Allegations of Black Market Sales Plague Pakistani Visa Process in Afghanistan

Soaring Costs and Desperate Applicants

Afghan applicants have alleged that Pakistani visas are being sold on the black market in Kabul for between $1,000 and $1,500, despite the official fee being around $25. Several applicants told Afghanistan International that without paying hefty bribes to travel agencies approved by Pakistan’s Embassy in Kabul, obtaining a visa can take months or may not happen at all.

Medical and tourist visas are reportedly the most expensive. Medical visas are said to cost between $1,300 and $1,500, while tourist visas can reach up to $2,000 on the black market. Many applicants claim they are effectively forced to go through travel agencies registered with Pakistan’s diplomatic missions to secure appointments and speed up processing.

Embassy Silence and Growing Frustration

One Kabul resident shared that after waiting four months despite paying the official fee, he paid $1,300 to a local agency and received an embassy interview invitation the same day. He alleged that revealing the unofficial payment during the interview could have led to visa rejection.

Officials at travel agencies in Kabul and Nangarhar confirmed that such practices exist. Meanwhile, Taliban authorities have been urged to raise the issue with Pakistani officials. Nearly five years after the political transition in Afghanistan, complaints about Pakistan’s visa process continue to mount.