Help for refugees and asylum seekers

On this page you will find information for asylum seekers and refugees living in Afghanistan. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, please contact us.

How can I apply for Asylum?  

If you are a foreigner seeking to apply for asylum and register with UNHCR, please email us at [email protected] with your contact information. You will be contacted at a later time with more information and guidance. If you are unable to make phone calls, you may visit us during our designated reception times.

Reception times

If you are a refugee or asylum seeker and would like to meet with our staff to discuss your concerns or get information, UNHCR can be reached at the ICON Compound in Kabul. To access the reception area, please follow the instructions at the gate.

Reception hours are Monday and Wednesday from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Please note that we are unable to accommodate walk-ins or appointments outside of these specified times. Thank you for your understanding.

Can UNHCR help me get medical care?

If you or someone in your family needs medical care, you should approach a public hospital or clinic, where treatment is provided free of charge for refugees and asylum seekers. Information about free healthcare services can be found below.

If you are unable to get treatment at a public hospital, on a case-by-case basis UNHCR may be able to help you with the cost of medical care elsewhere. To find out if you are eligible for assistance, you should follow these steps:

1. You must first seek treatment at a public hospital or clinic. Remember to take your UNHCR refugee or asylum seeker certificate.

You should only approach UNHCR if the treatment you need is not available at a public hospital free of charge.

• Visit the UNHCR office in Kabul and ask to speak to one of our staff or call the Refugee Hotline.
• If you are eligible for help with medical costs, you will be asked to request quotations from three private hospitals. You should not go ahead with treatment without confirmation from UNHCR, unless it is an emergency.
• UNHCR will review the quotations and confirm whether we can help with the cost of treatment.
• After your treatment, UNHCR will pay the costs directly to the healthcare provider. If you have paid for the treatment yourself, you must show us a receipt or invoice and we will reimburse you.

In the event of a medical emergency (where you think your life could be at risk or you need urgent medical care), you should seek emergency treatment from the nearest healthcare service immediately.

Hospitals providing free medical care for refugees and asylum seekers: