India reopens visas for Afghans after five-year pause
India has restarted issuing visas to Afghan nationals, five years after halting all visa services following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The move allows Afghans to apply for various visa types, including student, medical, business, and entry visas.
Though there has been no official public announcement from the Indian government, a new visa module titled “New AFGHAN Visa” appeared on India’s visa website in late April, signalling the shift.
The decision marks a significant step in restoring India’s ties with Afghanistan under the Taliban regime.
It also comes as India continues quiet diplomatic talks with Taliban officials, focusing on humanitarian access and travel for students and patients.
The updated visa platform confirms that artists, cultural workers, and academics invited by Indian institutions can now apply for entry visas.
Afghan nationals with Indian spouses or children from earlier marriages are also eligible. Parents of students under 18 and property-owning Afghans in India can also apply.
Business visas have been widened to include sportspersons on paid contracts, investors, and Afghans setting up commercial ventures or taking part in long-term trade activities.
India stopped giving visas to Afghans in August 2021 after the Taliban takeover led to the closure of Indian missions in Afghanistan.
During that time, only limited emergency e-visas were granted, mostly to members of minority communities such as Sikhs and Hindus.
India has since maintained careful contact with the Taliban, including talks earlier this year between a senior Indian official and Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister in Kabul.
The meeting focused on easing travel for Afghan students and patients, as well as broader security concerns.
