Austria to Afghanistan visa requirements

Austrian passport holders need a visa for Afghanistan. As of March 2026, the simplest route is the new online e-visa via the E-Afghans portal, valid 90 days from issue with a single entry and up to a 30-day stay; entry on the e-visa is currently only via Kabul International Airport. A traditional paper visa from an Afghan embassy/consulate remains an alternative. Afghanistan requires a visa from all nationalities except those born in Afghanistan or to Afghan parents, so there is no visa-free or visa-waiver channel for Austrian ordinary passport holders. In March 2026 the Taliban administration launched an online e-visa system (E-Afghans portal) for tourists, which removes the embassy visit and invitation-letter requirement that previously applied. The tourist e-visa is single entry, valid for 90 days from the date of issue, and permits a stay of up to 30 days from arrival. The total cost is roughly USD 128 (an 8 USD application fee, a ~120 USD visa fee, and a ~3.71 USD processing fee). Critically, the e-visa is currently accepted for entry only at Kabul International Airport (land borders not yet confirmed), though travelers may exit at any point. Austrians who plan to enter by land may still need a paper visa from an Afghan embassy or consulate (e.g. the Afghan Embassy in Vienna or missions in neighboring countries), which costs about EUR 100 for a single entry and typically requires a signed personal statement acknowledging the risks of travel. Beyond visa formalities, travelers should note that the Austrian Foreign Ministry (BMEIA) maintains its highest-level travel warning (security level 4) for all of Afghanistan due to terrorism, armed conflict, kidnapping and crime; standard travel insurance may be void in warning zones. Afghanistan is not part of the Schengen area, so Schengen 90/180 and ETIAS rules do not apply to this route.