghanistan is now possible with the proper permits, coordinated security, and strong local support. RJ Travel’s Afghan operations team works in close collaboration with the Government Tourism & Culture Department, ensuring all routes are safe and updated in real time when needed. However, due to government office closures every Friday, no tourism-related paperwork — including essential travel permits — can be processed on that day.

Visa Process & Guaranteed Issuance In Dubai

At RJ Travel, we offer a 99% reliable visa service for Afghanistan through our trusted local coordinator in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This service has been carefully developed to ensure a fast, smooth, and stress-free experience — with same-day turnaround and full logistical support from start to finish.

Who Can Apply?

We can obtain visas for citizens of:  🇪🇺 EU countries, 🇺🇸 USA, 🇬🇧 UK, 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇨🇳 China, 🇨🇭 Switzerland and others. Basically, the whole world!

What We Offer:

Our Dubai visa service includes:

• Passport collection from your hotel in Dubai
• Filling and submitting the visa application on your behalf
• Same-day express visa processing
• Returning your passport with the approved visa by 2:00 PM

✅ Our team has never had a visa rejected through this method. As long as your passport is valid and your documents are in order, the visa is guaranteed.

Step-by-Step: How It Works

1. Meet Our Coordinator: At 08:00 AM, our Dubai-based colleague will meet you at your hotel (or airport) to collect your passport and visa fee (in new USD bills only — post-2009).
2. Submission & Processing: Your visa application is submitted to the Afghan consulate in Dubai the same morning.
3. Same-Day Approval: Your visa is processed and approved by approximately 2:00 PM.
4. Passport Return: Our colleague delivers your passport back to your hotel.
5. Flight to Kabul: You’ll fly out that night (typically around 03:00 AM via Kam Air). We recommend arriving at the airport 3 hours before departure.

Quick Explanation

To enter Afghanistan legally, every traveler needs:

1. A visa from the Afghan Consulate in Dubai
2. A travel permit issued in Kabul

The visa is made in Dubai, and once it’s ready (usually by 2 PM), we immediately start the permit process in Kabul that same afternoon.

Because:

• The visa office in Dubai only works Monday to Friday
• The permit office in Kabul is closed on Fridays

👉 Tours can’t start on Saturdays, unless your visa was already done before Thursday.

When Tours Can and Cannot Start on Saturday

Tours can start on Saturday, but only if your visa in Dubai was issued earlier in the week — from Monday to Thursday.

If your visa is issued on Friday, we cannot process the Kabul permit the same day, because Friday is a public holiday in Afghanistan and all government offices are closed.

So:

• ✅ Saturday tour is OK → if visa was done before Friday
• ❌ Saturday tour is NOT possible → if visa is issued on Friday

This is why we recommend planning your Dubai arrival and visa accordingly.

⚠️ Please note: While the visa process in Dubai is typically smooth and same-day, there have been rare cases (only twice out of hundreds of applications) where the Afghan consulate requested the passport to be returned later for additional verification. If this occurs, we kindly ask for your flexibility — our colleague will retrieve the passport again and return it to your hotel around 4:00–5:00 PM. This is a rare situation but important to mention for full transparency.

Visa Service Cost:

• $300 USD for most nationalities (Indians pay $250 USD)
  
• $400 USD for U.S. passport holders. 

✅ The fee is paid in cash (USD), and includes all related processing and admin costs. The visa itself is not charged separately — it is part of this service. This covers the full visa assistance package, including passport handling, application, coordination, express processing, and return.

⚠️ Important Notes:

• Visa processing is only possible Monday to Friday in Dubai.
• We cannot start tours on Fridays or Saturdays, as the travel permit in Kabul is only issued after the visa is granted — and Afghan offices are closed on Fridays.
• Please plan your arrival in Dubai for a weekday, with at least one night stay before your flight to Kabul.

Accommodation & Meals

We provide clean, secure 3★ and 4★ hotels with private bathrooms. Rooms are twin or triple shared unless a single supplement is requested.

• Single room supplement: $30 USD per night per room (subject to availability)
• Daily breakfast included
• Lunches at vetted local restaurants (included)
• Dinners are not included ($2–4 per meal typical)

We also offer accommodation in 4-star and 5-star hotels in most major cities. However, in Bamiyan, only a superior 3-star hotel is available.

If you prefer to stay alone, or if you’re the only participant on the tour, or if no one is available to share a room with you, a single room supplement will apply.

✅ Couples or friends traveling together will, of course, share the same room.

Accommodation Overview

Kabul – Khyber Hotel: A 3-star hotel offering air-conditioned rooms with modern amenities, including a flat-screen TV, minibar, and private bathroom. Guests appreciate its central location, friendly staff, and proximity to local attractions. ​

Herat – Sadaf Hotel: A 4-star hotel providing air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi and private bathrooms. The property features a restaurant and offers room service. Its proximity to Herat International Airport makes it a convenient choice for travelers

Kandahar – NFC Hotel: A 3-star hotel offering organized accommodations with amenities like air conditioning, fridge, and western-style toilets. Guests have noted the availability of breakfast options and free bottled water.

