Afghanistan
Last update 05 April 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 5: Warning of ending all trips and immediate leaving the country
5
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The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Afghanistan
Address: Str. 15, Wazir Akbar Khan Mina, Kabul
Telephone: + 93 202 311 747
Fax: + 93 202 101 089 (temporary unavailable)
Out-of-hours hotline: +93 707 826 262
Office hours: 09.00 - 15.00h
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/afghanistan
Bulgaria’s direct diplomatic presence in Afghanistan has been temporarily suspended as of 10 March 2018 due to the major damage to the Embassy building caused by the 31 May 2017 massive bomb attack at the edge of the Green Zone in Kabul.
For consular and visa services applicants are kindly advised to contact the Bulgarian embassies in New Delhi (Republic of India), Islamabad (Islamic Republic of Pakistan) or Tehran (Islamic Republic of Iran).
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Sofia
Address: 1700 Sofia, 57 “Simeonovsko Shosse”, Residence 3
Telephone: + 359 962 51 93
Fax: + 359 962 74 86
Office hours: 09.00 - 16.00h
Consular Department: 09.30 - 12.00h , 14.00 - 16.00h, (Monday - Thirsday)
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
General information
Local currency
Afghani (AFN)
In the capital Kabul and other provincial administrative centres purchasing goods is possible by payment in USD or EURO.
Crime and security
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is currently found in a period of searching ways to achieve long-lasting peace and stability, strengthening of governmental institutions and achieving supremacy of the law. Forces of the anti-terrorist coalition are still combating against some remnants from the Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements. In the capital of Kabul and in certain areas of the country International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) are dislocated. On the territory of the country, especially in the big cities such as Kabul, Mazar-I Sharif, Kandahar, etc. criminal gangs are acting with racket and kidnapping of rich businessmen and foreign citizens. Movement, especially in the dark hours of the day, without a guard or an accompaniment is dangerous.
Law specifics
The judicial system is found in a process of strengthening. The norms of Shari'ah are also applicable (the Islamic law). Court procedures are influenced also by traditions and local bearers of the power. For example, in the provincial regions local leaders and tribal authorities decide on punitive cases, and sentences are often based on Islamic or tribal law. The rights of women and children are not protected.
Road traffic
The automobile float in Afghanistan is considerably old as mainly second-hand cars are used, imported from Pakistan, Canada, Germany, etc. Vehicles move on the right lane, but traffic rules are often breached and driving is carried out in the opposite lane. In the bigger cities at major road junctions traffic regulating policemen are placed but, may impose additional difficulties to traffic.
Healthcare
Level and quality of healthcare in the country are extremely bad. According to a research of the World Health Organization, for the last 5 years cases of catching diphtheritic disease, hooping-cough, diarrhea, cholera, malaria, hemorrhagic fever and other dangerous diseases have been registered in Afghanistan. Properly equipped healthcare institutions in Afghanistan are rare, mainly found in the capital Kabul.
Access to qualitative medicinal products is difficult –medicines available in the trading network are unreliable. Bulgarian citizens may obtain against payment qualified medical care at the health care institutions of the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Kabul.
Travel papers and visas
The territory of the Islamic Republic Afghanistan is entered only with a valid passport for travelling abroad and the relevant Afghanistan visa issued in advance (entrance or transit visa).
Between R. Bulgaria and IR Afghanistan full visa regime is established. Bulgarian citizens travelling to Afghanistan have to possess fixed in advance Afghanistan entrance or transit visa which may be obtained at the closest diplomatic or consular representative office.
The Afghanistan authorities do not issue visas at the border.
Detailed information on customs regime may be obtained from the Embassy of Afghanistan in Sofia.
Upon leaving Afghanistan, the passports of passengers are checked via a special list of people against whom there are opened cases or claims for financial penalties. This pertains to local citizens, as well as to foreigners.
Competitive service
Issuing of Bulgarian identity documents:
The period of validity of a Bulgarian passport may not be extended at the Embassy. Applications are accepted on issuing of a new Bulgarian passport. Upon necessity, a temporary passport for return travel of a Bulgarian citizen may be issued. Upon issuing of a temporary passport to a minor and under-aged Bulgarian citizen, the application for issuing of a Bulgarian personal identity document must be signed by both parents in front of the consular official; an original from the birth certificate, of the civil marriage certificate of the parents, and a recent photo must also be submitted.
Civil status:
Registration of birth, marriage or death in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is carried out by the competent authorities in the country. Upon birth of a child a document is issued by the relevant health care institution, containing information on the physical characteristics of the newborn child, the names of the father and the mother. The document, in principle, is issued only by big health care centres which have and maintain registers. Such centres are available only in the capital Kabul.
In case of a natural death, the relatives of the deceased person shall inform the municipal authorities and the relevant subdivisions of the Ministry of Interior. If the relatives of the deceased reside in remote districts, they shall inform the mayor of the settlement and the local religious person. In most settlements in the country no population register is available. Upon the issuance of a death certificate by municipal authorities, the signatures of at least three witnesses shall be put on the document; thereafter the document is verified by the Ministry of Justice and may be presented before the Supreme Court in order to share the property of the deceased.
The conclusion of a civil marriage in Afghanistan is carried out respecting the local laws and customs. A document for a concluded civil marriage is executed only in case one of the persons is a foreign citizen and the couple is to live or work abroad. A civil marriage document is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan; therein, the data of both spouses are mentioned in English and Dari language, as well as those of three to five witnesses.
Verifications and Legalisations:
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is not a member state under the Hague Convention on the abolishment of the requirement for legalization of foreign public documents. There are no acting treaties between Bulgaria and Afghanistan on legal assistance and all verifications and legalisations are carried out after the common order. For example, civil status documents, such as birth certificates and civil marriage certificates are verified in advance by the “Consular” Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan. The consul at the Embassy confirms only the signature and seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan. Documents shall be translated in English as a must. The consular office may also verify the signature of a private person, the signature and contents of a private document, the transcript of a private document, the translator’s signature, as well as the signature and seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan.