Guidance

Afghanistan: Knowledge Base profile

Published 1 May 2024

About: Afghanistan

This document contains useful information about Afghanistan which will assist HM Passport Office staff process passport applications.

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 18 April 2024

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with minor formatting changes.

Afghanistan: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Afghanistan.

There are 2 different types of naming conventions in Afghanistan:

• Dari
• Pashtu

Dari names traditionally have no family names (surnames) and may consist of personal names (forenames) only. There are no strict conventions, and some people may adopt a family name.

The following titles are used in Dari:

• Mr: Agha
• Mrs: Khanum
• Miss: Mohtarma

Pashtu names consist of:

• personal names (forenames)
• a family name (surname)

Children do not always adopt their father or mother’s name.

The following titles are used in Pashtu:

• Mr: Shagheli
• Mrs: Mermen
• Miss: Peghla

Change of name

Name changes are allowed.

These are witnessed by a Public Notary. Changes of family name (surnames) can be completed at an embassy abroad. Full changes of names can only be completed in Afghanistan.

Women typically take their husband’s family name (if present) upon marriage.

A child’s name can be changed to the father’s name if the parents marry after the child is born.

Due to a limitation of characters in Afghanistan passports, names are automatically shortened. An observation will be added with the name in full.

Afghanistan: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Afghanistan.

Dual nationality is not recognised in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Afghanistan.

Legitimacy

Afghanistan recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate if their parents were married at the time of the birth
• illegitimate if their parents:
  • never marry
  • get married after the child is born

Afghanistan: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Afghanistan.

Adoption is not recognised in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Afghanistan.

Surrogacy is illegal in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Afghanistan.

Transgender citizens are not recognised in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Afghanistan.

Civil partnerships are not recognised in Afghanistan.

Muslim couples have an Islamic official wedding ceremony, known as a Nikah.

Polygamous marriage of up to 4 wives is allowed.

Afghanistan: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents from Afghanistan.

Genuine documents if they are written in English, may have grammatical errors.

Some official documents provided in Afghanistan may only contain the father and grandfather’s details. The mother’s details may not be recorded.

Birth certificates

The government established a system of registration in 2003. Before 2003, there was no formal system for the issuing of birth certificates.

Birth certificates are certified by the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of the Interior and the Police Department. Replacement certificates are issued if an error has been made.

Hospital births

Since 2006 all hospitals in Afghanistan record births at the hospital where the birth took place. They will only issue a birth certificate if the parents request one.

For births before 2006 where a birth certificate was not requested at the time, the parents can obtain a birth certificate by producing a vaccination card and details of where the child was born.

Hospital birth certificates name both parents but sometimes only show the mother’s surname.

Since 2009 the Population Department in Kabul issues an additional yellow blank certificate to the birth certificate issued by hospitals. This certificate is completed by the hospital at the time of birth and issued to the parents, separate to the birth certificate.

Home births

In the event of a home birth, ante-natal, pre-birth hospital records and birth certificates may not be issued. To obtain a birth certificate a request can be made to the Ministry of Public Health to issue a letter of authority. A hospital can then be asked to issue a birth certificate on production of the letter.

Marriage certificates

Muslim couples have an Islamic official wedding ceremony, known as a Nikah. A wedding conducted without a Nikah is illegal.

The Nikah is performed by a religious person who has a license issued by the Afghanistan government to perform the ritual. A marriage contract is signed by both parties in the presence of their parents and close relatives. A marriage certificate known as a ‘Nika’ or ‘Nika Khat’ is then issued.

Divorce documents

Divorce certificates are a hand-written affidavit witnessed by a Notary Public. This must be formalised in Court before a judge and registered with the Population Department for it to be legal and valid.

Death certificates

All deaths must be registered at the Population Department. There is no time limit to register a death. There is no central register. Once registered, a death certificate will be issued.

Identity documents

Two types of identity document are in circulation in Afghanistan. These include a:

• paper Afghanistan identity certificate, known as a Tazkera
• biometric identity card

Health cards

Vaccination Cards are mandatory in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Public Health issue these to all new-born children in hospitals. They are not issued to home births in provincial villages. Children born at home may not hold a vaccination card. Volunteers from the Ministry of Public Health occasionally make house calls to vaccinate children and issue vaccination cards.