Bamiyan – Bamyan Royal Hotel: A superior 3-star hotel located near the historic Buddhas of Bamiyan, serving as an excellent base for exploring the region’s ancient sites and natural beauty. Guests can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. ​

Mazar-e-Sharif – Arsalan Guest House: A 3-star guest house offering comfortable en-suite rooms with basic breakfast and free laundry services. Its location provides easy access to the city’s main attractions.

Connectivity & Money

• Bring USD cash in $50 or $100 denominations, issued after 2009. Torn, marked, or old bills will be refused by our staff, local banks and exchange offices.
• ATMs in Afghanistan are unreliable and may not accept international cards. Cash is essential.
• SIM cards (Roshan or MTN) can be purchased upon arrival at Kabul Airport.
• While most hotels offer internet, connections can be slow or intermittent — especially outside Kabul.
• In Bamiyan, electricity is occasionally cut off at night. If you need to charge your phone or camera overnight, it’s strongly recommended to bring a fully charged power bank or portable charger.

Arrival Procedure – Kabul International Airport

1. Proceed through immigration and receive an entry stamp.
2. Register as a foreign visitor:
   • Fill out A4 form + small white card
   • Attach 2 passport-sized photos
   • Receive your registration card (carry it at all times)
3. Exit airport, walk 400 meters to the left until you reach the white gate by the “I ❤️ Afghanistan” sign
4. Your RJ Travel guide will be waiting with your name sign.

After receiving your immigration entry stamp, collecting your bags, getting your foreign registration card you can go out of the airport building. As you step outside, head towards the East (on your left) going around the building in your left, and continue walking for approximately 400 meters. Along the way, you will pass the domestic terminal and an “I Love Afghanistan” sign until you reach a white fenced gate on your right hand side. On the other side of the gate, you will notice a group of people eagerly waiting for friends and family members. Look for our guide, who will be holding up a welcoming sign with your name on it or a logo of RJ Travel. Finding him will be a straightforward and hassle-free process. Your designated guide will accompany you to your vehicle. Greet them with a friendly “hi” and shake hands if comfortable. Also, acknowledge your driver. Women should NOT shake hands with men.

Domestic Flights & Regional Guiding System

For tours that include Herat and/or Kandahar, travel between cities is done via domestic flights (typically on Kam Air or Ariana Afghan Airlines). Here’s how the process works:

1. 🛫 In Kabul, your main guide will escort you to the airport, assist with check-in if needed, and ensure you are prepared to proceed through security.
2. ✈️ You will board the domestic flight independently — it’s a straightforward process, and we’ll provide all required documents.
   🛬 Upon arrival in Herat or Kandahar, a dedicated local guide — who is a native of that region and highly familiar with its history, culture, and logistics — will meet you at the airport holding a welcome sign.
3. 🚘 All airport transfers (pick-up and drop-off) in these cities are fully coordinated by our Kabul office, which will also share an emergency contact number for immediate assistance at any time.
   

This operational setup allows us to:

• ✅ Optimize costs (especially for solo travelers or small groups)
• ✅ Provide hyper-local knowledge from guides who know the region intimately
• ✅ Maintain the same high RJ Travel standards in every location
  

If you prefer to be accompanied by the same guide throughout, including during the domestic flights and airport process, this can be arranged at an additional cost.

Step-by-step Booking Process

To ensure a smooth and fully coordinated experience, please follow the steps below to confirm your tour:

1. Choose Your Itinerary & Confirm Availability

Contact our team by email to choose your preferred itinerary and travel dates. We will confirm availability of guides, domestic flights, and logistics for your selected tour.

2. Sign the Booking Agreement & Conditions

Carefully review and sign our official Booking Conditions and Trip Agreement:
🔗 https://www.rjtravelagency.com/booking-conditions/

 This is required to finalize your reservation.

3. Pay the Booking Deposit

Secure your spot by paying the booking deposit via our encrypted payment link. The exact deposit amount and link will be shared with you by email after confirmation.

4. Complete the Afghanistan Visa Application Form

Fill out the visa form with accurate passport details and travel information:
🔗 https://www.rjtravelagency.com/afghanistan-visa-application-form/

5. Submit Required Travel Documents

After your visa is approved, send us the following:

• ✅ Flight tickets (arrival and departure from Kabul)
  
• ✅ Proof of travel insurance (insurance must explicitly cover Afghanistan – Level 3/4 advisory countries)

6. RJ Travel Finalizes All Logistics

Once we receive your documents, our team will coordinate:

• Airport meet & greet services
  
• Internal permits and registrations
  
• Domestic flights, transportation, and hotel arrangements
  
• Assigning your expert local guide

7. Receive Your Final Travel Documents

Approximately one week before your departure, you will receive your Trip Voucher, which includes:

• Emergency contacts
  
• Airport pickup details
  
• Summary of services included

8. Pay the Balance on Arrival

Upon arrival in Kabul, please deliver the remaining tour balance in USD cash to our local contact.

 ✅ Bring large-denomination notes ($50 or $100), issued after 2009, in good condition.

