New assessment of Afghan citizens’ ability to obtain passports

After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021, it became difficult for people to obtain national passports. Since October 2021, the Swedish Migration Agency has therefore judged that people from Afghanistan generally faced such serious difficulties in getting a passport that they could be granted an alien’s passport instead. The situation in the country has now changed, and in many cases Afghan citizens can once again obtain a national passport. Because of this, each application for an alien’s passport from an Afghan citizen will now be assessed individually.

– We are now returning to the regular process for granting alien’s passports. This means that only those who cannot contact the authorities in their home country, those who come from a country whose passport Sweden does not accept, or those who for other reasons are unable to obtain a national passport can be granted an alien’s passport, says Carl Bexelius, Director of Legal Affairs at the Swedish Migration Agency.

Women and people with protection status are more likely to be eligible for an alien’s passport or a travel document

People who need protection from Afghanistan are not expected to travel there or contact the authorities in their home country to obtain a valid national passport. Those who have refugee status in Sweden are entitled to a travel document, and those who have status as persons in need of subsidiary protection – when the need for protection is connected to the authorities in their home country – can be granted an alien’s passport.

People whose protection needs are not related to the authorities in their home country should first try to apply for a passport at an Afghan embassy or consulate abroad. However, they may apply for an alien’s passport if they are unable to obtain a national passport through the embassy or consulate.

The Swedish Migration Agency also does not require Afghan women living in Sweden – regardless of the grounds for their residence permit – to travel to Afghanistan to obtain a national passport. In some cases, they can apply for a passport through an Afghan embassy or consulate abroad, and if that is not possible, they may apply for an alien’s passport.

Alien’s passport, online application, or travel to the home country

Many Afghan citizens who have obtained national passports through an Afghan embassy or consulate have been affected by the fact that, since 1 October 2025, Swedish authorities no longer accept passports that have been extended with a sticker or stamp. At present, the Swedish Migration Agency does not have knowledge of any Afghan embassies or consulates in Europe that issue new passports for Afghans living in Sweden. Some people may be able to obtain new Afghan passports from Afghan consulates or embassies in other parts of the world, either by applying online or by visiting in person.

– Some people may need to travel to Afghanistan to get a new passport if they cannot get one from an Afghan embassy or consulate and do not have protection status in Sweden. However, because of the severe discrimination against women in Afghanistan, the Swedish Migration Agency does not require women or girls to travel to Afghanistan to get a passport, says Carl Bexelius.

People from Afghanistan who have a pending application with the Swedish Migration Agency will be contacted by their case officer if they need to add a home country passport or apply for an alien’s passport in their application.