General guidelines for visa applicants

All types of visa applicants may please read the following steps and guidelines before proceeding further:

A STEPS

STEP 1: Online Application

 

STEP 2: Submission of Form

2.1   Thereafter, the visa applicants are required to submit signed printouts of the online application form either at the India Visa Application Centre (IVAC) (M/s Shahir Travel Agency, Kabul). In special cases only, as mentioned below, applications can be submitted at Embassy of India, Shar-e-Naw, Kabul.

2.2  For Afghan Passports other than Diplomatic and Service Passports

Applications are to be submitted at the IVAC, M/s Shahir Travel Agency: Shar-e-Naw, Charahi Haji Yaqub, Police Station No. 10 Street, House No.5, Kabul. (Note: The only authorized IVAC in Afghanistan is in the city of Kabul, operated by M/s Shahir Travel Agency at the address given above). In Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif signed application forms will be submitted directly to the offices of the Consulate General of India located in these cities (Note: Visa services at CGI Jalalabad and CGI Herat are temporarily suspended. Applicants will have to submit applications in Kabul at M/S Shahir Travel Agency) .

2.3  Afghan Diplomatic and Service Passport holders are required to submit visa application(s) along with supporting documents directly to the  Embassy of India, Malalai Watt, Shar-e-Naw, Kabul. (Note: Visa applications for Diplomatic and Service Passports must invariably be accompanied with a Note Verbale signed by the Competent Authority at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Afghanistan (MoFA) / Ministry of Interior (MoI) / The National Directorate of Security (NDS) /  Wolesi Jirga / Meshrano Jirga and Ministry of Defense (MoD) otherwise their applications will not be accepted.

2.4  For Non-Afghan passports (of any type of Diplomatic, Official, Ordinary): signed application forms and supporting documents shall be submitted directly at Embassy of India, Malalai Watt, Shar-e-Naw, Kabul.

2.5  It may be noted that applicants should complete all documentation and attach required documents as mentioned in the visa category mentioned in the section

STEP 3: Biometrics

It may be noted that registration of biometrics (fingerprints) and capturing of electronic photograph is mandatory for all applicants. This will be registered / captured either at the IVAC or Embassy of India, Kabul, whichever is applicable.

B.    GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1.   Timings for Receiving signed Visa application forms;

At Embassy of India, Malalai Watt, Shar-e-Naw, Kabul

(Sunday to Thursday or with specific appointment)

  • Submission of Visa Applications   -        9:30 am to 1:00 pm
  • Time for Collection of passports   -        2:30 pm to 5:00 pm

 

At IVAC, M/s Shahir Travel Agency at the address: Shar-e-Naw, Charahi Haji Yaqub, Police Station No.10 Street, House No.5, Kabul

(Sunday to Thursday or with specific appointment)

  • Submission of Visa Applications   -        8:00 am to 1:00 pm
  • Time for Collection of passports   -        2:30 pm to 6:30 pm

 

C.   NOTICE TO APPLICANTS:

The following instructions may be noted regarding visa processing:-

Online Form: Unless the applicant successfully submits his/her application online, further processing will not take place.

Submission: Submission of signed visa application form at IVAC or Embassy of India/Consulate General of India is also mandatory for further processing of applications.

Passport validity: Application forms must be accompanied by a valid passport with at least six [06] months validity remaining (Note: The signed application forms will not be processed without a valid passport)

Taskira related: All Afghan nationals who have electronic Taskira, a copy of the same may be attached. For applicants who do not have electronic Taskira and have only paper Taskira, it may be noted that the said Taskira shall be considered for the purpose of further processing the visa applications if and only if it is attested by National Statistics Identification Authority of Afghanistan (NSIA).

Fees:

  • All Afghan nationals, irrespective of the type of passport, are granted visas on gratis basis i.e. without fee.
  • However, a processing fee will be levied by Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC), M/s Shahir Travel Agency, Shar-e-Naw, Charahi Haji Yaqub, Police Station No.10 Street, House No.5, Kabul as follows: (A receipt will be provided to the applicant and needs to be affixed on the signed application form submitted):

 

I.    Basic Processing Fee– Afs 750

(This fee includes basic processing charges, SMS, biometric charges (ifrequired), courier charges and digitization charges, interview via video conferencing (if required)

II.  Optional Service Fees

  • Application by Appointment  – Afs 1500 (This service will provide a separate counter for online India Visa Application form filling at M/S Shahir Travels. Applicants are required to send an email on <appt[at]sta-indiavisa.com> for obtaining appointments for this optional service)
  • Special Assistance   – Afs 3000 (Special Assistance entails filling up of online Indian Visa Application Form and capturing of biometrics from the home of the applicant. Applicants are required to send an email on <special[at]sta-indiavisa.com> for obtaining appointments for this optional service. Granting of this service will be on the discretion of M/S Shahir Travels)
  • It may be noted that none of the above optional services are necessary for an applicant to process the application. Only Basic Processing Fee is mandatory at IVAC.  Also taking optional services from IVAC does not guarantee visa.

 

Carrying of Satellite Phones banned: Foreigners who are visiting India are advised that as per the existing guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, carrying of satellite phones by foreigners into India is BANNED. Legal action will be initiated against such foreign travelers for violation of the satellite phone ban.

Polio Vaccination:

Please note that as per latest Government of India’s health regulation, Polio Vaccination & Certificate for all travelers to India from Afghanistan is compulsory since 1st February, 2014.Addresses of authorized Polio Vaccination Centers are given below:

  • Indira Gandhi Hospital (Shefakhana Sehat Teff) Wazir Akbar khan 14th Street 10th District (in front of Spice Jet Office) Kabul, Afghanistan
  • M/s Shahir Travel Agency (in front of Etisalat Main Office) 10th Police Department Street, 10th District, Kabul, Afghanistan
  • Poli Clinic Markazi Near to Shahe do Shamshera Mosque and Cinema Pamir 2nd District Kabul, Afghanistan
  • Clinic Sehi 200 Bestar Khairkhana Khair khana adjacent of Lycee maryam, 11th district, Kabul, Afghanistan

 

Any Complaints regarding quality of Service, in charging of fees, oragents who charge money for visas may be brought to the notice of Consular wing at cc.kabul[at]mea.gov.in

 

Embassy of India Kabul, Afghanistan