Afghanistan – Level 4: Do Not Travel

Reissued with updates to relocation, citizen services, and safety and security information.

Do not travel to Afghanistan due to armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.  

Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe and the risk of kidnapping or violence against U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is high. Given the serious risks, U.S. citizens should not travel to Afghanistan to accompany eligible family members for relocation.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul suspended operations on August 31, 2021. Since that time, U.S. citizens have been unjustly detained. The U.S. government is not able to provide emergency citizen services in Afghanistan and our ability to assist detained U.S. citizens is extremely limited.

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan in need of routine consular services can contact any U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan for assistance, although our ability to assist is extremely limited. To locate the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan, click here. U.S. citizens who are in Afghanistan and are seeking U.S. government assistance to depart should email complete biographic details and contact information (email and phone number), as well as U.S. passport number, to AfghanistanACS@state.gov.  

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are prioritized for relocation out of Afghanistan if they have an approved U.S. immigrant visa petition and notification from the National Visa Center that their case is ready for an interview. Please note that U.S. citizens or LPR family members do not have to be physically present in Afghanistan for their qualifying family members to be prioritized.  In fact, your presence in Afghanistan will not expedite your relative’s case. For further information on the immigrant visa application process, please refer to our website. The Department of State will continue to provide information via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), Embassy Kabul’s web page, Travel.State.Gov, Facebook, and Twitter.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Afghanistan.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined Afghanistan has an unknown level of COVID-19.  Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. 

The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. U.S. citizens still in Afghanistan should:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and ensure you can be located in an emergency.
• Review your personal security plans and consider leaving at the first safe opportunity.
• Be aware of your surroundings and local security developments at all times.
• Keep a low profile.
• Notify a trusted person of your travel and movement plans.
• If not departing imminently, make contingency plans to leave when it is safe to do so and do not expect U.S. government assistance will be available to facilitate your departure.
• Monitor local media.
• Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before planning any international travel, and read the Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for country-specific COVID-19 information. 
• Read the Country Security Report For Afghanistan.

Resources for U.S. citizens in Afghanistan:

• State Department – Consular Affairs
  888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444
• AfghanistanACS@state.gov
• Embassy Citizens’ Services Page
• Afghanistan Country Information
• Afghanistan Travel Advisory
• Refer to our website for the latest Alerts and Messages for U.S. citizens.
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to ensure you receive Alerts and other information.