Help Pakistan / Message on Return to Afghanistan

Message on Return to Afghanistan

In view of the increased number of returns, as of 20 August 2025, Afghans holding blue PoR cards (issued in April 2021) who wish to return to Afghanistan may proceed directly to the border without approaching the Vomuntary Repatriation Center (VRC). Depending on their area of residence in Pakistan and destination in Afghanistan, they may travel via Torkham or Chaman/Spin Boldak. Upon arrival at the Afghan side of the border, they should present their PoR card, UNHCR slip, asylum certificate, or UNHCR Refugee Card to the Afghanistan De Facto Authorities (DfA) and UNHCR or partner staff.

Please note that Voluntary Repatriation Centers (VRCs) in KP (Azakhel) or Balochistan (Baleli) remain open to ease the return process and people can continue to access these facilities. 

Upon arrival in Afghanistan and regardless of whether or not they are in possession of a UNHCR Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF), Afghans will be issued with a Return Certificate by the Afghan Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation (DORR) before being interviewed by UNHCR’s partner at the border. Following the interview, UNHCR’s partner will refer them to an Encashment center. At the Encashment center, they will be registered by UNHCR and will be provided access to assistance and services. Assistance includes: targeted cash assistance, protection related services, basic health care, mine awareness and information. In return areas, vulnerable returnees may access UNHCR protection, available shelter, livelihoods support, and be referred to addtional assistance and services delivered by other UN agencies and actors.

To facilitate swifter return process in Afghanistan, all Afghans are advised to carry the original or copies of their documents (POR card, ACC and UNHCR slip, Asylum Certificates). It is advisable to keep copies of these documents and where possible, scan them to your phones.

Afghans who wish to obtain the Voluntary Repatriation Form may continue to access VRCs with no prior appointment required after 31 August 2025.

Please note that all services provided by UNHCR are free of charge. Do not give anyone any money or any favors to facilitate your repatriation

The below procedure still applies to registered Afghan refugees wishing to return through the Voluntary Repatriation Center (VRC) in Baleli, Quetta or Azakhel, Nowshera.

Voluntary Repatriation

Important Notice for Afghan Refugees (PoR cardholders) repatriation through VRC Baleli – Quetta, Balochistan

All voluntary repatriation enquiries can be channeled to the UNHCR sub-office Quetta
Helpline: 0800-86677 Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Friday prayers break from 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM), Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Important Notice for Afghan Refugees (PoR cardholders) repatriation through VRC Azakhel – Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
All enquiries related to voluntary repatriation can be channeled to UNHCR sub-office Peshawar Helpline: +92 3008585600

1.      Return Advisory

UNHCR recognizes individuals’ fundamental human right to return to their country of origin. Any assistance provided by UNHCR to refugees to return to Afghanistan aims at supporting individuals who, being fully informed of the situation in their places of origin or an alternative area of their choice, choose voluntarily to return.

2.      Voluntary Returns

  • Your decision to return to Afghanistan or remain in the current location is fully voluntary and on the basis of your informed decision. Before deciding to return to Afghanistan, you and members of your family should ensure that you have adequate information about the condition in the intended destination in Afghanistan. The conditions include safety/security and available services such as health and education facilities and economic opportunities and other factors that are important to you and your family, before deciding whether or not you wish to return to Afghanistan.
  • You and members of your family should not feel compelled to return due to any pressure or because you are forced to leave the current location for any reasons.
  • If you initially indicate an intention to return but later decide that it is not in the best interest of you or your family, you may change your decision. However, please ensure that you communicate this change before the de-registration of you of your PoR card and issuance of a Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF).

3.      Who is eligible for facilitated Voluntary Repatriation Processing under UNHCR’s VolRep programme to Afghanistan?

The following Persons of Concern are eligible for Voluntary Repatriation processing at the VRCs in Pakistan:-

  • Afghan nationals in possession of valid Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.
  • Validated Unregistered Members of Registered Families (UMRF).
  • UNHCR mandate refugees recognized on an individual or derivative basis holding a valid UNHCR refugee card.

