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Guidance

Support for British and non-British nationals in Afghanistan

We continue to work at pace to assist people facing serious risk in Afghanistan.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Visas and Immigration and Home Office
Published:
22 August 2021
Last updated:
2 March 2023
Show all updates

  1. Updated helpline operating hours.

  2. Updated helpline number.

  3. Amended helpline opening times.

  4. Removed FCDO helpline number.

  5. Updated contact details.

  6. Added link for British nationals in Afghanistan to register their presence and receive important updates.

  7. Paragraphs on humanitarian support and visa applications added to 'Non-British nationals' section. The word 'Afghans' replaced by 'locally employed staff' in ARAP section. Wording about the role of the helpline updated.

  8. The Afghan helpline is not providing advice on eligibility for the full resettlement scheme and it is not for registering interest for the scheme now that the evacuation process has been completed. Please continue checking back on the Afghan citizens’ resettlement scheme page for updated details of the scheme.

  9. Added advice on travel to Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport.

  10. Updated opening hours for non-British nationals helpline.

  11. First published.

The UK evacuation operation has ended. View updates on foreign travel advice.

British nationals

If you are a British national in Afghanistan and you need consular assistance, you should read the Afghanistan travel advice.

Non-British nationals

Humanitarian support

If you have fled from Afghanistan to another country looking for humanitarian support, and are seeking resettlement to the UK, you should not make a visa application.

The UK government has announced a new Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, which will allow Afghans particularly at risk, including women, girls and children, to resettle in the UK. Further details on the scheme will be updated on the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme page. Please check back regularly.

Visa applications

Afghan nationals need to apply for a visa to come to the UK to study, work, visit or join family.

There is currently no Visa Application Centre (VAC) operating in Afghanistan. If you are in Afghanistan and wish to make a UK visa application, you will normally have to submit your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) in a VAC in a third country to complete your application.

You can view updates on foreign travel advice for Afghanistan on GOV.UK.

You can also view travel advice for countries bordering Afghanistan if you plan to travel to or via any of them. All travel throughout Afghanistan is extremely dangerous, and border crossings may not be open.

You should shelter in a safe location and move towards a departure point only if and when you judge it is safe to do so.

ARAP

The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) is for locally employed staff who have supported British efforts in Afghanistan, for example interpreters and other personnel. View further details on ARAP.

Helpline

If you are a non-British national in Afghanistan, or are the family member of a non-British national in Afghanistan, and in need of assistance, call: +44 300 790 6268 (or 0300 790 6268 in the UK).

Operating hours (UK time):

  • Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4:45pm
  • Friday, 9am to 4:30pm

The helpline is closed on bank holidays.

This helpline provides information and support on the UK’s evacuation efforts, as well as general information about the relocation schemes. It is not for registering interest for the scheme. Please continue checking back on the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme page for updated details of the scheme.

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