Help if you’re returning from Pakistan

Effective 14 November 2025, UNHCR will provide cash assistance to the following:
Among Proof of Registration (POR) and Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF) holders:
· Single women
· Female-headed households
· Households with a disabled family member

After presentation of the above documents, UNHCR/UNHCR partners protection teams will conduct an assessment to determine the vulnerability criteria mentioned above. Once you met the above criteria, you will be referred to registration and assistance desks.
Those who meet the above criteria and completion of registration process will receive a onetime multipurpose return grant proportioned based on family size as follows:

THOSE WHO WISH TO OBTAIN A VRF IN PAKISTAN

Afghans holding a valid PoR who intend to return to Afghanistan can return by approaching UNHCR’s Voluntary Repatriation Centres in Pakistan (VRC Azakhel in Nowshera, KPK, and VRC Baleli in Quetta, Balochistan) to process and obtain a Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF). No prior appointment is required to approach the Voluntary Repatriation Centers.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENT ADVICE

PoR cards, VRFs, slips, or asylum certificates may be confiscated by the authorities in Pakistan. To avoid problems:

• Keep a clear photo of your documents on your phone.
• Share copies with close relatives.
• Keep a printed copy in a safe place.

Please be informed that if you choose to accept UNHCR’s cash assistance in Afghanistan:

• UNHCR/partner staff at the reception center will verify your documents (VRF, PoR, slip, or asylum-seeker certificate) to ensure authenticity.
• They will record basic information about you and your family and collect biometric data (fingerprints and iris scan). This helps prevent misuse of assistance.
• Biometric registration is mandatory to receive cash assistance. If you do not agree to this process, UNHCR cannot provide cash assistance.
• You do not need to surrender your PoR, slip, or asylum-seeker certificate to receive assistance.

Persons with heightened protection risks and their family members will be required to present any available documentation to prove their identity as well as professional background. They will also undergo all the required steps of registration (including biometric registration) and protection assessment to determine their eligibility for assistance.

Your cash assistance will be provided through a HesabPay prepaid card (UNHCR partner). The card works like a debit card and can be used at ATMs, POS terminals, and agent locations across Afghanistan.

• It will be credited instantly after registration and issued at the reception center.
• Keep your card and PIN secure, as it may be used for future top-ups if funds are available.
• Those who have returned/were deported from Pakistan and have already received assistance will not be eligible for cash assistance in the reception centers.

Women and girls have the right to request a separate space or location to receive services to ensure they are safe and protected when receiving assistance.

• UNHCR will continue to provide assistance upon arrival to 1) Afghans in possession of valid PoR cards, regardless of whether they possess a VRF or not, 2) Afghans in possession of slips and asylum-seeker certificates issued by UNHCR in Pakistan, 3) undocumented family members of PoR holders, and 4) returnees/deportees from Pakistan with specific protection risks in Afghanistan due to their individual profile.
• Assistance including cash grant will be provided at the Omari or Takhtapol reception centers in Afghanistan.
• Assistance in the reception centers will be available upon presentation of a valid PoR card, slip, asylum certificate and following a thorough individual assessment of the circumstances by UNHCR partners that led to the return or deportation of the PoR, slip, asylum certificate card holders.
• There is a possibility that PoR cards, slips, asylum certificates may be confiscated by Pakistani law enforcement authorities during raids or arrests. Therefore, all holders of PoR cards, slip, and asylum seeker certificates are advised to keep a clear photo of their documents on their mobile phones and share a copy with close relatives. Additionally, a printed copy should be made and kept in a safe place. This will help ensure that, in the event of confiscation, the document image and/or printed copy can be presented upon return or deportation at the reception center to ensure authentication and processing of assistance.

The amount of assistance will be as follows:

• UNHCR will continue to provide assistance upon arrival to 1) Afghans in possession of valid PoR cards, regardless of whether they possess a VRF or not, 2) Afghans in possession of slips and asylum-seeker certificates issued by UNHCR in Pakistan, 3) undocumented family members of PoR holders, and 4) returnees/deportees from Pakistan with specific protection risks in Afghanistan due to their individual profile.
• Assistance including cash grant will be provided at the Omari or Takhtapol reception centers in Afghanistan.
• Assistance in the reception centers will be available upon presentation of a valid PoR card, slip, asylum certificate and following a thorough individual assessment of the circumstances by UNHCR partners that led to the return or deportation of the PoR, slip, asylum certificate card holders.
• There is a possibility that PoR cards, slips, asylum certificates may be confiscated by Pakistani law enforcement authorities during raids or arrests. Therefore, all holders of PoR cards, slip, and asylum seeker certificates are advised to keep a clear photo of their documents on their mobile phones and share a copy with close relatives. Additionally, a printed copy should be made and kept in a safe place. This will help ensure that, in the event of confiscation, the document image and/or printed copy can be presented upon return or deportation at the reception center to ensure authentication and processing of assistance.

The amount of assistance will be as follows:

If you do not have any of the documents above, IOM will assist you at their Transit Centres. This includes those with the following documents:

• Green or yellow PoR card
• ACC card
• No valid documents