No prior appointment is required to approach the Voluntary Repatriation Centers for processing.
Afghans who DO NOT hold a PoR card, are not entitled to the return assistance from UNHCR.

4. Which documents do Afghan refugees need to bring to the VRC?

  • Afghans registered with the Government of Pakistan are required to bring a valid Proof of Registration (PoR) card. Validated Unregistered Members of Registered Families (UMRF) should bring a Family Information Certifiate if issued  by the government.
  • Prior to returning, Afghan refugees should make sure that all the documents they will need in Afghanistan, such as their children’s school enrolment documents (education certificate and records), are updated and properly signed/verified by the Afghan Embassy or Afghan Consulates in Iran/Pakistan.

5. Who is eligible to receive UNHCR’s cash assistance under UNHCR’s VolRep programme to Afghanistan?

Effective 14 November 2025, UNHCR will provide cash assistance to the following:-

  1. Among Proof of Registration (POR) and Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF) holders:
  • Single women
  • Female-headed households
  • Households with a disabled family member

b. Among asylum certificate and UNHCR slip holders as well as undocumented Afghans with heightened protection risks in line with UNHCR Guidance Note on the International Protection Needs of People Fleeing Afghanistan.

After presentation of the above documents, UNHCR/UNHCR partners protection teams will conduct an assessment to determine the vulnerability criteria mentioned above. Individuals who meet the above criteria, will be referred to UNHCR registration and assistance desks.

UMRF must return with at least one of the registered PoR cardholder of his/her family to be eligible for the cash grant.

6. Do I need a VRF to be eligible for cash assistance?
No. Effective  20 August 2025, Afghans holding blue PoR cards (issued in April 2021) who wish to return to Afghanistan may proceed directly to the border without approaching the Vomuntary Repatriation Center (VRC). Depending on their area of residence in Pakistan and destination in Afghanistan, they may travel via Torkham or Chaman/Spin Boldak. Upon arrival at the Afghan side of the border, present your PoR card, UNHCR slip, asylum certificate, or UNHCR Refugee Card to the Afghanistan De Facto Authorities (DfA) and UNHCR or partner staff for assistance.

7. What is the amount of cash assistance that will be provided to eligible returnees under UNHCR’s VolRep programme in Afghanistan?

  • Returnees upon arrival to Afghanistan will receive a one-time multipurpose return grant proportioned based on family size as below. This grant will be available at the Encashment Centres (ECs) inside Afghanistan, located in Nangarhar and Kandahar provinces, starting the day after you receive your VRF in the host country.
one-time multipurpose return gran

The provision of transportation support has been discontinued from the 5th of October 2025.

  • Returning refugees who received a VRF from UNHCR VRC Azakhel in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and returning via Torkham crossing point, will receive their cash grant and other services provided at UNHCR’s return processing center located at the Omari Reception Center in Torkham, Nangarhar province.
  • Returning refugees who received a VRF from UNHCR VRC Baleli in Quetta, Balochistan and returning via Spin Boldak crossing point, will receive the cash grant and other services provided at UNHCR’s return processing center located at the Takhtapol Reception Center in Spin Boldak, Kandahar province.
  • The cash grant will be available at the centers starting the day after you receive your VRF in the VRC in Pakistan. Individuals who received cash assistance for repatriation in previous years will not be eligible to receive cash assistance again. In addition, returnees/deportees will receive the following:-
Services for the returnees/deportees

  • The VRCs and ECs are equipped with necessary mitigating measures to avoid the transmission of COVID-19. All returnees are encouraged to adhere to recommended COVID-19 preventive measures such as washing hands, keep distance and to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

8.     What is the current situation in Afghanistan?

  • The current socio-economic situation, including safety/security in Afghanistan, remains fluid and may vary from one location to another.
  • Reports produced by humanitarian agencies in 2022 in relation to Afghanistan indicate the risk of drought, acute hunger, raising food insecurity, in the context of declining formal and informal economies.

