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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Afghanistan International Parental Child Abduction Information

International Parental Child Abduction

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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Afghanistan International Parental Child Abduction Information

Afghanistan

Afghanistan
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Do not travel to Afghanistan due to armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.

Reissued with updates to relocation, citizen services, and safety and security information.

Do not travel to Afghanistan due to armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.  

Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe and the risk of kidnapping or violence against U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is high. Given the serious risks, U.S. citizens should not travel to Afghanistan to accompany eligible family members for relocation.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul suspended operations on August 31, 2021. Since that time, U.S. citizens have been unjustly detained. The U.S. government is not able to provide emergency citizen services in Afghanistan and our ability to assist detained U.S. citizens is extremely limited.

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan in need of routine consular services can contact any U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan for assistance, although our ability to assist is extremely limited. To locate the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan, click here. U.S. citizens who are in Afghanistan and are seeking U.S. government assistance to depart should email complete biographic details and contact information (email and phone number), as well as U.S. passport number, to AfghanistanACS@state.gov.  

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) are prioritized for relocation out of Afghanistan if they have an approved U.S. immigrant visa petition and notification from the National Visa Center that their case is ready for an interview. Please note that U.S. citizens or LPR family members do not have to be physically present in Afghanistan for their qualifying family members to be prioritized.  In fact, your presence in Afghanistan will not expedite your relative’s case. For further information on the immigrant visa application process, please refer to our website. The Department of State will continue to provide information via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), Embassy Kabul’s web page, Travel.State.Gov, Facebook, and Twitter.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Afghanistan.

The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. U.S. citizens still in Afghanistan should:

  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and ensure you can be located in an emergency.
  • Review your personal security plans and consider leaving at the first safe opportunity.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and local security developments at all times.
  • Keep a low profile.
  • Notify a trusted person of your travel and movement plans.
  • If not departing imminently, make contingency plans to leave when it is safe to do so and do not expect U.S. government assistance will be available to facilitate your departure.
  • Monitor local media.
  • Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before planning any international travel, and read the Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for country-specific COVID-19 information. 
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. 
  • Read the Country Security Report For Afghanistan.

Resources for U.S. citizens in Afghanistan:

... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Party to the Hague Abduction Convention?
No
U.S. Treaty Partner under the Hague Abduction Convention?
No
Learn why the Hague Abduction Convention Matters.

What You Can Do

Learn how to respond to abductions FROM the US
Learn how to respond to abductions TO the US
ALL / ALL /

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Kabul
U.S. Embassy Kabul suspended operations on August 31, 2021.
Email: AfghanistanACS@state.gov

General Information

For information concerning travel to Afghanistan, including information about the current security situation in Afghanistan, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, traffic safety, road conditions and aviation safety, please see our country-specific information for Afghanistan and the Afghanistan Travel Advisory.

The U.S. Department of State reports statistics and compliance information for individual countries in the Annual Report on International Child Abduction. The report is located here.

Hague Abduction Convention

Afghanistan is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), nor are there any bilateral agreements in force between Afghanistan and the United States concerning international parental child abduction.

Return

Legal systems and laws pertaining to custody, divorce, and parental abduction vary widely from country to country. Parents should consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in Afghanistan and who can provide accurate legal guidance that is specific to their circumstances. 

The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Children's Issues provides assistance in cases of international parental child abduction. For U.S. citizen parents whose children have been wrongfully removed to or retained in countries that are not U.S. partners under the Hague Abduction Convention, the Office of Children's Issues can provide information and resources about country-specific options generally for pursuing the return of or access to an abducted child. The Office of Children's Issues may also coordinate with appropriate foreign and U.S. government authorities about the welfare of abducted U.S. citizen children. Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance.

Contact information:

United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children's Issues
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Telephone: 1-888-407-4747
Outside the United States or Canada: 1-202-501-4444
Fax: 202-485-6221
Website
Email: SCAIPCA@state.gov

Parental child abduction may be a crime in Afghanistan depending on the circumstances of the child's removal. Parents are encouraged to consult with an Afghan attorney to determine if their particular case qualifies as a crime under Afghan law.

Parents may wish to consult with an attorney in the United States and in Afghanistan to learn more about how filing criminal charges may impact a custody case in the foreign court. Please see Possible Solutions - Pressing Criminal Charges for more information. 

Visitation/Access

Legal systems and laws pertaining to custody, divorce, and parental abduction vary widely from country to country. Parents are encouraged to consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in Afghanistan and who can provide accurate legal guidance that is specific to their circumstances.

The Office of Children's Issues may be able to provide limited assistance to parents seeking access to children in Afghanistan who have been wrongfully removed from or retained outside the United States.

Retaining an Attorney

Neither the Office of Children's Issues nor consular officials at U.S. Embassies or Consulates are authorized to provide legal advice.

Mediation

It is unknown if any organizations offer mediation services.

Exercising Custody Rights

While travelling in a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country. It is important for parents to understand that, although a left-behind parent in the United States may have custody or visitation rights pursuant to a U.S. custody order, that order may not be valid and enforceable in the country in which the child is located.  For this reason, we strongly encourage you to speak to a local attorney if planning to remove a child from a foreign country without the consent of the other parent.  Attempts to remove your child to the United States may:

  • Endanger your child and others;
  • Prejudice any future judicial efforts; and
  • Could result in your arrest and imprisonment.

The U.S. government cannot interfere with another country’s court or law enforcement system.

To understand the legal effect of a U.S. order in a foreign country, a parent should consult with a local attorney in the country in which the child is located.  

For information about hiring an attorney abroad, see our section on Retaining a Foreign Attorney. 

Although we cannot recommend an attorney to you, most U.S. Embassies have lists of attorneys available online. Please visit the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for a full listing.

For more information on consular assistance for U.S. citizens arrested abroad, please see our website.

Country officers are available to speak with you Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  For assistance with an abduction in progress or any emergency situation that occurs after normal business hours, on weekends, or federal holidays, please call toll free at 1-888-407-4747. See all contact information.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this flyer is provided for general information only, is not intended to be legal advice, and may change without notice. Questions involving interpretation of law should be addressed to an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. 

 

Last Updated: September 3, 2021

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