❌ We cannot accept old, damaged, torn, or painted banknotes — even if the damage is minor. Afghan banks and exchange offices will refuse them, so please prepare your cash in advance.

Travel Insurance Requirements

Travel insurance is mandatory. For destinations classified as Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) or Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”) by the US State Department, your insurance must explicitly state that it covers travel to Afghanistan.

Your policy must include:

1. Medical expenses and hospitalization
2. Emergency medical evacuation
3. Trip cancellation or interruption
4. Baggage loss or delay
5. Repatriation of remains

🔗 Buy IATI Travel Insurance (Afghanistan-approved) with 5% discount through this link.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

While visa denials are extremely rare with our Dubai-based process, RJ Travel maintains a transparent policy to cover all possible outcomes:

1. If the visa is denied

• $100 USD for the Letter of Invitation (LOI), which is part of your tour package and non-refundable
• $150 USD to cover administrative and coordination costs (permit requests, logistics planning, local team mobilization)
• PLUS any domestic flight tickets already purchased on your behalf for the tour, which are non-refundable and will be deducted from the refundable portion of your deposit
• The remaining balance of the deposit will be refunded to the client. Please note that a standard deduction of $50 USD will be applied to cover transaction fees, currency exchange costs, banking charges, and administrative processing associated with issuing the refund.
• Deposits under $250 USD are non-refundable, as they do not cover the minimum administrative and coordination costs already incurred.

2. If the client cancels before applying for the visa

• Our standard cancellation policy applies, based on the number of days before the tour start date:
  
  • More than 31 days before → 100% refund
    
  • 22 to 30 days before → 70% refund
    
  • 11 to 21 days before → 50% refund
    
  • 1 to 10 days before → Non-refundable
    

3. If the client is approved for a visa but cancels voluntarily

• The deposit becomes non-refundable, as it covers services already arranged and paid for (LOI, internal permits, guide blocking, etc.).
  
• Remaining unpaid balances are not due.

General Conduct & Best Practices

1. Dress conservatively — long pants and sleeves for men, hijab and loose clothing for women
   
2. Always follow your guide’s advice, especially at checkpoints or official meetings
   
3. Keep personal opinions to yourself — especially regarding religion, politics, or gender
   
4. Do not engage in debates with locals — smile politely and change the topic
   
5. Ask before taking photos, especially of people, mosques, or military-related scenes
   
6. Respect hospitality — if someone offers you tea or food, accept it with a smilethis

Religious Identity & Respect

Religion is a central part of Afghan society, but your personal religion is not questioned by locals or Taliban officials. Whether you are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, or of another faith, you will be treated with respect — as long as you show respect in return.

However, we strongly advise against discussing atheism or making any statements about not believing in God. Afghanistan is a deeply religious country, and expressing atheism or agnosticism can be misunderstood as offensive or disrespectful.

✅ If asked, simply say you are Christian or from a Christian-majority country — this is understood and respected universally across Afghanistan.

Cultural Conduct & What Not To Do In Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a deeply conservative and tradition-oriented country. Respect for Islamic customs, traditional gender norms, and local etiquette is essential for a safe and respectful travel experience. While most cultural misunderstandings are met with patience, certain actions can cause discomfort — or even serious consequences. To help travelers navigate this, we’ve grouped potential missteps into four categories:

Minor Faux Pas – You’ll Look Out of Place

These won’t get you into trouble, but may cause awkwardness or draw unwanted attention:

• Wearing shorts or tight/revealing clothes
• Pointing with your finger instead of using your full hand
• Crossing your legs in front of elders
• Speaking loudly in public or marketplaces
• Refusing a cup of tea — even if you don’t plan to drink it
• Public displays of affection, even between married couples
• Overly aggressive bargaining — it’s better to smile and let go
  

Cultural Missteps – May Offend Locals

These can lead to uncomfortable or offended reactions:

• Using your left hand to give or receive items or food
• Staring at women, even unintentionally
• Not removing shoes before entering homes, mosques, or sacred spaces
• Offering to shake hands with someone of the opposite sex
• Criticizing Afghan culture or religion, even in jest
• Refusing hospitality — even a symbolic acceptance is expected
• Giving money directly to beggars, especially near mosques or shrines
  

Serious Offenses – Could Escalate or Cause Confrontation

These actions show disrespect for sacred beliefs and should be strictly avoided:

• Photographing women or children without permission
• Discussing politics or religion, especially Taliban-related topics
• Taking photos of military checkpoints, Taliban guards without consent, or government buildings
• Entering mosques without proper attire or behavior
• Losing your temper or shouting in public
• Eating or drinking in public during Ramadan, especially during daylight hours

Dangerous Mistakes – Legal or Security Risk

These actions could put your safety at risk or result in detention:

• Attempting to bypass registration or permits
• Blasphemy or religious disrespect, including casual comments
• Possession or use of alcohol or drugs (strictly illegal)
• Entering restricted areas without your guide
• Disrespecting Taliban officials or ignoring checkpoint instructions

📥 Download Full Afghanistan Travel Guidelines (PDF)