9.     Information on UNHCR Support in Afghanistan

  • 80 districts in Afghanistan are designated as Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration (PARR) and the significant efforts were made to extend various services and support in these areas. The details of available services in PARR locations will be provided at the VRC.

10.     How can I get information on land mines/UXO?

  • Refer to leaflets which will be provided at the ECs in Afghanistan.

11.     How can I get information related to Housing, Land and Property?

  • You will receive information at the ECs in Afghanistan.

12.     Questions, Complaints and Feedback

  • Please contact UNHCR if you have any queries or feedback or complaints related to UNHCR’s activities or assistance for facilitating your return to Afghanistan, you can reach UNHCR through the following channels:-

UNHCR Pakistan Contact Information

  • Islamabad: The general helpline: 0800-86677 (Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM–8:00 PM (Friday prayers break from 12:30 PM–2:00 PM) Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • Peshawar: The general helpline number: +92 3000 858 5600 – Open Mon – Thu 08:00 am – 04:30 pm, Fri 08:00 am – 01:00 pm
  • Quetta:  The general helpline number: 0800-86677 (Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM–8:00 PM (Friday prayers break from 12:30 PM–2:00 PM) Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • Email: Islamabad: [email protected] | Peshawar: [email protected]| Quetta: [email protected]
  • To report fraud: Islamabad: [email protected] | Peshawar: [email protected]| Quetta: [email protected]

UNHCR Afghanistan Contact Information

  • Omari Reception Center in Torkham, Nangarhar Province.
    Address: Torkham Zero Point to Omari Reception Center is 5 KM and from Omari Reception Center to Jalalabad is 67 KM. Open: Sunday – Saturday 8am – 5pm and 5pm – 11pm.
    Tel: + 93 (0) 781830404 or + 93 (0) 791990236
  • Takhtapol Reception Center in Spin Boldak, Kandahar province
    Address: Kandahar – Spin Boldak Road, around 70 km from Spin Boldak zero point/ 6 kms from Takhtapol centre district, Inzargay.
    Open Sunday – Saturday, 6:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tel: +93 708081802
  • UNHCR Country Office in Kabul
    Address: ICON Compound, Supreme Road, District # 9, Jalalabad Road, Kabul, Afghanistan.
    Working hours: Sunday – Thursday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
    Hotline number: 0791990225, 0790691746 and 0704996168 (available on all working days)
    You can also reach UNHCR through Protection email ([email protected])
    Complaint/feedback box at UNHCR office in Kabul through which you can submit written petition.
  • You may also direct questions or complaints to the inter-agency helpline – Awaaz – in Afghanistan:
    Phone: 410 toll-free (only in Afghanistan) and available seven days a week.
    website: https://awaazaf.org/
    Awaaz provides confidential hotline that anyone with access to a mobile phone in Afghanistan can call for free to access information on and register feedback about the humanitarian response. Awaaz can be contacted seven days a week and female and male agents are available who speak Dari, Pashto, Urdu, English, as well as other language.
  • Please note that all your information you provide, including your name, contact number, address as well as queries and feedback will be treated confidentially.

13.     Questions, Complaints and Feedback

You can also report Fraud and Misconduct directly to UNHCR’s Inspector General’s office (IGO), which is based in UNHCR’s Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and which is responsible for investigating misconduct by UNHCR and its partners: [email protected]

All assistance provided by UNHCR or on behalf of UNHCR through its partners is free of charge for everyone.

UNHCR has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse by its staff and partners.

If you are asked for money, favours or other benefit in exchange for receiving assistance, employment, information or anything else or if you have concerns or information about possible fraud or misconduct by any UNHCR staff or staff of one of its partners, please report such incidents to UNHCR, using the above-mentioned contacts.

Please note that all services provided by UNHCR are free of charge. Do not give anyone any money or any favors to facilitate your repatriation.