In a significant move after nearly four years, India has resumed visa services for Afghan nationals seeking to visit the country for business, education, or medical purposes. The services, which were suspended following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, are now available online through the Government of India’s official visa portal.
According to a notice issued on the portal, visas will be granted in the following categories: business, student, medical, medical attendant, entry, and United Nations (UN) diplomat. Each applicant is required to upload a copy of the Afghan National Identity Card (Tazkira), which must include personal details such as full name, date of birth, nationality, and expiry date.
Applicants must ensure that all supporting documents, including business cards and invitation letters, are submitted in English. Failure to comply will result in the rejection of the application, the notice added.
Mandatory Biometric Details and ETA Requirements
India has introduced new security protocols, under which biometric details of all Afghan applicants will be mandatorily captured at immigration checkpoints upon arrival. Additionally, travelers must carry a printed copy of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and are allowed to enter India only if the ETA status is marked “GRANTED” on the visa portal.
Travelers are also advised to visit the Bureau of Immigration’s website for additional instructions and must ensure they travel using the same passport under which they applied. However, entry will still be permitted with a new passport if the old passport with the issued ETA is carried along.
Specific Visa Guidelines
For business visas, applicants must clearly state the purpose of the visit—such as establishing an industrial or business venture, participating in commercial sports events, or engaging in other business-related activities.
Student visas will be issued to those who have received scholarships from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations or are seeking admission in Indian government institutions.
Medical visas will be issued to Afghan patients, while separate medical attendant visas will be given to those accompanying them.
The ‘Entry visa’ category includes Afghan nationals wishing to participate in cultural events or those traveling for family-related reasons, such as minor children of Afghan citizens married to Indians or OCI cardholders.
UN diplomat visas will be provided to Afghan nationals working as diplomats under the United Nations. Like all other categories, they too must submit their Tazkira for identification purposes.
India’s Diplomatic Stance on Afghanistan
Although India has not officially recognized the Taliban regime, it has continued to extend humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. Following the 2021 Taliban takeover, India withdrew all embassy staff from Kabul citing security concerns. However, in June 2022, India re-established a minimal diplomatic presence by deploying a “technical team” in Kabul.
High-level contacts between the two countries have continued, including a recent phone call on May 15 between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi. During the conversation, Jaishankar expressed gratitude for Muttaqi’s condemnation of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.
India’s move to reinstate visa services signals a cautious but important step in maintaining people-to-people connections and providing critical support to Afghan nationals in need.
Sources By Agencies
