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When traveling to Afghanistan, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you must obtain work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Afghanistan, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Most foreign nationals must obtain a visa to enter Afghanistan to conduct business activities. Visa-required business visitors must obtain a Business Visa prior to travel from an Afghan Consulate or Embassy.
Under the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), U.S./NATO contractors are eligible to obtain a Contractor Visa, valid for one year, from an Afghan Consulate or Embassy. Please consult your immigration provider to determine eligibility and requirements.
For foreign nationals who are not NATO and U.S. defense contractor employees, the activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Afghan law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Afghanistan, even if conducted for a short duration.
NATO and U.S. defense contractor employees may engage in professional activities without obtaining work authorization, although strict preconditions must be met. Please contact your immigration counsel prior to travel for more details.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, and on the nature and duration of your work. Non-U.S. and NATO defense contractor employees who intend to engage in productive work activities must obtain a work permit and a work visa prior to travel.
Other than NATO and U.S. defense contractors, there are no other nationalities or groups that are exempt from work authorization requirements in Afghanistan.
Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.