The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides free legal help to some refugees and displaced people.
- IRAP helps some people find services and prepare refugee and visa applications.
- IRAP is not part of any government, IOM, or UNHCR.
- IRAP cannot grant refugee status or visas or speed up cases.
- IRAP cannot provide financial help, find or pay for housing, or find jobs.
- All of IRAP’s help is free. No one affiliated with IRAP has the right to ask you for money or any other service.
IRAP decides to help people based on their need and eligibility for immigration status. IRAP does not decide to help people based on any other social or political or religious criteria.
This website provides general information about legal processes available to some refugees. It is not meant as legal advice for individual applications.
This information was revised in August 2023. Requirements may change. Always check for current requirements from the government or agency deciding your request.
Summary
This guide gives some information about claiming asylum in a country neighboring Afghanistan. The rights that refugees have access to vary by country. In most countries that neighbor Afghanistan, refugees will have extremely limited access to legal residence, work, or financial support.
India
New arrivals in India who wish to seek asylum should contact UNHCR to register as asylum seekers.
UNHCR has published information for Afghan asylum seekers in India and information about the registration process for asylum seekers in India (also in Dari and Pashto). Information about services provided to asylum seekers in India is also available on the UNHCR website.
There is a United States embassy and United States consulates in India which may be able to process applications for immigration to the United States.
Iran
As of 27 August 2021, the Government of Iran has not determined whether or how people newly arriving from Afghanistan may seek asylum.
Registration of asylum seekers in Iran is conducted by the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrant Affairs (BAFIA). UNHCR has published information for asylum seekers in Iran (also in Farsi/Dari).
The United States government does not maintain an embassy in Iran and processing for immigration to the United States is not possible from Iran.
Pakistan
New arrivals in Pakistan who wish to seek asylum should contact UNHCR to register as asylum seekers.
UNHCR has published information for asylum seekers in Pakistan (also in Farsi/Dari and Pashto) and information about the registration process for asylum seekers in Pakistan (also in Farsi/Dari and Pashto). Information about services provided to asylum seekers in Pakistan is also available on the UNHCR website.
There is a United States embassy in Pakistan that may be able to process applications for immigration to the United States.
Tajikistan
New arrivals in Tajikistan who wish to seek asylum need to register as asylum seekers within one month of entering the country.
UNHCR has published information for asylum seekers in Tajikistan (also in Dari).
There is a United States embassy in Tajikistan. However, this embassy does not currently process immigrant visa applications for those seeking to immigrate to the United States.
Turkey
The asylum procedure in Turkey is run by the government of Turkey. UNHCR has offices in Turkey and provides assistance to refugees located in Turkey.
UNHCR has published information for asylum seekers in Turkey (also in Farsi) and information about the registration process for asylum seekers in Turkey (also in Farsi). Information about services provided to asylum seekers in Turkey is also available on the UNHCR website.
Refugee Rights Turkey is a non-profit that provides legal information and assistance to refugees in Turkey. Refugee Rights Turkey has an information portal for asylum seekers in Turkey (also in Farsi and Pashto).
There is a United States embassy in Turkey that may be able to process applications for immigration to the United States.
Turkmenistan
The asylum procedure in Turkmenistan is run by the government of Turkmenistan.
There is a United States embassy in Turkmenistan that may be able to process applications for immigration to the United States.
Uzbekistan
The asylum procedure in Uzbekistan is run by the Uzbek government.
UNHCR’s Central Asia office, located in Kazakhstan, covers Uzbekistan. UNHCR has published contact information for the UNHCR Central Asia office.
There is a United States embassy in Uzbekistan that may be able to process applications for immigration to the United States.
Additional Information & Other Countries:
You can find additional information about refugee protection in countries that neighbor Afghanistan or have visa-free access for Afghan nationals in collected here.
You can also ask the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for help after you are outside of Afghanistan. UNHCR provides this website with information on its offices and local resources.